Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, 23 October 1919, Page 21

Diocesan News

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON (From our own correspondent.) >l "'"""' ; October 18. "■ A pleasant private ? in aid of the Hinemoa and lutanekei stalls at the. coming bazaar in St. Joseph's parish, took place at the Alexandra Hall on last Saturday night. There was a large attendance, and the hall was effectively decorated. A home-made and delicious supper provided by Miss Keating, was set out daintily with vases of lilies and v anemones. The dance committee comprised Mesdames Burke, Ellis, Beauchamp, Fitzgibbons, and Dwyer, with joint secretaries, Mrs. Gleeson and Miss Keating. The M.C.'s were Messrs. Shanahan, Scanlon, Donovan, and Troy. There was almost a record attendance on Wednesday afternoon at the Home of Compassion when the annual gift tea was given, and a great number of donations of money and goods were received, all of which will be used to the best possible advantage of the members of the big family which the Sisters had assembled round them. Many stories could bo told of the boys and girls who have known no other home except the Home of Compassion, and who have been sent forth into the world as healthy, happy, and successful citizens. Then there are the pathetic ones, who, in bright and cleanly wards, with the kindest and most loving attention, live out their shadowed lives in the best possible circumstances. There are many babies at the home at present who will never know a mother's care, and some are doubly orphaned, through the epidemic; but brighter and happier little mortals could not be imagined. It is a great and wonderful work which is carried out at the home on the hill, and the appreciation of the public was shown by the response made to the appeal. The equipment at the home for the comfort and health of the children and hospital inmates is excellent. For the tiny ones there are movable enclosures where they can chase the sun while learning to walk, and seats are placed along the walls, with rails to prevent accidents. The night nursery is quite delightful to see, with many miniature cots and baths, and there is a sun-room for the little ones to take their day-sleeps in, all making for the best of health. Sister Claver received the guests, and with the other Sisters showed tho guests through the home, with its dormitories, class-rooms, kindergarten, and hospital wards. Afternoon tea was much enjoyed by the guests, who certainly saw the home to the best advantage in the bright and sunny weather. Some good music was given by Miss Eileen O'Brien (who arranged the programme), Miss May Little, Miss E. O'Brien, and Miss K. O'Brien. Miss Little and Miss Corby played- the accompaniments. The visiting delegates to the Dominion Council of the N.Z. Catholic Federation were, after the close of the meeting, taken round to the various Catholic institutions by the members of the Wellington Diocesan Council. They visited St. Patrick's College, the new school, Buckle Street, Catholic Girls' Hostel, where afternoon tea was provided, and the Home of Compassion, Island Bay, Mrs. L. Dwan and Mr. D. Dalton very generously providing motor cars for tho occasion. The Very Rev. Father J. O'Connell, S.M., who was elected President of the Dominion Council of the N.Z. Catholic Federation at the annual meeting held last week, was appointed, in that capacity, as tho official delegate of the N.Z. Catholic Federation to the Irish Race Convention, to be held in Melbourne on November 3. The family of Major James O'Sullivan have generously established a scholarship, tenable at St. Patrick'*} College for four years, and open for competition to pupils attending the Marist Brothers' School of St. Joseph's parish. The scholarship will be known as the Desmond O'Sullivan Scholarship, in memory of the late Lieut. Desmond Sullivan, an ex-pupil of the Marist Brothers' School and St. Patrick's College, who made the supreme sacrifice in the great war. Wanganui j . (From our own correspondent.) :: j\ : \l - ;;; . ■•- ~-. ~- C ,;. October 16. <; All good things come to an end, and Father McDonald's lectures on the . campaign of our mounted men in. the East .are finished. To .those interested in the Holy Land, or even to those who claim -nothing more lofty than a soft ' spot" for ' the \ boys ■ who went overseas;

these lectures have been most interesting and a lesson in Bible history as | well as modern warfare. With Father McDonald we trekked the desert, stopping by the way while he v pointed out some place of Scriptural or other interest. We crept ifp hillsides; picked our way—sometimes very dangerous—along this or that Waddy; had fierce engagements £ with '" the enemy; marched through cities, lingering as long as we could 5 in Jerusalem the wonderful ; and'did all manner of exciting things under the heaviest, of ... odds, until finally, we „ got ; malaria, registered an altogether unbelievable V temperature, and knew no more. How different all these tales sound when they are told by one who was there, and 'how . comfortable is tho feeling that one can believe the whole story. His Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Liverpool, and Lady Liverpool visited Wanganui through the week, spending all Thursday and most of Friday here. As this is announced as their official farewell, they had a busy time hurrying from one function to another. Lady Liverpool graciously accepted Very Rev. Father O'Connell's invitation to open the new school, and this took place at about midday on Thursday after the opening of the Plunket Home. Lady Liverpool was accompanied by tho Mayoress, Mrs. Mackay, and the day was so gloriously fine, that the little ceremony was effected in the open air and sunshine. Rev. Mother received the distinguished guest, who by her well-known charm of manner and simplicity of style, made everyone feel happy. The children, about 300 of them, all looking very bright and shiny and armed with flags, sang, besides a fine big "God Save the King," a pretty little" song of welcome and one or two other songs. Miss Ruby Curran voiced, briefly, the appreciation of the Sisters and the children; a bouquet of choice white flowers was presented to her Excellency by a small maid—Miss Iney O'Meara—an even smaller boy, Master Barney Cullinane, supplying the moral support and a truly courtier-like bow. Came a short speech by Lady Liverpool, thanking the Sisters and scholars for their kindly reception, and declaring the school open. After being introduced to a little knot of parents who were present, the visitors were shown over St. Mary's, and left by motor, the children lining the winding path and waving them away as they had waved them in. As a matter of fact, the new classrooms are not quite finished, although they will be ready in a day or two. It was. a merry lot of youngsters who clapped the holiday asked for and obtained for them by Lady Liverpool. - Carnival and cackle! The air is full of notions, inspirations, meetings, and tickets. The five little queen candidates have been chosen, and are: Ida Benefield (Aramoho), Alice Cullinane (Convent), Selby Morton (Children of Mary), Mollie McDonald (Hibernian), and Marie Missen (St. Vincent de Paul). Aramoho led off with a social on Wednesday night, a most successful and enjoyable one. During the evening, Queen Ida made her official debut, and quite captivated the hearts of her loyal and hard-working subjects. She is only about seven years old, and had to bo lifted on to a table to give her item, a very pretty little recitation. Very Rev. Father O'Connell is away in Wellington just now on Federation business. '- .-■ Died last week, an old and well-known resident of Castlecliff, Mr. Joseph McNairn, after a long illness. Mr. McNairn had suffered greatly, and his death was not unexpected. A widow is left, to whom our sincere sympathy is extended. —R.I.P. Also, Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Provost, of Aramoho, have lost a little son, the younger of two. The little one had a serious illness from which he seemed unable to recover, and suffered greatly before God took him to Himself. Miss Reston (Hastings), who was transferred to the local telephone exchange some weeks ago, has had to go home on sick leave. Miss Reston is at present in the Napier Hospital, and her many friends hope.that she will soon be quito better again.