DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 5 February 1920, Page 21

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(From our own correspondent.) / " . January 30. -■■■'■ The spiritual retreat for the clergy of ; the diocese opens, on Monday next, February 2, in the Sacred Heart College, and will conclude on Friday, February 6. Owing to the war conditions and the influenza epidemic, the numbers of children in the orphanages at Takapuna and "The Pah" (Onehunga) have severely taxed the. accommodation in those institutions. The present excessive prices of materials and cost of building, preclude any possibility of permanent extensions >to the existing buildings, and accordingly the boarding-out scheme is being tentatively adopted. Applications are being considered from suitable Catholic homes in town and country, from Catholics who desire either to adopt or give a home to the orphans. In numerous cases the Education Department makes an allowance for board.

The reports of the recrudescence of influenza in various parts of the world have led the local educational and health authorities in Auckland and elsewhere to adopt some precautionary measures to ward off the danger. For the present all schools will remain closed, as ©r. Monk, District Health Officer, considered it wise not to let the children assemble during hot weather in somewhat crowded rooms. In Auckland, the order postponing the opening of the schools will be received with little regret, for February is always a trying month for children and teachers alike. .v •-'

His Lordship the Bishop returned on last .Monday from visitation of the Waikato District.

On. Sunday evening, January 25, Rev. Father .Skinner, of Waiuku, preached an impressive sermon to a large congregation in St. Patrick's Cathedral.

The bazaar and queen carnival held in Helensville last week-end was somewhat spoiled by the very inclement weather. However, Father Mansfield is quite pleased with the financial results, as he is now in a position to repair and paint the church. The winning candidate in the queen carnival was Miss Vera Hafford, one of the most popular young ladies in Helensville.

Father Andersen, M.A., a newly-ordained priest from Christchurch, is on a holiday visit to Auckland, and is a guest of the priests at St. Benedict's. Other visitors from the south were the Misses Cartwright, well known in Catholic music circles in Oamaru.

The opening of the tennis court in connection with St. .Benedict's Club was to have taken place on Saturday, January 24, but owing to the very wet weather it had to be postponed.

Heartfelt sympathy is extended to Father Ryan, S.M., whose brother died in Wellington last week.

It has been decided that the national concert in. connection with the St. Patrick's Day celebrations is to take place in the Town Hall on Thursday evening, March lb.