ST. PATRICK'S DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 64, 17 March 1902, Page 2

ST. PATRICK'S DAY.

The local celebration of Ireland's national festival was this morning ushered in amidst bright sunshine, which tended to raise and gladden the hearts of her sons and daughter.?. A larg-e number journeyed by train to attend the regatta at the beautiful delta of the Waikato and Waipa Rivers. The Roman Catholic children, bedecked with abundance of green ribbon, were early astir. At St. Patrick's, St. Benedict's, the Sacred Heart, and St. John the Baptist's Churches they gathered to hear mass, and proceeded thence trfc the rendezvous at the Cathedral Square, where also the orphan children from St. Mary's, Ponsonby, and the boys from the industrial home at Takapuna mustered. A ferry boat was gratuitously placed at the disposal of the Takapiuia boys by Mr A. Alison, oE the Devonport Ferry Company. At 10 a.m. the procession moved off, headed by the Garrison Band, xinder Bandmaster A. Hunter, playing "St. Patrick's Daj in the Morning"; then followed the. Hiber-

nian Society, in full reg-aiia. The officers in charge were: —President, Bro. Y. Williams; Vice-President, Bro. F- Gordon; District Treasurer Bro. M. J. Sheahan; Secretary, Bro. D. Flynn; Trustees, Bros. W. J. Beehan and P. J. Nerheny. Bro. J. Patterson marshalled tli£ procession. The children of St. Patrick's, Sacred j Heart, St. John's, and those from both orphanages brought up the rear, the whole mustering close on 1500. The Sacred . Heart children were under the Revs- Dr. Egan, ' 0.5.'8. and Father Purton, 0.5.8.; St. John's, under Rev. Father O'Hara, St. Patrick's under Her. Father Paterson (Adm.) and Father Buckley; Orphanage, under Mr Colgan, manager of the Takapuna Orphanage- The route taken was through Hobson and Cook streets. St. Benedict's children, numbering about COO, in charge of Father McGuinness, and headed by the Newton band, joinc the general procession at the^ Greystreet firebell, and the combined churches were now represented by fully two thousand children. The procession was continued through Rutland, Wellesley and Symonds streets and Grafton Road to the Domain. After partaking of the good things provided for them by the several church societies, the children entered into the races, games, etc., with enthusiasm. The Hibernian sports in connection with the day s celebrations were proceeding this afternoon. The national concert takes place in St. Benedict's Hall this evening. ; 100 yds Juvenile Race.-H. Nerheny, 4Jyds, 1; A. ToMn, scr, 2; H. Duffln, 7Jyds, ' 100 yds Handicap.-First heat: R. Joyce, 10yds, 1; J. Patterson, 3yds, 2; C. E. McCarthy, Cyds, 3. Second heat: J.W. AltkJn. oyds, 1; J. Morton, Byds, 2; W. Richards, . Syds, 3. ' , ! 100 yds Hibernian Handicap.—First heat: !R. Freeman, ficr, 1; J. W. Williams, syds, 2; J. Gleeson, 4yds, 3.

WELLINGTON, this day

To-day is generally recognised by business people as a half-holiday. The picnic to Father Lane's Gardens at the Hutt was largely attended.