Prominent Catholic priest dies

Yesterday cable advice came to hand that the Right Rev Monsignor Coffey, late Administrator of St Joseph’s Cathedral, had died in St John’s Hospital, Limerick, Ireland. Father Coffey was one of the best-known Roman Catholic churchmen in the dominion. He was of a decidedly charitable disposition, and prominent in works of a social nature, his activities in the St Vincent de Paul Society being worthy of special mention. The cause of Roman Catholic education had in him a warm friend, and he was mainly responsible for the erection of the new Christian Brothers’ School and house, South Dunedin Convent and the Roman Catholic churches at Kaikorai and Mornington. The deceased was born in County Tipperary in 1867, educated at St John's College, Waterford, and there he was ordained. Father Coffey arrived in Dunedin when he was 23 years of age under the late Bishop Moran, first went to Gore, later to Lawrence, to South Dunedin and for 10 years was Administrator of St Patrick's. Father Coffey’s next appointment was to the Administratorship of St Joseph’s, a position he occupied for 17 years, and he also acted as Administrator of the diocese between the death of the late Bishop Verdon and the appointment of Bishop Whyte. Last year the Pope recognised his services by honouring him with the title of Monsignor, making him a domestic prelate. A year ago Father Coffey left on a visit to the Old Country, the state of his health and a desire to see his mother being his main motives in making the trip. Two of the deceased’s sisters are nuns in St Dominic's Priory.

Dam plan prompts claims

A report recently gained currency that a big scheme had been organised by which it was proposed to shut off the water in the Kawarau River by means of a huge structure at Lake Wakatipu, and to hold it for many days at a stretch. There is more than rumour in the report as it is authentically stated that the Kawarau River from the junction at Cromwell to the lake has been pegged off by a syndicate at the ordinary low winter level under the usual conditions. Many rich patches of gold are now close to the water’s edge and if the river could be controlled as proposed many rich deposits would undoubtedly be won. At present the proposal is quite a topic of conversation. As the stemming of the Kawarau would greatly decrease the level of the Molyneux after it leaves Cromwell, numerous local residents have already turned their attention in that direction and have pegged out areas with the idea of profiting by the scheme. One party, it is said, pegged off the old Hartley claim and another party is said to have been occupied till a late hour on Wednesday night securing an area near Half-way House. It can be said definitely that the scheme is being seriously considered, but full details are not available in the meantime.

Inviting Dunedin diaspora

A suggestion that a “Back to Dunedin” Week should be organised has been receiving consideration from some of the members of the local business community, and it has been developed to the extent that one of them, Mr C. Russell Smith, has sketched the outline of a scheme that may serve as the basis upon which a complete plan tor the project may be prepared by an Organising Committee. — ODT, 12.1.1923

Compiled by Peter Dowden