DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 28 January 1915, Page 43

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

•- .-, • • :-; (From our own correspondent.)

• . ' January 25. ' , The delegates, to the half-yearly meeting of the Christchurch Diocesan Council of the Catholic Federation express deep appreciation of the generous hospitality extended to them by the people of Timaru, and the complete and admirable arrangements made by the executive of the local branch, thus making the conference the most successful yet held. His Lordship Bishop Grimes recently received the following cablegram from his Holiness Hope Benedict XV., through Cardinal Gasparri, Secretary of State; * His Holiness gratefully accepts the .homage of your filial piety, and cordially imparts his blessing to your Lordship, the priests, religious, and faithful of your diocese. -At the same time he blesses abundantly the Rev. Mother Clare and Sisters of Mercy on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of their coming to New Zealand.’ .A

Under arrangement with the Darfield committee for the relief of the poor of Great Britain, Ireland, and Belgium, Mr. Frank McDonald, with a, concert party from Christchurch, gave a very successful entertainment on last Thursday evening in the Darfield Convent Schoolroom. The various items of the programme were, without exception, well received. The contributors were Mesdames Tippler and Cot her. Miss J. Morrison, Messrs F. McDonald, A. Weir, C. Tidy, J. Mercer, and P. Brett. The proceeds amounted to about £27.

A pleasant treat was afforded the children of the Sacred Heart Orphanage, Mount Magdala, last week, when sixty of their number spent an enjoyable afternoon as the guests of Mf. and Mrs. A. C. Nottingham at their residence, ITalswell. Tea was served on the lawn, after which the children competed in races and games, conducted by Misses H. and D. Nottingham, also Mr. Arthur Nottingham, jun. Motor cars, kindly lent and driven by Messrs Hill, Davies, and Barnett, and Mrs. Eaglesome, conveyed the children back to Mount Magdala in the evening, all very happy, as each child received a prize. The guests included Mesdames Hill, Eaglesoxne, Lawrence, Lee, Barnett, and Davies, Misses Moran, McClure, and Eileen Pender, Messrs. Hill, Davies, P. Barnett, and G. Hill.

Complimentary remarks are so frequently made regarding the varied and exhaustive articles on gardening contributed by Mr. J. Joyce to the columns of the Tablet, that it seems but just and fair that some slight acknowledgment of the same should be made. So comprehensive are Mr. Joyce’s contributions, that many are greatly surprised at the extensive scope of the subject. The educational value of these gardening notes cannot be over estimated, and your readers as a whole are very deeply indebted to your contributor for gratuitously imparting from his store of knowledge the results of long years of practical study and research. The articles recently appearing relative to native trees and plant life were read with much pleasure by all lovers of nature, and the hope is expressed that Mr. Joyce will enlarge on the subject by dealing with the flowers, ferns, and mosses of New Zealand.

Bro. J. Griffen (president) occupied the chair at the usual fortnightly meeting of the H.A.C.B. Society, which was held in the Hibernian Hall, Barbadoes street, on Monday evening. Rev. Father Long (chaplain) was in attendance. Sick pa} (£l2 3s 4d) and other accounts (£SO 16s 3d) were passed for payment. One candidate was initiated. The quarterly balance sheet and auditors’ report were read and adopted. The meeting dealt with the balance sheet of the hall committee for the half-year ended December 31, which was presented by Bro. Flannclley. It was decided that the management committee be requested to draw up a programme for the social entertainment of the members during the winter months. A request from the United Friendly Societies’ Board that the society co-operate with other friendly societies in making a presentation to the president of that body, in recognition of his services in bringing the hospital scheme into operation, was referred to the management, committee for con-

sideration. Arrangements in connection with the forthcoming bazaar, which is Being promoted for the purpose y of redxxcixxg a long outstanding debt on the hall,' are" ,•. ■>• • being rapidly pushed forward, and a large number of art union tickets are now in circulation. With a view to furnishing the- various stalls, a progressive euchreC party - and social will be held in the Oddfellows’ Hall, St. Asaph street, on February 10, and on the Saturday previous to-this date a jumble sale will be held, the proceeds of which will be devoted to the same object.