made his appearance in full canonicals, attended by Dean Coffey, arrayed in a cope of crimson velvet. Mass was said by His Lordship, and an appropriate sermon preached by Dr. Geoghegan, after which he formally introduced the Bishop to hisflock,and was pleased to style him " T h efirstPontiff of Australia Felix." 1 he Vicar-General then fervently prayed that a long line of Bishops may succeed the present one, and that good works m a y result from his Lordship's appointment; in order to achieve which, he besought of all Catholics to pay strict obedience to the Church. T h e new Bishop looked remarkably well, and appeared deeply impressed by the responsibilities of his exalted position. A s an evidence of the courtesy with which Dr. Goold was received by distinguished persons o different religious communions, one of thefirstto call upon him was Mr. Justice A'Beckett. O n the 15th October, the Bishop preached for thefirsttime in his diocese at St. Francis', and made a very favourable impression. At the conclusion of the service he announced his commission to declare that Dr. Geoghegan had the approval of the Archbishop for the manner in which he had hitherto administered the affairs of the mission in the district. T h e Rev. M r . Stevens returned to the province in a few days, rejoined the mission, and was located at Belfast. THE VICAR-GENERAL.
On the 6th November, the "Shamrock," steamer, arrived from Sydney, bringing amongst its passengers the Rev. John Fitzpatrick. H e was to have accompanied the Bishop, but a day or two before the latter left, he was indulging in a little equestrian exercise, and whether his horsemanship was not equal to the occasion, or the animal he bestrode was too "fast" for him, the reverend rider was "bucked" out of the pigskin, and sustained an injury to one of his knees, which necessitated the postponement of his departure. T h e Rev. John Fitzpatrick is the Dr. Fitzpatrick—the "old Fitz," who has become so well known and respected from that day to this. H e is one of the identities, who, once seen in the streets, is never forgotten. Like a certain well-known politician, he never ventures abroad in any weather, wet or dry, day or night, without his umbrella ; and those who are familiar with his habits aver that by the position in which he carries this sheltering machine, the state of his mental atmosphere may be diagnosed as unerringly as a barometer acts as a weather gauge. Dr. Fitzpatrick was at once appointed to St. Francis', between which place and St. Patrick's he has gravitated ever since, performing the part of a good priest and a good citizen. But it is in connection with that noble pile of ecclesiastical architecture on the Eastern Hill, slowly creeping upwards, that his n a m e will go down to posterity. Were it not for him it would n o w have no existence, and if historical justice is to be done, his n a m e "will be, per omnia secula, associated with the fortunes of the R o m a n Catholic Cathedral of St. Patrick, a structure which, whenfinished,will be such an ornament to the city as to make every true Melbournian proud of it, no matter before what altar he m a y kneel. Towards the end of the year several clerical changes were made, viz, the Rev. Mr. Kenny left Geelong, and was presented with a purse containing ,£30, and the Rev. Mr. Stevens was sent to Belfast. The Rev. Mr. Kavanagh was one day in wet weather riding with the postman in the Portland district, and in crossing a river was nearly drowned. H e was soon after transferred to Gippsland. In December an organ was procured by the Bishop for St. Francis'. In the year 1849, the shingled roof of St. Francis' was replaced by slates; and on 7th January there was a High Mass celebration, conducted by Dean Coffey, with the Revs. Fitzpatrick and O'Connell. T h e last named gentleman was on his way to his birthplace, Hobartown, and he was, what might be termed thefirstAustralian Native ordained for the priesthood. THE CATHOLIC ASSOCIATION.
After Bishop Goold's arrival it became apparent that there was an insufficiency of clergymen, and it was determined to organise a society for the three-fold purpose of—(a) obtaining priests from the h o m e country; (b) the erection of suitable places of worship, and (c) the promotion of Catholic Education in Australia Felix. T o give effect to this intention there was a public meeting at St. Francis' on the 25th
