BOATMAN'S.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1285, 15 June 1883, Page 2

BOATMAN'S.

[Contributed.] The Eev. Father Carew held Mass here for the last time on Sunday last, and as it was his farewell visit, the parishoners decided to presont him with an address and testimonial. The following address was read : — To the Rev. Father Carew—" We the parishoners of Boatman's, learn with extreme regret that it has pleased His Lordship, Bishop Redwood, to advise your removal to a distant part of New Zealand. As Catholics should, we bear patiently eveiy change ordered by so worthy a dignitary, feeling convinced his intention is the welfare of the Church. \ But we cannot permit you to pass from our midst without expressing how deeply we feel the loss we are about to sustain. It grieves us to part with you, who so well and truly endeavoured to fulfill the mission on which you were Bent ; whose kindly manner ; whose encouraging j counsel by whose ministrations we have been oft sustained in the hour of tribulation. Permit us, Rev. Father, to congratulate you on the success attending, your labors in this parish. This Church,; as well as that in Reefton, bear ample testimony, and will remain as a monument to the unremitting zeal and energy of our dearly beloved pastor. You will please accept this purse as a small token of the great regard you are held in by the subscribers. Take with it the assurance of our best wishes and earnest prayers that you may continue to propagate and ornament the grand old Church we have the honor to belong. We trust that in the new sphere of your labors you may continue successful ; that they may bo rendered agreeable to you, and that you may be accorded that hearty welcome we would desire you to obtain, and which you so well deserve. In conclusion, we desive a continuance of your prayers in our behalf, that the seeds you have sown amongst us may flourish, and bear fruit unto life everlasting, whither it has been your chief end and object to conduct us." The Rev. Father Carew in the course of his reply to the address said. He was most grateful to them for the address, and solid testimony of frendsliip which they had just presented to him. The kindly feelings and sentiments of esteem manifested, were truly a repetition of that which he had always received during the whole time that he had heen with them, as well as now at its close, and he should be very hard of heart not to be deeply affected. Their behaviour both now and ever since he came amongst them had often put him in mind of the promises made by Our Blessed Lord to

his apostle St. Peter— those who leave parents, brothers, and sisters for His sake, should, even in this life, receive a hundredfold, and in the world to come, life everlasting. When he toft with acute regret the home of his j mother, brothers and sisters, he had not the remotest idea amongst what class of persons he should be thrown, but he had his mind prepared, and spirit braced to do all he could, with the assistance of the Grace of God for their salvation, no matter who they were. His lot had been jast amongst them for the last seven years, and it was not for him to say whether he had carried out in this, his first parish, the resolution which he had made in becoming a priest. He would leave the verdict to their wise discrimination, but he could not help drawing the conclusion that he was already reaping the hundredfold promise made by our Divine Master to those who made the sacrifice mentioned, and awaited with patience and firm confidence the fultilthe emerald gem of the Western world — a mother who loved him tenderly, and fond brothers and sisters who earnestly longed to see his face once more. But in this Beautiful Isle of the Sea, God had raised up amongst them the hundredfold of brothers and sisters, who by unfeigned kind ness and sincere affection had done their best to heal the soreness resulting from separation from the loved ones at home, and if possible, to supplant them altogether. Eesiding with them for the long period of seven years, his coming seemed to be but as yesterday. During that time, he had ever experienced an unfailing courtesy, and most profound respect at their hands. This facilitated and made most agreeable the exchange of his pastoral duties towards them, and would long endear them to his memory. For that he was profoundly grateful, and he was ■not ashamed to admit that he left them with sincere regret. No one however knows the needs of the Church so much as the Bishop, the j man who holds the helm. He feels, as it were, the pulse of his diocese, and no one knows better than he how to manage, and what to do. It is wrong to interfere with him. Many of you, with the best intention, asked would you send a petition to retain j me, and I objected. It is better to I leave him free in the administration of his diocese, and he will not leave you unprovided for. He is sending you two, and perhaps in a little time even more to assist up and down the Gi*ey Valley in guarding your spiritual interests and to provide Catholic education. He referred to the great work which the parishoners had accom- i plished. The Eeefton Church had cost £2,400, the Eeefton School, £270 per annum, Boatman's Church, £600* and Lyell Church £630, and all this in the space of seven years. The figures spoke volumes for the generosity of the Catholics of the Inangahua, and proved that the spirit of the faith was alive amongst them. He said the Keefton Catholic school was a credit to the community, Mr Inspector Hodgson's last report showing that in secular results it was equal to the best State Schools in the Nelson district He concluded by earnestly reiterating his expressions of regret at parting with his flock, and would ever remember with pride and gratitude the kindness he had received at their hands.