Congregation of Our Lady of Mercy in New Zealand - UC Research ...

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,,midst the acclamations of' the people, who had
::...;.-::ambled in vast numbers at the wharf to r:·reet them, the
~: ters arrived at tika. Mr. ~atthew Cleary, the
:-:-ern or of Hoki tika gaol, and l'.'fr. Edward A. Burke accompan-
~ them ashore, having gone out to welco~ne them on l::ehalf
:: the Catholic parishioners, RcN. PhiL~p L , the
~: :ri p :1st or. was the first to meet them and welcome them
::::·iia1ly the land of their adoption. He then conducted
:...:.::::: to the carriages in waiting, Wllich drove off rapidly
-::.:_:;h ths tovm to their temporary residence, a charming
: -:; tae;e of eight r00ms, with garden and paddock."
:-= the f'ine convent which had ·been erected for the:.1 on the
: _ ...,ner of Sewell and staffoPd Streets was not then quite
:·;; .:.dy for . occupancy, the Sisters took up residence in the
- :se in Stafford Stre t, in which the Hon.H.L.Michel ~nd
rs of his f,'ll:Jily aftervlai'ds dwelt.
On October 28th.
fHster's took charge of the girls' school which had been
::~ducted
by a succession (2) of three lay teachers-
__ ::s Jones, Miss Anne Brogan (later to bee orne l.Irs. McKeever)
:...:.::. l:ass Blanche Stevens who handed ove1, the chaPge to the
_ :: ters. urrhe attendance was 105 and the children in
~ :::.eral vrere very intellit::ent" - Such was Eother ClaPe' s
~-~st report of their new pupils. January 14th, 1879 thou~h
: .'lll, wet day -~rom the weather> point of vieY'/, was for the
:_3ters, a day of great rejoicing; for on that day they
· -i into their new convent called St. Columbkille' s. 11 The
.:> m" as their pastor was far:'lilinrly c led by his parish­
.:..:::ers, had suitably furnished it and provided all the
to
--:;tle c omforto vthLch he thougLt the Sisters uight have been
1\
Hokitika Records unpublished.
l;'!arist ssenger. November 193L!.. (unsigned. )