DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 4 November 1915, Page 24

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) November 1. At Vespers in the Cathedral on last Sunday evening the Very Rev. Father Roche, C.SS.R., preached to a large congregation on the duties—in prayers and good works—the faithful owe to the suffering souls of the departed, and especially on the efficacy of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. The discourse, based on the text ‘ It is a holy and wholesome thought to pray for the dead, that they may be loosed from their sins,’ was a particularly impressive one. The Rev. Father Richards, late of Hawarden, who left New Zealand as chaplain with the Second Reinforcements, in a letter to the Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., of the Cathedral, dated from Gallipoli September 6, says : ‘On our way up from Alexandria our ship was torpedoed by a submarine, but happily she floated a long time and was eventually beached. I got away on a raft an hour and a-half after the torpedo struck, and was picked up four and a-half hours after the ship was hit.’ Father Richards concludes by saying that a brother who went to the front as a trooper in the Main Australian Force has been killed in action, and another brother in the Lancashire Regiment has earned the V.C., though he lost a leg in doing so. The usual fortnightly meeting of St. Patrick’s branch of the H.A.C.B. Society was held in the Hibernian Hall on Monday evening last. Bro. J. Curry (president) presided over a moderate attendance of members. A tender was accepted for the installation of the electric light in the hall. Provision was made for a thorough renovation of the interior of the hall so as to have it available for social purposes next season. The quarterly balance sheet, which showed all the funds of the branch to. be in a flourishing condition, was received and adopted. Commenting on the membership roll, as shown by the quarterly returns, the president said that a grand total of 300 members was now in sight,: and he urged each member to do his utmost to bring the membership of the branch up to ; that number before ? the next’ quarterly meeting. One candidate was initiated, and one was proposed for membership. Accounts amounting to £55 8s 8d were passed .for payment. •- •: \ ' •

The annual meeting of the Cathedral Tennis ’ Club was held in the Catholic Clubrooms, Wiltshire Buildings, on Saturday evening, October 23, the president (Mr. J t R. Hayward) presiding. The report and balance sheet were adopted. During the past season the club had entered a team in the junior B grade competition, and had played with a very fair measure of success. Arrangements for entries for this season’s competitions were left in the hands of the committee. Opening day was fixed for Saturday, November 20. Sir George Clifford, Bart., is patron of the club, and the Rev. Fathers Murphy, 8.A., and Long, and Messrs. H. H. Loughnan and E. T. Harper hon. vicepresidents. Officers for the present year were elected as follow; President, Mr. J. R. Hayward vice-presi-dents—Messrs. J. Cronin, B. O’Connor, and T. O’Connell ; club captain, Mr. B. O’Connor; treasurer, Mr. J. R. Hayward; secretary, Mr. H. A. C. Cahill auditor, Mr, G. Dobbs ; committee— Meacham, Canavan, A. and N. Donnell, Messrs. J. McNamara, P. J. Amodeo, and E. L. McKeon. The children’s carnival day, under the auspices of the North Canterbury Public Schools’ Amateur Athletic Association, was observed on last Saturday on Lancaster Park. About thirty schools were represented, and two thousand children participated in the grand parade, the chief spectacular display of the great gathering. The Marist Brothers’ School boys, as one of the squads, looked exceedingly well in uniform, the school colors, green and black, being conspicuously prominent. Bro. Calixtus, principal of the school, had a busy day as one of the officials. By unanimous request the entire prize money (£35) was donated to the patriotic fund (certificates being given instead), as were also the whole returns from the carnival represented by 10,000 tickets sold, and the gate takings, which were heavy. The Marist School was successful in securing the following places in the various contests : —BBO yards championship, G. Getson 1, L. Neilson 2; high jump (open), G. Getson 2;• 50 yards (under 9 years), T. McKenzie 2, P. Barnard (tie) 3 ; 880 yards senior relay (open teams of four), 15 teams’ Marists 3; 100 yards (under 13 years), J. Dobbs 2.

Temuka (From our own correspondent.) The devotion of the Forty Hours’ Adoration will commence in St. Joseph’s Church on Sunday week. Rev. Father Goggan, S.M., is relieving Rev. Father Ainsworth, S.M., who, for the next fortnight, will be engaged preaching retreats in Timaru. Instead .of the customary school concert on December 16 in aid of the local Sisters of St. Joseph, it has been decided this year to call on outside assistance, and have an entertainment, the proceeds from which will be divided between the Sisters and the local Catholic guild of the Red Cross Society. At the reception given to the returned soldiers last evening, after a few remarks by the Mayor (Mr. A. Frew), Rev. Father Ainsworth, S.M., was called upon to speak. Although taken unawares, he was equal to the occasion, and his patriotic remarks drew forth hearty applause from the vast assembly. He drew a vivid picture of the present state of affairs, and urged all who could possibly do so to enlist, and keep up to the full strength the ranks that are so depleted by the loss of those who have fallen and those who are and will be in the future returning wounded and invalided. He congratulated those who had returned, after doing their duty so nobly, and trusted that with God’s blessing they would -be speedily restored to health. Timaru (From our own correspondent.) > : • ■ , ' ' November 1. > At the recent examinations, held by the Technical School, special prices were given for the best hand-

writing. The second and third places were secured by ex-pupils of the Sacred Heart Girls’ School.

, The retreat for the Children of Mary and young ladies of the parish, which is to be preached by Rev. Father Ainsworth, S.M., is to commence this evening.

There was a large attendance of ladies and gentlemen at the Brown Street Hall on Wednesday evening last to consider the proposal for holding a picnic on Boxing Day. It was decided to hold the outing at Fairlie, and a strong committee, of which Rev. Father Murphy was elected president, Mr. N. Mangos secretary, and Mr. F. Cotter assistant-secretary, was formed to make all arrangements. Various sub-committees were set up to arrange sports programmes, etc. These are to report at a further general meeting, which is to be held in a few weeks’ time.