Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, 12 October 1916, Page 23

Diocesan News

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON (From our own correspondent.} October 7. Lieutenant E. Burrows, of the Post Office, Masterton, was killed in action in France, recently. His widow is a sister of the Rev. Father O’Leary, S.M., Thorndon, and Mr. 11. F. O’Leary, solicitor, of this city. The unveiling of the statue of St. Vincent de Paul, which is to be erected at St. Mary of the Angels’ Church by the Catholic Club in honor of the late Rev. Father Charles J. Venning, S.M., will take place on next Sunday evening, October 15. A very successful euchre party was held last Wednesday evening at the residence of Mr. F. Lissington, Karori, in aid of the new Catholic church building fund. There was a large attendance, and the gathering proved exceedingly pleasant and enjoyable. A number of lady workers supplied and served a plentiful supply of refreshments. The following were the winners of the euchre prizes— Casey, Mrs. Prendeville (special), Mrs. Fern, Mr. Spiers, and Mr. Casey. Financial success again attended the efforts of the promoters, who are to be congratulated on the good results. The next euchre party will be given this month by Mr. and Mrs. T. Campbell and Miss Campbell at their residence, Karori.

The grounds of the Home of Compassion at Island Bay, conducted by the Rev. Mother Aubert and her devoted companions, are fast becoming covered in gorse, thereby reducing the grazing space for the home’s cow herd. The Sisters view this with considerable alarm, as it is on the cows that they depend for the pure fresh milk so necessary to rear the seventy or more baby inmates of the home. In previous years working bees, organised by friends, have kept .the grounds clear of the gorse. The Sisters would be extremely grateful to any men who can assist them to clear the grounds. Next Saturday a number of volunteers have promised, but as the grounds are large the number that can assist is unlimited.

The board of management of the Catholic Hostel held their usual monthly meeting on Monday last, there being a good attendance. The usual routine business was dealt with, the reports of the treasurer and secretary being very satisfactory. The matron reported that the hostel was full, 26 of the residents being permanent. The resignation of Mr. Duggan as chairman, consequent on his departure for camp, was received by the members with genuine regret. During his term of office as chairman, both of the provisional committee and board of management, Mr. Duggan has proved an exceptionally energetic, able, and tactful leader, and much of the success of the Hostel is due to these qualities. At the earnest request of the members, Mr. Duggan has consented to hold office until the close of the board’s financial year, which closes at the end of November.

At the monthly general meeting of the Wellington Catholic Guild excellent reports were received from the various districts, including the Upper Hutt. Arrangements were made for the ‘ At Home ’ to be held in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall, when the raffles will be drawn. Mrs. Luke (Mayoress) has consented

to preside at the function. An energetic committee was formed to manage a stall at Boulcott street corner in connection with ‘ Our Day ’ Red Cross demonstration. As it is proposed to sell flowers, sweets, homemade cakes, and produce of any description, the committee will be grateful for any donation of any kind, and arrangements will be made to collect donations to this worthy cause which must appeal to the hearts of all. All communications should be made to the secretary, Miss Wheeler, Wellington College. The following were sent to the Lady Liverpool fund: — loo pairs socks, 13 balaclavas, 7 pairs mittens, and 1 waistcoat. To the Red Cross—ll girdles, 23 face cloths, and 1 pair bed socks. Fifty pairs socks are being sent direct to the chaplains. The result of the recent ‘ social ’ and sale of work organised for the relief of the Upper Hutt Orphanage is most gratifying. The total receipts cam© to £242, and the expenditure to £ls, leaving the handsome balance of £227. A cheque for that amount was presented by the chairman (Mr. J. J. L. Burke), on behalf of the committee, last Sunday, to the Sister in charge of the institution, the Rev. Sister Mary Ambrose. Mr. Burke, who was accompanied by members of the committee and workers, said the work of the Sisters in conducting the orphanage was greatly appreciated by the citizens of Wellington, who, when the financial circumstances were made known to them, responded most nobly to the appeal which the committee made, and in no instance were they refused help. He trusted that the amount raised would assist them, and he was quite sure that if further help was needed those who so successfully organised the recent function would again come to the assistance of the orphanage. Sergeant F. A. Levin, hon. secretary to the committee, on behalf of the Sisters, not only of the orphanage, but also of the Rev. Mother St. Mary’s Convent, expressed gratitude to those who had so ably assisted in the sale of work. They wished to thank the Mayor (Mr. J. P. Luke) for granting the use of the Town Hall and performing the opening ceremony. The Sisters then conducted the members of the committee round the institution, the children being assembled in one of the large rooms. They looked a bright and happy family, thriving well under the care of the devoted Sisters. In addition to the cheque handed to the Sisters by the committee, the sum of £27 subscribed in the military camps has been forwarded to the Sisters direct. Mr. C. A. Seymour (father of the Rev. Father Seymour, S.M., St. Mary’s, Christchurch, and Sisters Mary Raymond and Mary Elizabeth, St. Joseph’s Convent, Newtown) retired on Saturday from the position of postmaster at Lower Hutt to enjoy a well-earned rest on land which he has taken up at Pahautanui. Mr. Seymour joined the service, as a cadet, in Wellington, in March, 1874, and was afterwards transferred to Nelson, and later to the West Coast, being stationed at times in several of the costal towns. He afterwards returned to Nelson, and from there came to Lower Hutt, from where he retired after eight years’ service. Mr. Symour will be greatly missed by the Lower Hutt community, amongst whom he has proved himself a most painstaking and obliging officer. He is held in high esteem by his staff, who on Friday evening presented him with a travelling rug. The presentation was made by Mr. B. H. Parker, who is acting-post-master until a successor is appointed. Mr. Parker eulogised the services rendered to the Department and the district by Mr. Seymour, who, he said, had at all times been alive to the requirements of the progressive suburb. In replying, Mr. Seymour expressed his regret at parting from the staff, with which he had always worked in entire harmony.. He referred to the muchimproved conditions obtaining in the Department as compared with the hard and strenuous times through which he had served in his early days on the West Coast. He considered, however, that there was still further room for improvement in the salaries of many juniors who were performing most important • work. An enlarged photograph of the staff is being prepared for presentation to Mr. Seymour at a later date. On

Saturday afternoon, Mr. E. P. Rishworth (president of the Hutt Bowling Club) presented Mr. Seymour, on behalf of the bowlers, with a souvenir of their regard upon his leaving the district. BAZAAR AT THORNDON. A bazaar in aid of the Northland Catholic Church was opened on Saturday afternoon in the Goring, Street Hall by his Grace Archbishop Redwood, who was introduced by the Rev. Father Smith. Father Smith explained that the growth of the parishes of Karori, Kelburn, and Northland necessitated a central church, which was now being built on a section near the Karori tunnel, the ground having been given to the Church by the Hon. C. J. Johnston, and the new church would probably be ready in a fortnight’s time. Archbishop Redwood declared the bazaar open, and wished it success, so that there would be a substantial cheque to hand to the building fund by the end of the four days of the bazaar. The stalls were prettily arranged with trellis work, in which was entwined red or pink flowers, and the tearoom at the head of the stairs was similarly decorated, the windows having a wooden trellis over each, twined with red birch and pink flowers. An annexe of the tearoom in the main hall sold cakes and several other things, three large cakes which formed the prizes for guessing competitions, being decorated with the flags of England, France, and Belgium. There were any number of pretty and useful articles on the work stall, and the produce stall was well stocked with good things. The stallholders were:—Northland stall (refreshments) —Mesdames Putnam, Rawley, Smith, McGovern, Maher, and Levey. Karori stall (produce and sweets) —Mesdames J. J. Casey, Connor, and Hickmott. Misses Maginnity, Feeney, M. Feeney, and Saunders. Kelburn stall (art needlework and fancy goods)—Mesdames Guscott and McNamara, Bolton, Sievers, , Mannering, and Page, and Misses Wynne, Kelly, and Whitaker. An entertainment was given during the evening, which had been arranged by Miss Doris Guise, many of her dancing pupils taking part, and giving a charming little entertainment. Misses Beryl Ward, Moira Bird, Molly Ellis, Ngaire Williamson, Kathleen and Rita Reece danced a minuet. Violet Whyte gave a pretty solo, ‘ Air du ballet,’ Kathleen Reece and Ngaire Williamson, ‘Loin du Bal,’ Kathleen Reece, a Spanish dance, and Ngaire Williamson a ‘ Dance of spring ’ and ‘La carnival.’ A ‘ Marche Militaire ’by three of these children was also a good item. Master Winston McCarthy gave some Harry Lauder songs during the evening. On Monday and . Wednesday evening the entertainment was provided by the pupils of the Marist Brothers’ School, Thorndon. The bazaar continued right up to Thursday evening, fresh entertainments being furnished each evening. There were good attendances, and the Rev. Father Smyth and his hard-working committee of ladies and gentlemen are to be commended on the successful result of their efforts. -