The Late Rev. Father Forest.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IV, Issue 260, 30 September 1884, Page 2

The Late Rev. Father Forest.

The deceased gentleman, who was m his 801.11 year, had been ailing for several year.« Jir but had always suoceetled m performing his. priestly duties until abjqub six months ago, when he became completely incapacitated. Father Forest, who was a very old colonist, was born at Lyons, France, m 1804, was ordained priest m 1830, and was one of the original founders of the Married order m 1834. He left London for New Zealand m the ship London Packet on the 9th of November, 1841 ; the salute announcing the birth of the Prince of Wales being fired as the London .Packet wa« leaving the docks. Father Forest arrived at Wellington m April 1842, accompanied bvthe Rev. Father Reigrier (meance), Lampila, Kaikour, and otber catholic missionaries: af er some delays the party reached the Bay of Islands, then the. centre of the Roman Catholic missions m New Zealand. Father Forest remained about 15 months at the Bay of Islands and was then appointed to the charge of the Auckland district, where he remained until 1859. Daring his stay m Auckland he built the Church of St. Patrick, the present Cathedral. On the appointment of Father Yiard (afterward!* Bishop) to the charge of the Wellington district, Father Forest: accompanied him, and remained m Wellington till 1861, when he was I appointed Pariah Priest of Napier, where, with the exception of two short period*, when he was administering tin* diocese after Bishop Viard's death, Father Forest remained till his death on Sunday. The remains of the deceased gentleman will be interred on to-morrow afternoon. ;