ST. PATRICK'S DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 78, 27 March 1886, Page 4

ST. PATRICK'S DAY.

As usual, the town was resplendent with green ribbons on March 17, in honour of the patron saint of the Emerald Isle. Although not considered a public holiday, still many of the shops were closed, and innumerable children were hurrying along the streets, tho girls all bedecked with green sashes. In manyjof tho aubuiban and country diatricta th& committees granted public holidays, but the city schools did not follow their example. Notwithstanding that St. Patrick's Day is considered essentially a Roman Catholic festival, still every year it ia becoming more generally adopted us a public holiday by all classes and creeds. High mass was celebrated this morning in St. Patrick's Cathedral by Dean Flannigan at 8.30 o'clock after which the Vory Roy. Father Walter McDonald preached a panegyric sermon upon the saint whoso death was being commemorated. The building was orowded, most of the members of the H.A.CB Society being in attendance. The Foto in tho Domain. Tho great feature of the day was the children's annual ffito in the Domain. From 9 until 10.30 o'clock tho scholars attending the various Roman Catholic Sunday-schools assembled in Hobson-atreet in the vicinity of Dignan's paddock. Large crowds also collected in tho street waiting to sco the procession. In the meantime, McComish's band kept things lively by playing inspiriting national airs in first-class style. About 10.30 o'clock the proceasion started, Father Walter McDonald being on horseback and officiating as marshal. First came tho Holy League of the Cross, headed by the Rev. G. Tuckwell, Clerical President, and the following officers : —Lay President, Mr G. Leahy ; Secretary of both branches, Mr J. J. Crofts ; Vice-Presidents, Messrs J. J. Tnoby and M. Condon. President of the Ladies' Branch, Mrs Ayr ; Treasurer, Mrs Gisby j Vice-Presidents, Mrs Crae and Miss Sheehan. Immediately after the officers came the banner, having a gold cross emblazoned on a green ground surrounded with the motto of tho order, "In Hoc Signo Vincis," The Ladies' Branch, numbering 100, came first, followed bythemalos, of whom there arellOontheroll. The Garrison Bond in uniform came next, closely followed by the native contingent of the Roman Catholic Church. The next in order were the children from St. Mary Convent School, Ponsonby, under the charge of Father Egan, assisted by Mrs and Miss Gregory, Mossrs R. Mahoney and E. T. Garlick. The orphan children, numbering 85, followed the banner, the younger ones being accommodated with seats in omnibuses at the rear of the procession. After these were _!00 day pupils and 50 boarders from the select school. Next in order were the children from St. Patrick's Convent Schools, of whom there were 180 girls. Tickets for 500 boy» had been issued, and it need hardly be stated that most of the bearers were early in attendance. The girls were under the charge of the Misses Sheahan Ivirby, O Connell, Jennings, O'Brien, Harkin, Parker, O'Neill, Carr, Goff, and other members of the Guard of Honour. The Ma/'st Brothers, assißted by the members of the Christian Doctrine Society, under the I resident, Mr Peter Dignan, undertook the more arduous task of looking after the *i? yß,u.,in fr? nt of the Choral Hall the chddren from St. Benedict's Sunday School, 500 in number, under f.ti r*t.°_ arf' ,]olned the Procession, h.■ «._ A%-n 8t P£ o0'__ Th(Jy were headod by the Artillery Band, under Bandmaster p n _ ? er,c *£ ey wero alao i°ined by the K_*W°°_ hf aded by the Newmarket Hand. This school numbered about 200, and «mwwideraedua»e of MonsigneurFynes, and MessrsNeviUe, O'Brien, Fite, and Hogan The ParneirSchool took up tho last posif,w't, a!? d- the Pwoessinii. which by this SS?^?T*K ed toa &reat len Bth. Proabt^ ou 0«A h0 D°m. aiD ' whioh "as reached abouttwentyminutespastllo'clock, About

1,30 o'clock, the children were provided with dinner, and the afternoon was spent in the usual manner with gameß, merry-go-rounds, and various other amusements in which children of all creeds and classes delight to pass a holiday. HA.C.B. Society. .The members ef the above Society also held their annual fete, to-day. They attended the service in St. Patrick's Cathedral this morning, and at 11 o'clock formed into procossion, and headed by McComish's band, proceeded along Hobson-street, down Wellesley and Queen streets, up Shortland, Princes and Symonds streets, and thence by Grafton Road to the Domain Immediately after the band came the handsome banner of the Order. The following officers were present: — President J. O'Brien, Vice-President D, Flynn, Treasurer J. Flynn, and Secretary P. Kearney. The delegates from the Southern branch of the Order, at present viaiting Auckland with a view to amalgamating the varioua branchea into one New Zealand District Board, were also in attendance in regalia, and were awarded the post of honour, close behind the banner. The names of tho visitors are as follows : - Jas, G. Sellars (Presidentof the Otago-Canterbury district), Lanigan (Christchuroh H.A.C.8.5.), MoGreedy (Waipawa), and Bradley (Wellington). About 250 members of the Order alao marched. Upon reaching the Domain, aports were carried out under the supervision of a committee comprised of the following gentlemen :—Messrs J. O'Brien, J. Flynn, P, Kearney, D. Flynn, J. Fairweather, and J. Lawler.

A ball at the Choral Hall in the evening formed a fitting wind-up to the festivities. There were upwards of 200 couples present, and despite the unexpected pressure on his resources, Mr Johnstone, of Newton, who did the casering, succeeded in giving entire aatiafaction. There were 24 dances, the musicians boing Mr Heed's string band. Messrs S. Fairweather, D. Flynn, and P. J. O'Brien acted as Masters of Ceremonies. A large number of members from other friendly societies were present.