PRESENTATION TO FATHER KAVANAGH, INVERCARGILL

New Zealand Tablet, 18 June 1914, Page 51

PRESENTATION TO FATHER KAVANAGH, INVERCARGILL

(From our Invercargill correspondent.) On Monday evening, the Ist inst., a very large number of parishioners assembled in St. Joseph's Schoolroom to bid farewell to the Rev. Father Kavanagh, who was transferred to St. Joseph's Cathedral parish some little time back, and to present to liim a testimonial in the shape of a very substantial purse of sovereigns. In addition to the guest of the evening there were present Very Rev. Dean Burke, V.F., Rev. Father Woods and Rev. Father Tobin, and representatives from the Invercargill, Bluff, and Waikiwi districts.

Mr. P. J. Scully, on behalf of the parishioners, in an appropriate speech, said he had very great pleasure in making the presentation, and all would agree that it was richly deserved. Father Kavanagh, during his stay in Invercargill, had won the love and esteem of those to whom he ministered in carrying out the duties pertaining to his sacred calling. Those who were responsible for the testimonial had found the work of collecting a pleasure, as all were willing to subscribe freely, showing that Father Kavanagh's work in these parts had been genuinely appreciated, lie had much pleasure in asking the rev. guest to accept a purse containing just on one hundred sovereigns, and trusted that the recipient would enjoy many years of health, happiness, .and prosperity. Mr. John Shepherd said that as he was practically the ' father of the congregation ' he would like to express his appreciation of Father Kavanagh's good work in this district. It seemed to him that the guest during his time in Invercargill could do nothing wrong, but everything right.

Mr. T. Pound said that lie did not expect to be called on to speak, but he could heartily endorse the remarks of the other speakers. As one who took an interest in Hibernian matters, he was pleased to have the opportunity, oil behalf of the members of the local Hibernian Society, of expressing regret at Father Kavanagh's departure, and of appreciation of the valuable services rendered to the society by their guest. Father Kavanagh's assistance had been practical, inasmuch as he was a full benefit member of the society, and was the means of enrolling many new members. On behalf of the society he wished Father Kavanagh, wherever he might be in the future, good luck and God-speed.

Rev. Father Woods said that it was always a sad thing to say good-bye, and they had met to say good-bye to Father Kavanagh as far as Invercargill was concerned. Taking into consideration the shortness of the notice of the gathering and the wintry weather prevailing it was easy to see that Father Kavanagh had been appreciated in these parts. They had been companions together, and he could say that their

guest's duties had been faithfully performed and always in tiie genial and kind-hearted manner which was characte* of him. He wished him for the future a long life and perfect health. Very Rev. Dean Burke, in a humorous speech, said that as Dean of the district it was more in keeping with the position to criticise rather than to praise° Nowadays presentations were very common, but the testimonial just presented to Father Kavanagh was so substantial that it showed there was real appreciation behind it. There were two kinds of popularity that a priest might attain, and the popularity that any priest might be proud of arose from the fact of duty well done and wisely done, and in a manner sustaining the clerical character so as to impress the people. That night's testimonial showed that Father Kavanagh had impressed the people. The Very Rev. Dean paid a warm tribute. to Father Kavanagh's work in the district.

Mr. H. Searle also spoke. Rev. Father Kavanagh, on rising to respond, was loudly applauded, and in a brief, feeling, and eloquent address, said he did not know where to commence to thank them for their very great kindness. The speakers, in their kindness of heart, in referring to him had pictured the ideal priest, and not himself. They had not, as it were, ' held the mirror up to nature.' A writer had said that time healed the most gaping wounds of the heart, but he would be presumptuous enough to say, that wherever the future might find him, he would never forget those that had been so kind and generous to him, culminating that evening in such a handsome presentation. lie thanked the Very Rev. Dean for his advice, and the speakers for their remarks. He thanked those responsible for the testimonial, and the performers of the evening, and also all those present for coming out that night to do him honor. In conclusion, he assured his audience that, whether his future years were years of sorrow or of joy, ho would ever remember the happy times he had spent in Invercargill. During the evening musical and elocutionary items were contributed by the following:—Mrs. Griffith, Misses Shea, Wills, O'Byrne, McCarthy, and Messrs. Wills and Mahoney. A word of praise is due to the secretary (Mr. P. J. Scully), to Mrs. Timpairy, and to Miss Katie Kane for the excellence of the arrangements, especially when it is considered that they had very short notice.,