THE CHURCH IN NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand Tablet, 31 January 1918, Page 37

THE CHURCH IN NEW ZEALAND

| .O HISTORICAL NOTES. : " 5" In Reminiscences of the Early Settlement of Dunedin 'South otago, by Mr. John Wilson, published in i 912,, there is the following reference toj the beginnings of Catholicity in the city and province: | "Little headway had been made by the Catholic Church in Otago before the early sixties, but as far back as 1840 Bishop Pompallier, the missionary Bishop of Oceanica, had visited the harbor in the schooner Sancta -Maria. During the later fifties Father Petitjean, a venerable priest, paid visits to the Catholics in the province, but the Catholics were few, and their homes much scattered. The first Mass was celebrated in a small house in the North-east Valley, the second in a. skittle alley in Feeger's Hotel, and the third in a bottle store belonging to Mr., Burke; but after this the court house was secured for morning service. Father Moreau was the next priest. He was a Marist missionary much beloved by his flock. He had the care of the whole of Otago, and when the rush to Gabriel's Gully took place he visited the fields once a month. As population increased other priests were appointed to Otago, and Father Moreau's charge was confined to Dunedin. It is interesting to note that, whereas in 1859 there were only about 90 Catholics in Otago, they had increased in 1891 to 22,000. In 1871 Bishop Moran was appointed to the new See, and for many years labored early and late for the benefit of his parishioners. He died in 1895, and was succeeded by Bishop Verdon, who proved himself an able administrator, a gentle friend and counsellor, always willing to advise and succor in cases of distress, and firm in righting wrongs." The Stranger's Vade-Mecum, published in connection with the New Zealand and South Seas Exhibition, 1889-90, indicated St. Joseph's Cathedral thus: "The Catholic Cathedral (Bishop, Right Rev. Dr. Moran; clergy, Rev. Fathers Lynch and O'Donnell) is one of the ornaments to the city, and is well worth a visit. It is situate on the hill adjoining Rattray St., and is passed by the Roslyn tram. The building, which will probably accommodate 1000 worshippers, is built of stone, with two towers over the west entrance. It is not quite completed, but is out of debt. Rev. Father Vereker has a church in South Dunedin." In a volume, The History of Oamaru and North Otago, 1853 to 1889, treating of the North Otago district, the writer, Mr. W. H. S. Roberts, relates inter alia that the Catholic population of that portion of the province in 1858, when the census was taken, numbered 17, this number increasing, to 80 in 1861, when the next census was taken. So far as is known the first Mass celebrated in Oamaru is thus recorded: "The Rev. Dr. Moreau celebrated Mass in Oamaru on May 8 and 15, 1864. He was a most indefatigable missionary; a man who was very much liked and highly respected. He advised the Catholics to purchase a site for a church." On October 27, 1866, the cemetery was partitioned off, the , Catholics being allotted the western portion. In the directory of December, 1869, the name .of Rev. Father J. A. Morris (visiting) is given The 1877 directory mentions the Rev. W. Coleman as being the priest (but does not state whether resident

r or visiting), and ~ the next * reference we ’’ find " is: ' “In 1889, it is recorded, his Holiness / the Pope raised•• the Ven. ■, Archdeacon Coleman, «of : Oamaru, to the First Order of Prelates, granting him the title of. Right Rev. Monsignor Coleman, ranking as a bishop without a see. The elevation gave general': satisfaction, as he was much liked and respected.” ; pamarulwas- the third town in -'Otago I to take advantage ■of ; the' Municipal Corporations Ordinance, 1865? ; Dunedin was, of course, the first, as the « ordinance was especially for it, and Queenstown was the second. The first meeting of the Oamaru Borough Council was held on August-6, 1866. ihe town of Palmerston was declared a municipality under the Otago ; Ordinance of 1865, on October 17, I®7l. The use of Oamaru. stone is coeval with the settlement of the district, but : it ; was- little known beyond till 1866, when an export trade commenced with Dunedin.