WEST COAST NOTES

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 18, 10 May 1923, Page 15

WEST COAST NOTES

(From our own correspondent.) _ Greymouth, May 3. Which is the most generous parish in New Zealand? This is a question which will perhaps go unanswered, but for the present Greymouth seems to be in a position to reasonably claim the honor. Quit© recently the Rev. Father McLean made an appeal on behalf of the Irish Mission to China. No less than £270 was collected in one day—which constitutes a record for the Diocese of Christchurch. . That is an honor of which any-congregation might well be proud, but no novelty for Greymouth. Last year Rev. Father O’Sullivan’s appeal on behalf of the West African Missions netted a sum exceeding the New Zealand record. Father McLean also succeeded in forming a strong Mission League to which he has entrusted the task of carrying on the good work. Included in the Greymouth total are amounts collected in Runanga and Brunnerton, and in addition to this amount no loss than £6O was collected at Hokitika. Whatever the strictures of the Julian Grandes on their shortcomings it cannot be said of the West Coasters that the traditional generosity of the province showes any falling-off.

Thanks to a remarkable spell of fine weather extending over some weeks the erection of the Dean Carew Memorial School is proceeding with a rapidity that is truly wonderful. Already the structure has begun to take form, and judged by present appearances is likely to prove a handsome addition to the architecture of the town and a distinct credit to the parishioners of St. Patrick’s Church. Every hope is entertained that tire school will be ready for occupation during the year which, from the viewpoint of the Marist Brothers and their pupils, is a consummation devoutly to be wished.

St. Columba Club, it is pleasing to report, has taken on a new lease of life. The attendances of the young moil are now much more satisfactory, no doubt due to the fact that the programmes lately have been of a most interesting nature. For instance, the idea of a “mock court,” which was given a trial last evening, proved so palatable to the popular taste that great difficulty was experienced in accommodating members and their friends in the hall. Several attractive programmes for the coming months have been arranged, and while the literary and debating aspect of the club’s activities has been by no means lost sight of, the functions of the club have been widened to give plenty of scope for the social element. An endeavor is being made to keep the club open every night for the recreation of the members, and games have been organised on a proper footing with this end in view. Other activities into which the club is branching out are drama and music. Mass is now celebrated at Otira on the fourth Sunday of each month.- Arangements have also been made whereby Mass will in future- be celebrated in Cobden every Sunday. In view of the projected visit of his Lordship Bishop Brodie, several candidates, including a few adults, are being prepared for the Sacrament of Confirmation. The Bishop will be at Hokitika on May 13, and at Grey mouth and Kumara on May 20., Good attendances signalised the opening of the May devotions in the various parishes throughout the Coast. If the Blessed Virgin sends forth her graces to her clients on the West Coast with the same profusion that her Son has sent the sunshine lately, if will be for them a happy month. The three speakers at the laying of the foundation stone of the War Memorial Cenotaph on Anzac Day at Greymouth were all parishioners of St. Patrick’s Church. There was the Mayor (Mr. J. D. Lynch) who laid the stone, Mr. J. O’Brien, ALP., and Air. W. Hannan, chairman of the Grey County Council. Apart from the fact that they held the three leading positions in the town, their presence was appropriate in that the Catholics of this district responded more liberally than most other sections of the community to the call to arms. Surely there could not have been a more complete answer to the oft-repeated charges of disloyalty!