OAMARU NOTES

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LI, Issue 8, 21 February 1924, Page 31

OAMARU NOTES

v * »• ' jt.A ASX v A i v/ a a..* (From our own correspondent.) February 13. The new altar for the convent chapel has arrived, and when erected should put the finishing touch on a really beautiful house of prayer for the nuns. ' The absence of rain is a matter of grave concern to .the farming community of the district, and in a secondary degree to the town dweller as well. Last Sunday Father Graham asked the congregation to join with him in prayers for the much-needed rain. In dealing editorially with the late President Wilson who,. with the late Pope, maintained his sanity in a world of mad barbarians, a local paper had the decency to couple the name of Pope Benedict with that of the late President, as a great force making for peace. The large congregations noticeable at Mass on Sunday mornings recently evidence the fact that Oaraaru, by reason of its climate and attractiveness, is inducing outsiders to make their abode here. Many strange faces at church indicate that the Catholic community is being augmented by the flow of population. A familiar figure about the church and presbytery has disappeared from his accustomed haunts. Mr. John Conroy, the man-of-all-work who attended to the many requirements of church and presbytery, cultivated the garden, accompanied Monsignor Mackay in his motor jaunts about the district, and in season, kept one eye on the Monsignor’s

ripening fruit and the other on the predatory small school boys, has retired and is now living a life of leisure, which his friends trust will be pleasant and long, A member of the Catholic community,- in the person of Thomas Henry Sheehy, died here on February 10. He had farmed very successfully on the Awamoa estate for many years, but for several years had lived in retirement. He was in his 78th year. His wife predeceased him some years ago.—R.I.P. Monsignor Mackay went to Dunedin during the week to pilot the distinguished Australian prelates to Oamaru to view its manifold beauties and the church’s institutions here. Archbishop Mannix will find the town to his liking —quiet and secluded from the bustle of city life. To judge from the retired situation of the Archbishop’s own mansion “Raheen,” at Kew, Melbourne, he apparently likes to he far from the madding crowd. As advertised in our columns, Miss Moira Goughian will resume teaching on Friday, the 22nd inst. She°purposes, during the coming winter, giving entertainments for the benefit of any parish 'organisation such as St. Vincent do Paul Society, the Orphanage, or the Christian Brothers, and intending pupils are asked to enrol as early as possible'