ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 38, 27 September 1923, Page 27

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

(From our own correspondent.)

September 21.

Father Doherty has come to replace Father Butler at Kilbirnie. Kilbirnie bids him welcome!

.Rev. Father Herring, of the Marist Mission staff, has been conducting a Retreat for the Children of Mary at Buckle Street. Rev. Fathers Eccleton and O’Leary are to conduct a mission in Gisborne.

Father O’Shea, of the Chinese Missions, is back in town. It is good to meet these missioners who face the thought of their sacrifices so quietly, and who go to China loving Ireland with a burning love. God reward them!

On Sunday night a fine concert programme was given at the Dominion Farmers’ Hall by the Curaann ua nGaedheal. Miss McDevitt, Mrs. Jones, Mr. Pat Fitzgerald, Mr. Tuohy, and Mr, Gregory all contributed items. It was a good night and the attendance was large and Air. Paul Cullen was, as always, a delightful accompanist.

We hear that Mr. Foster, the competitions’ judge gave another bouquet to Guildford Terrace School on the closing night. We hope that a. certain misguided section of the community was present to hear the tribute. The children, apart from their singing at all, took the eye.' They stood so naturally, and the uniformity of dress and action contributed to the pleasing effect.

On Wednesday evening Father Quealy brought his parishioners in to St. Francis’s Hall for a change. The social was in aid of the Chaplain AlcAlenamin Memorial Fund. Everybody seemed to be enjoying themeslves hugely, and their popular pastor was at the door with a smile for each. It was such a success that Petone will probably, uproot itself and come again. A feature of the evening was the performance of Joan Maunder, a clever little elocutionist.

The new correspondent is like the man with the donkey, overburdened with advice as to how to run the “notes.” “No sermons!” says one; “no choirs!” says another; “Give news outside the church!” says a third. News outside the church! There’s little of that! Except perhaps that a snake was found dead in the harbor. There could he no doubt of its deadnessa certain intensity of odor- vouched for that. Nobody seemed to grudge it to the museum. A museum official told me once that they were plagued by folk who find dead meat floating on the waves and bring it to them in the hope that it is a lump of ambergris. Anyway the fact that the snake was dead is another evidence that New Zealand may have the protection of St. Patrick.

An “at home” will be held in the club rooms, Vivian Street, on September 29, at 8 o’clock, in aid of the St. Joseph’s Stall for the A 1.8.0.8. bazaar. Mr. Brooks of the Bristol has kindly consented to lend a piano for the occasion. We trust that there will be a good attendance. The Marist Old Boys’ cause is a general 'cause. No-one can be blind to the advantages that the Catholic community will gain from having its young men welded .together in a club like thisa club that one can be proud of either in debate or athletics. “The Alarists always play a clean game!” is the outside comment. So let ns all support the Marists. Newtown is doing its bit in this connection. Last week Mrs. Haydon’s “at home” and another fancy dress ball for children were held to swell the funds.

St. Alary of the Angels’ wanted to know all about faith-healing so they invited Father Ryan to give his lecture as a sermon. At the Guild on Sunday next Rev. Father Gilbert is to give a lecture which will explain the connection between the theory of evolution and the Book of Genesis. The value of these lectures cannot be overestimated. Country students and town-students too sometimes feel a tingling of the scalp when they first hear a lecture beginning like this“ When the animal, man, first crept out of his cave and sat down on his tail and began to think!” At first it would appear that all the frontiers •of one’s faith are threatened by the armies of unbelief.

It is to defend those frontiers that Father Gilbert’s lectures are given and we-can assure those who refrain s :'from the Zoo for fear of meeting uncomfortable resemblances that after they have heard Father Gilbert they will face its gates with an easy mind.. V : ' ■■ ’•

DEATH OF MRS. MARY BRETT. .... A very, old resident of New Zealand died at Wellington on September 5, in the person of Mrs. Mary Brett. The deceased was born in London of Irish parents and Mary Maher. Her father and uncle with their families came to Nelson in the first ; batch .of ships. One part of the family finally settled ; in Marlborough and their descendants reside at Kaituna and Renwicktown. The deceased’s father went to , Australia in the ’forties, and in Geelong Mrs. Brett married George Brett in 1852. She returned almost immediately to New Zealand.. Her husband was occupied building first in Cheviot and then ,in the Wairarapa and Wellington. Mr. Brett died in 1883, and since that date Mrs. Brett resided continuously in Wellington. She preserved to old age—her 85th year—a mind singularly clear and a store of perfect memories of the early days in New Zealand. She was well acquainted with the missionary priests—Fathers Seon, Garin, Retitjean, and O’Reilly, Her life in early New Zealand developed her excellent natural qualities a determined character, great independence, firm principle, prudence, and kindliness. Her last illness and death served but to accentuate these qualities of mind and heart.;. She had lived strenuously and clung to life ; but approaching death found her as reasonable as ever. She made her last simple preparations in her own practical manner. Father O’Donnell of St. Joseph’s parish, ' brought her Communion each morning, and his visit was eagerly awaited. In this strength, with a mind, clear to the close, the valiant old lady looked calmly for the end which came on Wednesday evening, September 5. The funeral took place on Saturday, September 8. Father Ryan-, S.M., said the Requiem Mass and read the prayers at the grave in Karori cemetery. Mrs. Brett was predeceased by two daughters (Alice and Cecilia) and two sons (William and James). The following members of her family survive her— Roberts, Mrs. J. Ryan, Sister Vianney (Home of Compassion), and Mrs. H. Meyer, all residing in Wellington.—R.l.P.