Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, 8 February 1917, Page 26

Diocesan News

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

(From our own correspondent.) February 3. Mr. Fred Bourke, of Auckland, and Mrs. R. A. Power, of Dunedin, both well-known singers, have been engaged for the St. Patrick’s Night concert. Chaplain-Captain Richards, formerly parish priest of Ilawarden, who joined the Main New Zealand Expeditionary Force in Egypt, and who was through the Gallipoli campaign, and is now in France, has been awarded the Military Cross. The Rev. Father Walsh, who for many years has been assistant to the Very Rev. Dean Lane at the Lower Hutt, has been placed in charge of the parish of Eltham. The Rev. Father Forrestal, of Palmerston North, succeeds Father Walsh at the Hutt. The Marist Brothers of Newtown and their pupils have shown their practical sympathy with the poor and distressed in Ireland by forwarding the handsome sum of £ls to the Tablet. This is in addition to the sum of £8 raised for the Belgian Fund. The Rev. Brother Egbert, his colleagues, and the boys are to be congratulated on their praiseworthy efforts for a cause so deserving. An interesting ceremony took place at St. Bride’s Convent, Masterton, yesterday, when Miss McKenna, daughter of Mr. James McKenna, of Newman, and a niece of the Right Rev. Mgr. McKenna, of Masterton, and of the Rev. Father T. McKenna, of Pahiatua, received the habit of the 'Order. The ceremony was performed by Archbishop O’Shea in the presence of a number of clergy and friends. Private information has been received of the death in the Randwick Military Hospital, Sydney, of Private Frederick M. Marshall, of the 4th Battalion, Australian Expeditionary Force. Private Marshall, who was a brother of Mr. Frank Marshall, of the Post’s literary staff, was a native of this city, and was educated at the Marist Brothers’ School. He joined the Australian army at the outbreak of the war, and was in the first landing on Gallipoli. Private Marshall was buried bv a shell-burst in the assault on Lone Pine by the Australian First Brigade in August, 1915. He was invalided to Egypt, and subsequently returned to Australia, where he received his discharge a few months ago. The. shock from the shell resulted in heart trouble, and from this he died on the 23rd ult. in Sydney. „ ,

At the half-yearly meeting of the St. Aloysius’ branch ; oft. the H.A.C.B:. Society;,(Bro. J.Redican presiding), the. secretary (Bro.; Giles) ■ submitted a report of. the .year’s; work. • ’ The members of the branch being mostly single had contributed a large number of members to the Expeditionary : Force, and in consequence the numerical strength of the society was practically at a standstill., , The financial position of tne branch was extremely satisfactory, the sick pay for the year being the lowest on record, the total being £29. The election of officers resulted as follows:President, Bro. J. Redican; vice-president, Bro, J. Heavey; treasurer, Bro. J. Stratford permanent secretary, Bro. W. H. Giles warden, Bro. C. Hannan ; guardian, Bro. W. Dougall ; sick visitors, Bros. T. Murphy and J. Fagan ; auditors, Bi-os. J. L. Murphy and J. Heavey; delegate to Dispensary, Bro. J. Stratford ; delegate to Medical Institute, Bro. W. H. Giles. An interesting ceremony took place at St. Francis of Sales’ Church, Parade, Island Bay, on the evening of Sunday, week, the occasion being the presentation to the church by Mrs. T. Connell of a valuable monstrance. The monstrance was received by the Yen. Archdeacon Devoy and placed by him. The occasional sermon was preached by the Rev. Father Kimbell, who spoke of the origin and meaning of the ceremony of Benediction. The ceremony concluded with Benediction, given by the Yen. Archdeacon Devoy. The altar and sanctuary were very tastefully decorated by Misses M. Henriessy and A. Charlton, and the music for the occasion was provided by the choir, under the conductorship of Mr. W. Elliott, Mrs. Elliott presiding at the organ. A collection taken up on behalf of the * Altar Society resulted in a considerable sum being received. The new monstrance, which was used for the first time on the occasion, replaces a silver one of exquisite workmanship and design, which was presented as far back as 1839 to the Rev. Father O’Reilly, of what is now known as St. Mary of the Angels’, but previously was known as Church Street Chapel. The inscription on this, which is now in the keeping of the Yen. Archdeacon Devoy, reads as follows:— ‘ Presented to the Rev. J. P. O’Reilly by his attached and sincere friends as a testimony of their high appreciation of the zeal and truly Christian spirit with which he discharged clerical duties whilst guardian of the Church Street Chapel, 1839.’ On Monday morning special services were held at St. Francis’ Church, being the pastoral feast of the church. The Dominion treasurer of the Catholic Federation acknowledges the following donations to the Catholic Field Service Fund: ■_ Amount previously acknowledged ... £lOl4 4 9 Auckland Diocesan Council, parish of Ormond ... ... ... ... 2 0 0 The Rev. Father Le Pretre, Wairoa, further instalment, making total subscribed by Wairoa £79/8/- ... ... 0 10 0 £lOl6 14 9 Less amount remitted to chaplains, as previously detailed ... ... ... 309 1 6 Balance ... ... ... ... £707 13 3 ST. MARY’S FESTIVAL. A festival in aid of St. Mary’s parish funds was opened on Saturday afternoon on the tennis courts at the back of St. Patrick’s Hall, Boulcott street. His Grace Archbishop O’Shea performed the ceremony of declaring the fete open, while the Rev. Father O’Connell made the introductory speech. He stated that the funds raised were to be devoted to paying off the debt on the parish. Already by two previous fairs and Sunday donations £7OO had been paid, and he hoped by this festival and the good work which everyone had put into it, that the sum required to pay off the remainder of the debtnamely, —would be forthcoming. After the opening speeches a short programme

of music and dancing was given r The Marist Brothers -/, drum, and fife band played.selections, and Miss Dorise Guise’s pupils gave a short programme of dances, I those taking part being the Misses Cecil Ellis, Kathleen Reece, Violet White (who did a clever toe solo), Ngaire Williamson (who gave ‘ The Whirlwind ’), and Dorothy Richardson (who danced a scarf dance, as well as the - ' Waltz Coppelia). The children took part also in a military ballet. • ' ' . ’ " • ‘m,,■». „ , . , , - There were a number of stalls, which were arranged in different places— good idea, as it prevented too much congestion at one part of the grounds. Tea was in the schoolroom, then, the conservatory housed one stall, and two. others were placed on the verandah. Outside was a soft drinks fountain, arranged . very, ; prettily with pot-plants and greenery, and there were ' .. plenty of sweets for sale, .which seemingly always find a ready market. • The work stalls contain many pretty articles, and an art union is being carried on during the festival, many good prizes being available for the lucky winners. The . stall-holders/ are: —Tea kiosk—Mesdames Pearce, McKeowen, Holmes, Healy, Carney, O’Reilly, Misses Pearce, Grey, Ross (2), Jennings, Gregory, Fuller, and Steedman ; Children of Mary’s stall— Mrs. Millington and the Misses Whittaker (2), Worsh, Tudor, Hickey, Mitchell, Lenehan, Curtis, Smith and Tarabonchie; children’s. ; stall — Compton and the Misses O’Brien, Little (2), Driscoll, Ryan, McMurrish, Smith, Black, and Moran; . Altar Society’s stall—Mrs. Scott, Mrs! O’Driscoll, the Misses Kenny, Walker, Smith, Doherty (2), Ward, Corby, Pearce, Little, and Marshall H.A.C.B. Society' —Mrs. Dalton, assisted by Misses B. Craig, K. and M. Griffin, McCarthy, M. and B. Delaney, O’Donoghue, M. Brennan, A. Lyons, M. Morrison, B. McNaughton, and L. Daly. There are a number of side-shows, hoopla, nail-driving, etc., and various competitions, and the assistants are very busy with raffle tickets, surprise packets, etc. Another feature of the festival is a children’s queen carnival. Each stall nominated a candidate, as follows—Altar society, Miss Loretto Driscoll; H.A.C.B. Society, Miss Doris C. Hoskins; Brooklyn, Miss Lucy Carney; children’s, Miss Phyllis Warren; Children of Mary, Miss Rita Ryan. These were all present in their colored robes and crowns, worn with white frocks, on Saturday afternoon, and the selling of tickets for the first place as queen was very brisk. This carnival will be carried on up to the last night of the carnival, when the winner will be announced. A stage has been erected at one end of the tennis court, and on Saturday night, when an entertainment was given, it was brilliantly lit with colored electric lights. The Patriotic Society’s band played selections during the evening, and a programme of song and dance was opened by Miss Guise’s pupils, who repeated their clever performance of the afternoon and were much applauded. The second half of the programme was supplied by the Sports Pierrots, who gave .a number of amusing songs and choruses. Those taking part were: The Misses Simons, Duller, and Read, and Messrs. Eller, McKeon, Clements, Kearney, with Mrs. O’Brien at the piano. The festival was continued each evening, and concludes on Monday, when the winners in the art union will be announced. Every night there was a change of programmethe Charley’s Aunt Club, the Trentham • Camp boys, the Brooklyn Serenaders, and the Pierrots providing first-class entertainments. There was also, during the' week, a competition in National dances for boys and girls under 16, first and second prizes being given, a Highland fling, Irish jig. and sailor’s hornpipe being competed for. Judging from the attendance and enthusiasm shown the financial results should be satisfactory.