Father Farthing Further Honored

New Zealand Tablet, 16 March 1922, Page 23

Father Farthing Further Honored

On Thursday night (March 9) the Catholics of Mataura assembled to say farewell to Father Farthing, recently placed in charge of Roxburgh. They used the occasion to make him a substantial presentation consisting of a wad of bank notes. Mr. McQuillan presided, and Mr. Buckley made the presentation; Messrs. Curtin and Heslin also spoke. All the speakers praised Father Farthing for the devoted care and marked success with which he had taught the catechism to the children. That, in their opinion, was the hall-mark of the genuine priest. * A carefully instructed youth formed the basis of security and strength for the Catholic Church in New Zealand, as, indeed, everywhere. Father Farthing had fully realised that fact, and what was equally important, had made others also grasp it. It would be needless to add that when this work was so fruitfully attended to, the other priestly ministrations of the pastor of Roxburgh were not overlooked. The congregation welcomed his successor (Father Kaveney). who came to them from Dunedin with no small reputation as a preacher, a generous-hearted, cordial, and sympathetic priest. Father Farthing, in reply, thanked the speakers for their kindly remarks and generous gift. It was, no doubt, a very fine testimony in terms of cash: they had now given him £l9O in the Gore parish. As for their praise of him for teaching the catechism, that was good to hear; it made him feel that he had had some small measure of success in their midst. It was easy to impart religious :n----struction to the children of Mataura in the Church, for the little ones were helped by the good example and careful teaching given by their parents at home. Religious instruction of the young was the corner stone of successful parish-building. Roxburgh was not a great parish, as some of the speakers seemed to think. “You have in Father Kaveney a priest of whom his fellow-priests have reason to be proud: zealous, generous, full of sympathy, and homely feelings. I wonder they could part with the services of such a man in Dunedin Cathedral. Soon you will love him even as the people of Dunedin loved and r prized him.”

Marist Brothers’ Football 1 'Club, Christchurch -

The annual general meeting of the Marist Brothers’ Old Boys’ Football Club was held recently. There was a large attendance of members. The Rev. Brother Phelan presided. The balance-sheet for the season 1921-22 showed a balance in hand of £25 2s 9d. Assets were estimated at £34 14s 9d, and there are no liabilities. The annual report stated that the club had had a verv successful year. For the third year in succession the first fifteen had annexed the senior grade competition, and finished the year with an unbeaten record. The performances registered by the team had been of such a nature as to leave no doubt as to the superiority of the team over all others, and the form shown, both collectively and individually, has been of the highest order. It was pleasing to note that in the ranks of the team, the most harmonious feeling had been preservd, and Mr. D. McCormick, for the third year in succession, had handled the team as a good captain should. The record of the club during the past three years in the Canterbury Championship was a splendid one, for they had only been defeated once during that time, and that was in 1919. In three years their record was as follows: Matches played 36, won 35, lost 1, points for 690, points against 113. The scoring, as will be seen, had been fairly substantial, with an average of over 19 points per match, and a little over 3 scored against. All the junior teams entered by the club had done very ell in the competitions. It was gratifying to note that Marist football clubs were now fully established in several centres in New Zealand. The report was adopted. Officers for the year were elected as follows;Patron, i Bishop Brodie; president, Sir Georg© Clifford; additional ▼ vice-presidents—Messrs. C. Baker, C. Tulloch, J. Walsh, M. Carney, M. Morten; club captain, Mr. E. McDonald; deputy club captain, Mr, B. McKenna; hon. secretary, Mr. J. M. Coffey; hon. treasurer, Mr. A. McDonald; committee D. McCormick, J. C. Mullins, F. Smythe, L. Peterson, W. O’Loughlin; delegates to the Canterbury Rugby Union— G. Payne, J. C. Mul-

lins, J. M. Coffey, E. McDonald; delegate to the Sports Protection League, Mr. J. M. Coffey; delegates to the Catholic Federation, Messrs. W. Daly and W. Hartigan; hon. auditors, Brother Phelan and Mr. M. Garty.

March 25 was fixed as the opening date for the season It was decided to commence practice immediately;