DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 1 February 1917, Page 30

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(From cur own correspondent.) January 26. A meeting was held on last Sunday, the 28th inst., to make arrangements for the celebration of St. Patrick’s Day of this year. Rev. Father Herring, S.M., having completed the retreat for the Sisters of St. Joseph at St. Joseph’s Convent, Grey Lynn, left by train last Tuesday morning for the south. The retreat for the diocesan clergy, conducted by the Rev. Father Corcoran, S.J., of Riverview College, Sydney, concluded this morning at the Sacred Heart College, Pousonby. Rev. Mother ,Baplista, Mother-General of the Sisters of St. Joseph, arrived in Auckland last Monday by the Niagara from Sydney, and left last night by express train for the south. His Lordship Bishop Brodie, who was to have blessed and opened the new school at Taumarunui next; month, has wired Rev. Father Forde, priest in charge, regretting his inability to be present. ° His Grace Archbishop Carr and his Lordship Bishop Phelan are expected to return to Auckland from Te Aroha towards the end of next week, and will leave here for Sydney by the next Vancouver steamer. Our worthy and very capable Mayor (Mr. J. H. Gunson) was asked by the Auckland City Council at its meeting last evening, and the request was unanimously expressed, to stand for another term as Mayor of Auckland. The Mayor consented to do so, and the citizens generally, as well as the Council, are to be congratulated on the prospects of Mr. Gnnson’s retention of the office of Chief Citizen. Rev. Dr. Ormond, secretary to the Papal Delegate, addressed the men’s Holy Family Confraternity last Tuesday evening, and expressed his great delight at renewing his acquaintance with the confraternity after two years. He was pleased to find*' it still vigorous

: ' —’• 5- S''\; '* 1 —— j ;'■ ;■‘J'Ty'y- y.v v - — ., ; and flourishing, despite the numbers who had gone "to ‘ the war. ■ ;. He * then gave a most interesting account of» the activity of the Church ■ in- the Commonwealth ; the birth, evolution and ' ■ expansion ;of . the . great Catholic ’ teaching; Orders, the number of Sisters and Brothers e ) l S a S e d ,in primary, secondary, and University, education, together . with the • number of ■•; educational establishments, to which would shortly be added the Catholic University -College in Melbourne, were interestingly described. • Dr. Ormond took charge of- the Cathedral parish during the absence of Rev. Father Murphy, •Adm., on .retreat. s ' A young man found himself in an awkward position at the S.M. vCourt last Wednesday. He had been discussing the war with two lady , friends, one or both of whom told him, he should be at the front, and if he were in Germany and. expressed such sentiments he would be shot.’ To- which he replied: That would only be carrying out that which had been meted out to Sheehy-Skeffiugton in Ireland.’ The two wom6n communicated; with the police, the young fellow was arrested, and spent three nights in a cell, 7 and but for evidence given by two military officers in his favor under whom the young man had served in the artillery for the last six years, and in which he was now actually a sergeant, it would have gone hard with him. Mr. Fraser, the presiding Magistrate, in giving judgment, said the two women had given straightforward evidence, but he could not overlook that of the two officers; therefore, Bennett’s loyalty was not in question, but he had given utterance to disloyal sentiments, and he would be fined .£2 and costs. A moderately attended meeting of the Auckland branch of the H.A.C.B. Society was held last Sunday afternoon to consider the model - proposals of the Government in relation to Friendly Societies. The branch president, Bro. A. J. Woodley, presided. The Very Rev. Chancellor Holbrook, district president, was present. Bro. W. Kane, secretary, read and explained the proposals. A general discussion ensued. ’ Bro. the Hon. W. Beehan, M.L.C., who had taken an active interest in the measure when it was before Parliament and in Committee, favored the adoption of the proposals in some degree. Bro. Nerheny failed to see any benefit likely to accrue to the branch under the proposals. lie was strongly of the opinion that it was but the thin edge of the wedge sought to be. inserted by the Government with the ultimate intention. of absorbing the whole of the business of Friendly Societies. The meeting finally decided to draw the attention of members to No. 1 proposal, the maternity benefit, and to No. 4, the annuity payment on a member reaching the age of 60 years.