ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, 13 January 1921, Page 18

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

(From our own correspondent.) January 8. Extensive alterations to provide more accommodation are being effected at the Home of Compassion, Island Bay. Good progress is being made with the erection of St. Mary of the Angels’ Church, Bonlcott Street. Mr. J. F. Carmine has resigned from the general secretaryship of the Catholic Federation to take up a position with a local commercial firm. • On Christmas Day the members of St. Gerard’s Choir were entertained bv the Redemptorist Fathers, and thanked for their services. Mr. F. J. Oakes, the conductor, suitably responded. Mr. L. Godard, late organist at St. Brigid’s, Brisbane, assisted St. Gerard’s Choir last Sunday. A retreat for ladies is being conducted at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, Island Bay, by the Rev. Father Power, S.J., Rector of Newman College, Melbourne. The District Executive of the Hibernian Society has - notified branches that the next meeting of the District will take-place at Christchurch and the local branches will elect their delegates at the annual meetings next week. His Grace Archbishop O’Shea returned last Wednesday from an episcopal visitation of the Taranaki portion of the archdiocese.

Wanganui (From our own correspondent.) January 6. We are safely into the New Year, and old 1920, with its joys and sorrows,;-,is but a memory. The holidays passed off in an abundance of sunshine and mosquitoes, the latter being as unexpected as unwanted. The tragic death at Cast led iff of Mr. Percy Stitt cast quite a gloom over everyone. '- The late Mr. 'Stitt, who was for some time a student at Holy Cross College, Mosgiel, and had also been away on active service, was at home on sick leave and staying with his mother and < sisters, who had taken, a beach cottage. On Christmas Eye Mr. Stitt and his brother-in-law were - having a dip in the- surf, when the -latter got into a deep hole and called for - help. Mr. v Stitt went to his assistance, but neither of them . -was strong enough to help himself, and the wonder is that both were not drowned, for Mr. Turner was 1 quite exhausted

when rescued. Came several days of sad and anxious l watching for the body, which finally was found in the river quite a long way from the scene of the accident, on January 3. Sea-bathing at Castlecliff is often more or less risky on account of the ever-moving sand and the big holes caused thereby, and every how and then a precious life is lost. Heartfelt sympathy is felt for Mrs. Stitt and the family, also "the fiancee of the deceased, all of whom have indeed a great sorrow.— R.I.P.

Also the death of Mrs. M. J. Dowling, Aramoho, was a great shock. Mrs. Dowling, who is the mother of Rev. Father Dowling and Mr. Maurice Dowling (Greenmeadows), was not in very good health and had never been very strong, but she was overtaken with a sudden seizure, from which she never recovered. Mr. Dowling and a family of four sons and four daughters are loft. It happened that-Father Dowling was here on a visit, which was a great comfort for his poor mother and the family. Requiem Mass was celebrated on Wednesday, the funeral , conducted by Rev. Father Dowling, being specially impressive.—R.l.P. • 'The many friends of Mrs. J. Prdvost, Aramoho, were sorry to hear of her illness and sojourn in a private hospital. Mrs. Provost is much better, however, and has recovered sufficiently to return to "her home.

. Going back a little to the be fore-Christmas events, the garden party was a great success. The coronation of Queen Alice (Alice- Cullmane) was the prettiest little' ceremony imaginable, the whole programme being done by the children out of doors. There was singing, a maypole dance, other dancing, and the queen was crowned by Mrs. T. B. Williams (Mayoress). Everyone, Sisters, parents, and children, went to a lot of trouble, but the result was quite worth it. So many girls, largo and small, took part that I -cannot tell all their names, but there happened to be three Masters Aubrey Burton (Lord High Chancellor), Broome, and Jackson (pages)—who played most important. parts. Of course there were a few stalls, where the Hibernians, Children of Mary, Convent, and Vincent de Paul, Aramoho, and town turned an honest penny. The Aramoho ladies had the -tea stall and worked as only Aramoho. can work. Unlike the Children of Mary and a few others, these good folk have willing husbands, who are always well to the fore when it's question of hard work, and the way they fetch and carry is a matter of general envy. A most enjoyable afternoon was spent, and brought in something over £IOO.

Then there were all the end-of-year concerts and prize-givings. St. John's Hill Convent had its concert at the Opera House, 'and such a good concert it was! The special prizes were presented after'the concert by. the Mayoress. Also the hill convent had its exhibition of art needlework, drawing, painting, etc., and the prize-giving for ordinary class subjects. Aramoho, Castlecliff, and St. Mary's all had their own prize-givings. Now all is peaceful and quietly happy. The Sisters are all home from the branch convents in readiness for the retreat, which begins in a few days, the children have mostly disappeared, although a few beads may be seen bobbing about in the surf arid the Baths, and the .beginning of the school-year is still a little way off. .'■•"'■. . ■ :./ : . ~

Home again from Australia Mr. and Mrs. Cuth. Corliss. Rev. Father Stanaway (Mrs. Corliss's brother), who was ordained at the end of November, accompanied them and spent a few days here/Father Stanaway has gone south before returning -to Australia and his new duties at the. Brisbane Cathedral. The Maoris have been feasting at Ratana's camp all through the holidays, and wonderful are the stories one hears of cures effected. The big hall is finished, and was used on Christinas Day for "the first time.' Ratana, the Wonder Man, will not commit himself to any special religion, but seems to have a brand of his own, and he has had the hall erected for the use of all denominations. Naturally, among a crowd of 3000 natives : there J are j many Catholics, and \ it had been arranged that Rev. Father Ginisty was to celebrate Midnight Mass there. However, this savored a little

of an official opening, arid the upshot was a- united service conducted _, by some. Wanganui ministers at seven o'clock on Christmas morning, followed by r Mass ..an hour later. The camp is fitted out with electric lights and most obtainable . conveniences. That the Maoris are ingenious, or at all events practical, is illustrated by the fact that when on Christmas Day it became difficult to keep up a constant supply of boiling water for, tea, the service of a 200-gallon tank was requisitioned. The fire was enlarged to suit the tank, and now the supply of boiling water is just about endless.