DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, 9 September 1920, Page 21

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(From our own correspondent.) September 3. Rev. Fathers Edge (Te Awamutu) and Brady (Gisborne) have left the Mater Hospital and will shortly resume their parochial* duties. The condition of Sister Laurencin, Provincial of the Sisters of St. Joseph, has slightly improved during the week, but is still serious. His many friends will deeply sympathise with the Rev. Brother Benignus, the Director -1 of the Sacred Heart College, whose father’s death occurred on Sunday last. As a token , of their sympathy- and respect

for Brother Benignus, the football match, which was to have been played on Saturday,. September 4, between old and present pupils, has been cancelled. In each of the six city parishes the many and varied efforts which are being made to ensure the success of the Catholic carnival, to be held in the. Town Hall in November, . are meeting with great success. Competition for the election of the queen candidate becomes keener each day, for each committee, is determined that its candidate is to be the queen of the carnival.

The annual social given by the old boys of. the Sacred Heart College took place in the' Society of Arts Hall on Wednesday, August 25, and proved a great success. Many lady friends of the old boys decorated the supper-room and provided delicious refreshments. The music supplied by Meredith's Orchestra was so delightful, that nearly every selection was encored. The committee is to be congratulated on the excellent arrangements made to secure the enjoyment of all who attended. Each year the social given by the Sacred Heart College Old Boys becomes more popular, and it is now one of the most-looked-for functions held in this city.

The unveiling of the four memorial tablets erected in memory of the Maori war veterans buried in the Catholic cemeteries at Howick and Panmure, took place on Sunday, August 29. The ceremony at Howick was performed by Sir Frederick Bang, Speaker of the House of Representatives, while : Right Rev. Dr. H. W. Cleary, Bishop of Auckland, performed that at Panmure. There was a large attendance at both functions, and stirring addresses were delivered by Sir Fredk. Lang, at Howick, and by Bishop Cleary at Panmure. Other speakers included Messrs. Ed. Fitzpatrick, P. Quinlan, and P. Malone. The four tablets contain the names of 126 veterans,* including a large number of tbe Royal New Zealand Fencibles, a corps of time-expired Imperial soldiers, specially selected for their good character, vigorous health, and their capacity for settlement in a new land. The force was sent out to New Zealand upon the representations of Sir George Grey, then Governor of the Colony, who distributed the veterans along what was then the southern border of Auckland, as a bulwark against Maori aggression. Each soldier was given a cottage, a section of one acre, an advance for furniture and stock, and in return was required to perform a certain amount of military duty. Thus were founded the settlements of Howick, Panmure, Otahuhu, and Onehunga. Gisborne (From our own correspondent.) September 2. The social in aid of the convent schools was held last week, and proved a great success. The. energetic ladies who had charge of the supper arrangements provided everything to be desired, and deserve credit for their efforts. A meeting of the parish school committee was held on Monday evening to consider ways and means of increasing the salaries of the teaching staff, which are unreasonably small. The matter will be placed before a meeting of parishioners on next 'Sunday. The Feast of the Assumption is always celebrated here in a special manner. On that day the children who have been carefully prepared by the Sisters receive their First Holy Communion. On the present occasion about 40 boys and gjrls approached the Holy fable for the first time, and' as all the older children were also invited to, commemorate their First Holy Communion, the large number who responded made an inspiring sight. The bad weather interfered with the evening devotions and ceremonies; so the renewal of baptismal vows and the reception of aspirants into the sodality of the Children of Mary was postponed to the following’ Sunday evening.