Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, 10 February 1916, Page 24

Diocesan News

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON ■ ■ (From our own correspondent.) February 4. The parish festival, organised by the Very Rev. Father O'Connell, S.M., concluded on Tuesday evening, after a most successful run of nine nights. . Sergeant Paul F. Stratford, a member of the Hibernian Society, has been promoted to the rank of Sergeant-Major. He leaves for the front in March. His Excellency the Apostolic Delegate arrived from the. south on Sunday morning, and left on the following morning, accompanied by his Grace Archbishop Redwood, for -Napier. Mr. John Hopkins, of the State Coal Department, and a member of St. Patrick's branch of the Hibernian Society, was, prior to going- into camp, entertained by his fellow employees, and presented with some useful articles. The secular clergy of the archdiocese went into retreat at St. Patrick's College last Monday. The retreat concluded on Friday, and on the same day the priests of the Marist Order, engaged in the archdiocese, went into retreat, which will conclude on Thursday next. The many friends of Sergeant 'Charles Gamble, a prominent member of the Catholic Club, will regret to learn of his serious illness (pneumonia) at the Hospital, Cairo. Sergeant Gamble is a member of -the G.P.O. staff, and went with the main body as paymastersergeant.

The final meeting of the committee, which had arranged the reception to his Excellency the Apostolic Delegate, was held on Tuesday evening under the presidency of Mr. J. J. L. Burke, when accounts, etc., were passed for payment. Letters of ~ thanks to all those who helped to make the reception a success were ordered to be sent.

The Wellington Catholic Education Board met' last Wednesday, under the presidency of Mr. J. J. L. Burke. The Rev. Father Hurley was'- among those present, whilst apologies were received from his Grace Archbishop O’Shea, Very Rev. Dean Regnault, and the Very Rev, Father Q’Connell, Accounts totalling £l7O were passed for payment.

Mr. A. H. Casey, solicitor, formerly of Wellington and now established in Vancouver, has always the interest of Wellington at heart. He keeps the Mayor posted from time to time with matters in which he thinks the Corporation would be interested, such, for instance, as tramways, parks, and civic methods generally. In a long letter to the Mayor just received, Mr. Casey furnishes particulars of a new line of steamships which proposes to’run to Australia and New Zealand, via Honolulu from Seattle. . ; The new steamship line will be run by the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railway.

A sale of work in connection with the Marist Brothers’ School in Hawkestone street was opened by his Grace Archbishop Redwood last Tuesday evening. The proceeds are to be devoted to the renovation funds of the school, and in performing the opening ceremony his Grace apologised for the absence of Dean Regnault, who had had to leave for the north. There was a very large attendance of the public, and the many active workers who were assisting in various ways lost few opportunities of assisting the cause for which the bazaar was organised. The stalls included those for sweets, produce, plain and fancy-work, etc., and several art unions materially added' to the funds. The stallholders were as follow: —Produce, Mrs. Gibbs and Mrs. McMannaway, assisted by Misses Blake, Payne, and Mrs. Mannering; fancy stall, Mrs. Bolton and Mrs, Keefe, assisted by Miss Sheridan, Misses Dignan (2), McMahon, Prendergast, and Campbell; ice cream and

sweets, Mrs. Sommerville, assisted by the Misses Tiller (2) and O’Malley. A musical programme "had been arranged by Mr. Sievers, and an interesting and clever display of illusions and conjuring was given by Mr. Oakley.

ST. MARY'S SEWING GUILD. (From an occasional correspondent.) St. Mary's Sewing Guild has had a very successful year, the attendance at the meetings being very good. The membership has increased to 20, seven new members having joined during the year. We regret to record the death of one of our members, Mrs Brooks, who was a very earnest worker. During the year we lost the services of our vice-president, Miss Reichel, who has left the district. Mrs. Lawlor, one of our oldest members, was elected to fill her place. We return our sincere thanks to all who have assisted the guild during the past year. We have received donations in cash, £9 16s; 12 parcels of new garments and material, and 13 parcels of second-hand garments. Members have worked extra .afternoons for the Belgians, Home of Compassion, and the Women's Hostel. Forty-three meetings were held, and members have made 426 garments, and sent 125 to the Belgians, and 68 to the Home of Compassion. Assistance has been given to 41 cases new garments distributed, 215; second-hand, 131 ; and six yards of material given away.