DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 3 February 1916, Page 25

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(By telegraph,- from, our own correspondent.)

January 31. Our primary schools opened to-day, and the attendances were excellent.

His Lordship Bishop Phelan, of Sale, is to preach at Vespers at St. Patrick's Cathedral on Sunday, February 6.

The reception committee in connection with the visit of his Excellency the Apostolic Delegate are actively engaged in arranging their plans. . They are. working most zealously and constantly, and no detail, however minute, is overlooked. This is the way to assure success. The reports of the southern welcomes, especially that accorded his Excellency in Dunedin, have stirred up the local committee to still greater efforts.

The committee, which have the arrangements in hand for the reception of his Excellency the Apostolic Delegate, had intended that High Mass was to be celebrated in the Domain Cricket Ground during his Excellency's visit, but abandoned the idea. The Orange Society took alarm, and at the last meeting of the Auckland City Council a letter was received from one of the lodges, requesting that any application made by the Catholic Church for permission to celebrate High Mass on the Domain be refused. There was a second letter from the Protestant Federation on the same subject, and another Orange lodge objected to the holding of a street procession of a religious character as well as against the celebrating of Mass in the Domain. The letters were ' received.'

The Devonport Convent High School, having been superseded by a parochial institution, a well-attended meeting of parishioners was held on Sunday, January 30, to consider ways and means for subsidising the parish school. Ultimately, it was decided to appoint a St. Leo's school committee, consisting of Messrs. T. P. Gilfedder, J. P. Wright, A. Cowan, Jas. V. Lawes, C. E. Cuming, McGann, and Siever, to formulate a scheme. At a subsequent meeting of the school committee, Mr. Lawes was elected secretary. On the motion of Mr. Gilfedder, the following principle was adopted for submission to a general meeting:—(l) That all householders having children attending' the school contribute a uniform stipulated yearly fee on a basis of say less than half the present amount; (2) that adult wage-earners, who have no children of school age, contribute £1 per annum.

In the University and public examinations the Catholic colleges still continue to hold their own with other secondary schools. The ( Sacred Heart College is well represented in the successes of 1915. Six boys passed matriculationM. Reddington, M. Sayegh, M. Flynn, M. Rodgers, P. O'Connor, J. Foley, T. Carroll, Reddington, Rogers, and Sayegh passed the medical preliminary and solicitors' general knowledge. In the public service entrance examination, passes were secured by Bailey, Carroll, Duggan, Counery, Foley, Flynn, O'Connor, and Reddington. Reddington, who won his scholarship at the college from the Marist Brothers' School, Christchurch, gained a place of great distinction, coming second in Auckland, and 20th for all New Zealand —a place of which he should be proud, when one considers that 670 passed the examination. In the intermediate examination, by which a boy is entitled to a senior free place, the following students were successful:—K. Champion, B. Goldwater, R. Hodge, J. Martin, S. McLoughlin, S. McMillan, M. O'Rorke, P. O'Connor, D. Palmer, J. Woodley, J. O'Rorke.

A meeting of the representatives of the city and suburban Catholic parishes to make arrangements for the celebration of St. Patrick's Day was held yesterday afternoon in the Hibernian Hall, Mr. P. J. Nerheny being in the chair. There were also present Very Rev. ; Chancellor Holbrook, D.S., Rev. Fathers Murphy ( (Adm., St. Patrick's), and Bleakley (Ponsonby), and Rev. Brothers Calixtus and Phelan. The officers for this year's celebration were chosen as follow President, Right Rev. Dr. Cleary; vice-presidents P. J. Nerheny, T. P. Gilfedder, and J. J. O'Brien; general secretary, Mr. A. J. Woodley; treasurer, Mr. M. J. Sheahan. Sub-committees were set up to deal with the sports and concert. Adult sports were eliminated this year in consequence of the war, and the sports are to be confined to the children. A resolution congratulating the Right Rev. Dr. .Brodie, who had assisted numerous St. Patrick's Day celebrations, upon his appointment as Bishop of Christchurch was passed. The secretary was directed to secure the use of the Domain Cricket Ground and the Town Hall for March 17. Brother Calixtus was appointed chairman of the sports committee. A general meeting of St. Benedict's Club was held on Monday last, when there was a large attendance of members. The president (Mr. F. G. J. Temm) presided, and there were present Right Rev. Mgr. Gillan, V.G., and Rev. Fathers Carran, Kelly, and Flynn. The president explained that before dealing with the formal business of the meeting, Monsignor Gillan, patron of the club, desired to formally introduce the new chaplain to the club in succession to the Rev. Father Forde. The chairman welcomed the Right Rev.

Mgr. Gillan to the clubrooms, and thanked him for the great interest he had always displayed in the welfare of the club. He also extended a very hearty welcome to Rev. Father . Carran, of Ponsonby, and explained that at the conclusion of the ordinary business a little social entertainment in honor of the visit of Father Carran and the accession to office of the new chaplain would take place. Monsignor Gillan then introduced the Rev. Father G. Kelly, as chaplain to the club, and expressed the hope that under his guidance the club would continue to prosper. Father Kelly briefly replied, thanking Monsignor Gillan for the confidence placed in him, and for the cordial welcome extended to him by the members. At the conclusion of the general business, refreshments were partaken of. A short musical programme was rendered, and was interspersed with the usual toasts. Rev. Father Carran briefly addressed . the members of the club, and thanked them for the hearty welcome tendered him. He assured them that ho had always taken a great interest in the welfare of the club, and wished it every success.: