DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 18 May 1916, Page 32

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(From our own correspondent.)

May 12. His Grace Archbishop O'Shea addressed the Confraternity of the Holy Family in the Cathedral on Tuesday evening. Tnere was a very large muster, and his Grace, before commencing his lecture on his travels through the United States, highly complimented and heartily congratulated the members on their fine attendance that evening. It was encouraging to bishop, priests, and people generally to witness so fine a demonstration of faith. In the course of the lecture his Grace said that in America there was a population of roughly 102,000,000. In that number there must be at least 15,000,000 Catholics. The Catholics in San Francisco numbered about 54 per cent, of the population. During the last quarter of a century Los Angeles had gone ahead in a very rapid manner, and was modern in every way. The Catholic Church had made wonderful progress in that city in the last twelve years. His Grace said that about onethird of the population of Chicago was Catholic, and every Sunday the faith of the Church was preached in about 25 different languages and dialects. In Indiana the Church had established many large educational institutions. The chief interest for Catholics in'Washington was the university. The most recent census showed that the population of New York comprised* 5,066,000 people. The Catholic population of the city stood at about one-third of this number.

In the primary schools' cricket competition, just now closed, the Marist Brothers' School, Vermont street, is well up on the list. Though they made a bad start, being beaten by Mount Eden by six wickets, they have done very well in all the succeeding games. Playing Remuera they made 99 (Duval .49, Loft 18, Griffin 17), and Remuera made 27 ; Moore bowling 4, and Casey 6. Mount Albert, last year's premiers, and till now an unbeaten team, made 49 in the first innings, 6 being caught and 2 run out. Marist Brothers made 53, winning by 4 runs. In the second innings, Marists had 2 down for 80. Edendale made 8 in the first innings, and 12 in the second innings, Moore getting 12 wickets, Duval 5, Casey 3. Marist Brothers made 110—Duval 50, Sweeney 20, Stevenson 18, —winning by an innings and 90 runs. In the last match, Normal were all out for 51, the Brothers' team responding with 255—N. Moore 20, Duval 74, Casey 12, Loft 39, Sweeney 86 not out. The competition will be continued after the football, when Devonport, so far unbeaten,"will be played. L. Duval (captain) won the medal presented by an old friend of the school, with a batting average of 42. At the close of the annual conference of the H.A.C..P. Society, held recently in Auckland, the delegates were taken through some of the local educational institutions. They first visited the Marist Brothers' School in Vermont street, where they were met by the Director (Brother Calixtus), who showed them through, and explained the improvements that had been effected in the construction of the school, and, as

this school, which has only recently , been built, is right up to date in every respect, it" contained much useful instruction and information to the visitors, who are all deeply interested in educational matters. They were then invited to the teachers' conference, the first that has been held in Auckland, and ' were welcomed by the Rev. Father Murphy, Adm., St. Patrick's Cathedral. Bro. Duggan (Oamaru) suitably replied. The sight of those 120 teachers, principally Sisters, sitting there day after day for a week discussing ways and - means of imparting education to the young, was a sight, that impressed the visitors greatly, especially those who came from the smaller centres. From there they proceeded to the Sacred Heart College, where they were met by the Director (Brother Penignus), and over two hours were spent in that institution. The main building is very fine, and the grounds have an area of about 15 acres. The main features are simplicity, cleanliness, and large spacious airy rooms. On the ground floor' are the dining-room, kitchen, library, storerooms: on the second floor, classrooms, chapel, reception rooms, and offices: on the top floor, dormitory, Brothers' library and rooms. The out-buildings comprise gymnasium, science room, classroom, and another dormitory, which was recently built to meet the growing requirements. There are 120 students attending the college, and in each classroom a short speech was made by one of the visitors, exhorting the boys to follow the good principles inculcated by those zealous Brothers, who had devoted their lives to the education of the younger generation, so that they would be able to take up the battle' of life, well fortified in every respect. Some considerable time was spent in the laboratory, and the Director explained the use of the various intricate instruments, some of which he informed the visitors could not be found in some of the universities. It did not require one to be very observant to see that the laboratory' was one of the features of the college that the Director was very proud of. A museum, although but recently started, already possesses some very rare and valuable objects. From there the visitors proceeded to the agricultural plots, which are worked entirely by the students of the Agriculture class, and various experiments were being made, showing the effects of different fertilizers, etc., these being most instructive to those who take an interest in the cultivation of the soil. Not only are the educational wants attended to, but also the recreation wants. They have fine football grounds, about eight cricket pitches (concrete), lawn tennis, and three handball courts, while the gymnasium is fully provided with all requisites. An adjournment was made to the library, where several toasts were duly honored, and the visitors left, after expressing- their thanks to the Brother Director for his great kindness and courtesy, and greatly impressed and delighted with their visit.