The Very Rev. Monsignor Walter McDonald was a priest of the type of the good parsons celebrated by Chaucer and Gold-smith—a man surcharged with the sincerest piety, constitutional simplicity, and boundless loving kindness. He was born in the parish of Mooncoin, County Kilkenny, Ireland, and was educated at All Hallows College, Dublin. In 1855 he came out to Auckland, and was ordined a priest at St. Patrick's Cathedral, in March, 1856. His brother, the Very Rev. James McDonald, was vicar-general of the diocese at the time of his arrival, and had been in the Colony for several years. Father Walter's first appointment was at Russell. Bay of Islands. Afterwards he was transferred to St. Patrick's Cathedral, Auckland, and was appointed private secretary to Bishop Pompallier. He remained in Auckland many years, during which he twice visited Rome. During his connection with St. Patrick's Cathedral, it was considerably enlarged, and the spire was built through his exertions. On Bishop Luck's return from his first visit to Europe, he brought Father Walter's appointment as Monsignor by His Holiness the Pope, in recognition of his services to the Church. The Bishop then transferred Father Walter to Panmure, greatly to the regret of the parishioners of St. Patrick's, who petitioned against it. During Father Walter's many years' residence at Panmure, and ministrations also at Howick, he made himself as popular with all classes and creeds as he had done in Auckland. He died somewhat suddenly on the 31st of December, 1899, in the seventieth year of his age and the forty-fourth of his priesthood, and persons of all creeds and classes felt as though they had lost a friend who had worthily won their love and esteem.