GARDEN PARTY

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 31, 31 October 1932, Page 4

GARDEN PARTY

Organised by Sisters of Mercy

THEIR EXCELLENCIES

ATTEND

On Saturday afternoon their Excellencies Lord Bledisloe and the Lady Bledisloe attended a garden party held at St. Mary’s College, Hill Street, by the Sisters of Mercy. Their Excellencies, who were accompanied by Mrs. Veale and Lieut. Elworthy, were received by his Grace Archbishop Redwood, the Rev. Mother General, Rev. Mother M. de Sales, Mr. and Mrs. Harold Johnston, Mrs. lan Duncan, and ltrs. Maearthy-Reid. The school children from St. Mary’s College and the Seatoun Preparatory College, looking smart in uniform, lined the paths leading down from the gate to the tennis court, as a guard of honour for their Excellencies. Her Excellency wore a frock of soft apple green, under a handsome grey squirrel fur coat, and a close-fitting green hat. Mrs. Veale wore a flecked woollen suit in a deep shade of leaf green, and a matching felt hat, and a skunk fur stole.

The attractively-decorated stalls were arranged round the tennis courts, and a gay Christmas tree “grew” in one corner.

Their Excellencies were conducted to a raised platform, and little Joan Roche-Kelly presented her Excellency with a beautiful bouquet. His Grace Archbishop Redwood briefly welcomed their Excellencies and thanked them for lending dignity to the occasion by their presence, and assuring its success. He expressed the wish that their sojourn in New Zealand would be a very happy one. His Excellency, in reply, said that he was delighted to sec the “veteran chief” looking so well after his trip to the Eucharistic Congress. Both himself and the Lady Bledisloe had been impressed by the fact that the great Christian community of the Roman Catholic Church always set an example of self-sacrifice for the advancement of the cause of Christianity, and particularly for the enlightenment and instruction of the young. Schools such as St. Mary’s College could not be excelled, especially for girls, who received there an admirable training in domestic economy for which they would be grateful all their lives. He congratulated the Sisters on their work in this connection and upon the high ideals that, they always set before the children. Speaking of the present conditions, his Excellency remarked that he had never seen “depression” marked upon the countenance of any true Christian. Christianity was essentially a religion of joy, and if it was not capable of bringing joy is was not worth professing. Moreover, in times of financial difficulty, it was advisable to remember that there still remained many blessings such as health and strength for which to be thankful. Many things which seemed necessities to us, he continued, would have been accounted luxuries by the standards of the fine men and ■women of the preceding generation in this country.

In conclusion, his Excellency wished the Sisters of Mercy all success, not only on the present occasion, but in every branch of their activities. He then formally declared the garden party open. An addendum to his speech which was enthusiastically received by the children was the request that a holiday should be granted in honour of their visit. . .

Tbeir Excellencies then made a tour of the stalls, and later were entertained at tea in the beautiful Assembly Hall of the new St. Mary’s College, where bowls of arum lilies were the decorations.- ■

Those present on the platform included Monsignor Connolly, Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy, S.M., Rev. ’P. J. Smyth, S.M., Rev. J. Dowling, S.M., Rev. Dr. McCrea, Rev. A. Culleu, S.M., Rev. J. Higgins, S.M., the mayor, Mr. T. C. A. Hislop, and Mrs. Hislop, Sir Frederic Chapman, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Kane, Mr. and Mrs. Clere, Mr. P. VOrschaffclt, Mr. P. J. O'Regan, Dr. and M rs. RocheKelly, Mr. and Mrs. Beauchamp, Mrs. Bernard Wood. Assisting the Sisters at the stalls were the following helpers:—Fancy stall, Mrs. Gibbs, Mrs. Bolton, Miss MacDonald; produce stall, Mrs. O’Donnell, Misses Flanagan (2). Gray; sweets, Mrs. Glcdbill, Miss Cahill, Miss Weight; cold drinks, Mrs. Roche-Kelly, Miss Lynch; St. Mary’s Old Girls’ stall. Misses Saunders, K. Botirke, P. Reeves; Christmas tree. Girls of St. Mary’s College. The winning numbers of the raffles and guessing competitions will be published on Tuesday next. ,