WEST COAST NOTES

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LI, Issue 28, 2 July 1924, Page 25

WEST COAST NOTES

(From our own correspondent.) : 1 Westport reports “business as usual” after the departure of Idle visiting Hibernians whose enjoyment of our scenery and hospitality we all appreciated. May they come soon again I Another visitor who liked the northern territory of the Coast is Father McCormack of Lisinore, who came to spend sonic time with his brother at (inanity. We are sure he will say a good word for us when back in. Australia among his own flock. . We are pleased to lie able to say that no recent ecclesiastical changes i ensured our pastor, Father Bowe, or our curate, Father Sweeney. Other places may want them, but so do we. •The long, long trail down towards the southern ends of our territory was this year traversed by hundreds of visitors. Owing to the fact that most of the rivers are now bridged one can motor right through to the Wallio, which is within an hour’s walk from the Franz Josef, the most wonderful sight in New Zealand. It is about a hundred miles from Hokitika but the road is good and the journey is easy compared with what Father Riardon has to face when on leaving the Waiho behind he heads his horse for the distant south. An interesting event in Greymouth was the celebration of the golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. James Kennedy. We were going to say that it was a record for a priest to assist at the golden wedding of his parents in New Zealand, but we remember that Father Venning also had that happiness a couple of years ago. However, there was nothing hut joy in the heart of Dr. Kennedy, the good pastor of Hokitika, when on the 16th ult. he celebrated Mass in St. Patrick’s Church, Grey mouth, to invoke God’s blessings on the worthy couple and to render thanks to the Almighty for His goodness to them during a long and happy life. Mr. and Mrs. Jas. Kennedy were married at the Catholic Church of St. Charles, Ogle Street, Oxford Circus, London. The young couple arrived in New Zealand in the ship Duke of Edinburgh in 1876, after a passage of 112 days. Mr, Kennedy immediately joined the staff of the Christchurch Gas Company, with whom he remained for six years. He then entered the service of the Invercargill Gas' Department, with which he remained for six years, when he was appointed to Greymouth. Numerous telegrams and cables from all parts have been received, conveying congratulations on the happy occasion. A large number of useful and costly presents have also been received from friends throughout the Dominion. We join with our readers in extending to Mr. and Airs. Kennedy hearty congratulations on their jubilee, together with the best wishes for their continued happiness and prosperity. A pleasant little gathering was held the other Saturday evening when a number of friends of Mr. and Airs. James Kennedy assembled to congratulate them on the fiftieth anniversary of their wedding day. Air. Courtenay Heaphy presided, and, in a few appropriate remarks, congratulated Mr. and Mrs. Kennedy on their golden wedding. He referred to their guests’ long arid honorable association with the town of Grevmonth, and he spoke of the success that had attended Mr. Kennedy’s efforts in connection with the management of the Greymouth Gas Works and also the success of Mr. Kennedy’s family, who had attained distinction in their various walks of life. The chairman read apologies from various friends of Air. and Mrs. Kennedy, whose health was toasted with musical honors. Mr. James Kennedy, in a- felicitous reply, thanked the many friends of his wife, and himself for their very cordial and kindly expressions of good will on the occasion, and contrasted the difference in the present position of the Municipal Gasworks with what it was when first he came to Greymouth I-thirty years ago. He had been favored with many valued friendships and the most cordial relations always existed between himself and the staff, the Borough, Council and the public generally*' whom he had invariably found a pleasure to serve. Alt*. Matthew Kennedy (General Manager of the Wellington Gas Company) replied, on behalf of his mother, and thanked the many friends of the family for the.testimony of regard extended on the occasion. It had

been said his parents should be proud of their family, but the truth was that the family had greater reason for pride in their parents, to whose sacrifices they owed it that they had obtained a thorough, knowledge of their business. A very pleasant function concludeds with the singing of “Auld Lang Syne,”