DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 11 January 1917, Page 26

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(From our own correspondent.) ; : January 5. The Marist Brothers from the North Island districts are now assembled in Auckland, and this evening at the Sacred Heart College, Richmond road, entered upon their annual retreat, which is bein°- conducted by Rev. Father O'Shea, S.J., from Australia. Rev. Father Taylor this evening addressed the women's branch of the Holy Family Confraternity and gave an outline of the various duties and arduous and exacting courses through which ecclesiastical students pass in their preparation for the high and holy office ot the priesthood. ' ~ - - . ~ Rev. Father Corcoran, S.J.; preached at St. Patrick's Cathedral last Sunday evening on the great festival of the Nativity, The rev. preacher spoke of the lessons to be derived by mankind from Christ's thirty-three years' labors on earth. On Monday, January 8, Father Corcoran commences the retreat for ladies at the Sacred Heart Convent, Remuera. On the vacant allotment behind the Sacred Heart Church, Ponsonby, a new, commodious, and up-to-date presbytery is about to be erected. In this connection Father Carran has made arrangements of a most advantageous character, and priests and people are to be heartily congratulated upon their good fortune. In connection with the Ponsonby parish it is interesting to chronicle that the total Communicants for the past year amounted to 28,400. Rev. Father Henry, S.M., of Wellington, delivered the weekly address to the Holy Family Confraternity on Tuesday evening last. The'subject" was love and respect for Almighty God. In this was true greatness, and not in the acquisition of material advancement and riches. The names of those saintly men and women who had given their lives in the service of God, and for the betterment of those amongst whom they had labored in this world would be remembered and cherished when the name and fame of those who had wrought worldly renown would be forgotten. His Grace Archbishop Carr, of Melbourne, the Right Rev. Dr. Phelan, of Sale, and the Rev. Father Martin, of Kilmore, Victoria, arrived in Auckland at an early hour on last Wednesday morning. They made a short stay in the city and left for Te Aroha this morning, via Thames, where they purpose staying until Saturday next, owing to the crowded nature of the accommodation houses at Te Aroha. They are due at Te Aroha on Saturday, where they will remain for a few weeks, returning thence to Aitckland and on to Australia. While in Auckland they staved at the Bishop's Palace, Ponsonby. Two important statements have, within the last few days, been placed before the Auckland public—one from the Acting Minister of Finance (the Hon. A. M. Myers, M.P.), which showed: that in the calendar year of 1915, the Customs returns yielded .£3,199,612, "and beer duty for the same period £137,726. ' For the calendar year 1916, Customs, £3,833,427, and beer duty £189,001. Customs increase in 1916 over 1915 amounted to £633,815, while the increase in the beer duty was £51,775. / vV--.v:-::v--The Minister, despite his buoyant revenue, uttered a solemn warning to the public to conserve their means, and to practice habits of economy and thrift. The other statement has been issued by the Auckland RacingClub, and in view of Mr. Myers' admonition 'to exer"