ST. PATRICK'S JUBILEE

Evening Post, Volume CXIX, Issue 98, 27 April 1935, Page 11

ST. PATRICK'S JUBILEE

RECTOR'S RECEPTION

AT SILVERSTREAM

Men who were educated within the := old grey walls of St. Patrick's College and1 played in its mid-city gravel yard yesterday afternoon strolled through the modern brick building and across the spacious playing fields of Silverstream College, full of envy for the 3oys who now occupy it—the younger brother-of St. Patrick's College. The occasion was a reception to which the Kector of Silverstream, the Very Rev. J. W. Dowling, S.M., M.A., • F.R.E.S., and his staff invited old boys arid friends of St. Patrick's College gathered in Wellington to celebrate its golden jubilee. •Prior to the reception the Rector en? tertained the clergy, the executive committee which organised the jubilee selebrations, and a representative selection of old boys to dinner at the college. Among the 120 present were his Grace Archbishop O'Shea, the Very Rev. A. J. Cullen, S.M., B.Sc. (Rector of St. Patrick's College), the Hon. S G. Smith (Minister of Education), the Very Rev. D. Hurley, S.M. (Provincial of the Marist Order), the Very Rev. R. Burger, S.M., M.A. (Rector of St. Bede's, iChristchurch), the Very Rev. Father McManus (Superior of the Redemptorists), the Rt. Rev. Msgr. Connelly, Mr. B. McCarthy, K.S.G. (president of the St. Patrick's College Old Boys' Association), Colonel R. L. Eyatt, ' Mr. G. Miller (Superintendent of State Advances), the Hon. V. Ward, M.L.C., and) Messrs^ R. Hay ward (representing i Christchurch old boys), T. P. Cleary, J. J. L. Burke, M. F. Bourke, J. B. Stead (i-epresenting Auckland old boys), J. Casey (representing South Island old boys), D.Cullinane (representing Wanganui old boys), and Dr. R. O'Regan. Father Dowling welcomed all preserit, particularly the Archbishop and the Minister of Education, whose presence, he said, was a great encouragement. He gave the only toast of the dinner, "The Matron of the College and her Staff." It was honoured with loud applause and replied to on behalf of the matron and staff by the Rev. B. Kingan,' S.M. : .The assembly hall was filled to overflowing for the' afternoon ceremony, which consisted of items by the college concert "orchestra and choir, an address by the Rector, and a reply by the Archbishop. THE SUCCESS OF SILVERSTREAM. 'In his address Father Dowling said that it was with much anxiety, and trepidation that Silverstream was .established. The outlay was tremendous. ■ Capital expenditure on land and buildings was already in excess of £ 100,000. "When the, college was ready to open its doors we were in the throes of the depression and we Were-haunted with anxiety as to what the result might be," he said. "In the first year our fears were dispelled, for over 150 boarders answered the roll ; cali;£ Since;that year (1931) the numbers have steadily increased until to-, 'dayjwe have 194 boarders who, with ythe day boys, make a school of 220 boys. I have been given to understand that Silverstream has for the last three years 'had the largest numr ber of boarders of any secondary college', in the Dominion. This, I say, is i -a source of joy in this pur jubilee year,] •; Ten;, years ago when boarders and.day iboys were together in. the old- college in Wellington the total number of studentSsat the college was 18». This year, counting the number at the old 'college with-the number we have at Silverstream, the total is 400. So there has been great expansion during the • last ten years, and the benefits the college can bestow have been more widely distributed. NEED FOR COLLEGE CHAPEL. "I must confess to feeling a little satisfaction in the progress made at Silverstream and in the patronage we have received," continued Father DowJing. "But the pride that one may .leel is .tempered by the vision of what Silverstream can and, ho doubt, will become in its future development. .Thanks io the farseeing men who purchased this site, we have wonderful opportunities. When the contract for i the building of the college was let, iwe hoped to include the chapel. This, t became impossible through lack of jfinance. We had hoped to make the 'chapel an old boys' memorial, but thefold, ;• boys suffered, as did others, in jthe depression that came upon us. So ,we have not been able to secure the 'chapel yet. We need it very badly at the present time, for the present 'temporary chapel occupies part of our dormitory, accommodation, which accommation is inadequate. In consequence we have been studying ways ' and means of making a beginning with the chapel. , .... - . ARCHBISHOP REDWOOD'S GIFT. "Now his Grace Archbishop O'Shea, to whom we are ever-grateful, has consented to-our making the chapel a memorial to Archbishop Redwood, the late distinguished founder of the college," said the Rector. "Such a memo,rial should appeal to old boys and to Catholic people throughout New (Zealand. Moreover, Archbishop Redj wood towards the erid of his long and (distinguished career, handed us a j cheque for £ 1000 to be used in the ..building of the chapel, and as a fur-' 'ther mark of his love for the college ,he handed over to it, by will, his iStradivarius violin, h^s most treasured [possession. , I "The college is fortunate in the benefactors who have endowed it with , (Scholarships and funds for many a ,'noble-purpose. To these we are; ever [grateful," said Father Dowling. "I jhave already made mention of Archjbishop Redwood, who was not only our .'founder but also our principal benefactor. Another name comes to mind at once; that of a noble woman whose (generosity and beneficence was Do-jminion-wide in its scope—Mary Macarthy Reid. This noble woman gave us (£IOOO at the foundation of the college land later established the Mary Macarthy Reid Scholarship," also of the capi!tal value of £1000. It is in connection iwith the same generous benefactor, together with her brother, Father Macarthy, the head of our Marist Mission staff, that I am abie to announce -(another act of generosity for which the college will be ever grateful." A NEW SCHOLARSHIP. ;. The college had received from the ; Marist .Mission staff securities for £500 (for the establishment of a scholarship,, said Father Dowling. This had been imade possible largely by the will of i the late Mrs. Macarthy Reid and the ; interest displayed in the college by the • Marist Mission staff. , "The jubilee is an occasion not only for-rejoicing but also for gratitude: gratitude to these and other benefactors who have given such tangible i proof of their love of and loyalty to the college," said Father Dowling. "Others who should be specially thanked under this heading are the late Doctor McEvedy, Mr. Harry Sullivan, and the late Miss Emily Johnston. Grati- ■ tude is due to all who have by their ■ efforts and sacrifices made the new St. Patrick's possible—past rectors and .masters, procurators and parents who in the past cherished the idea of a new St. Patrick's and now rejoice in its realisation. To one past rector of tho [college, Silverstream. owes., a special

debt of gratitude, that is to Dr. Kennedy, who was Provincial of the Marist Fathers at the time of the building of the college. If the building is well equipped, and it is, if such equipment be handsome and worthy of a great institution, we owe it particularly to Dr. Kennedy, who had it in his power at that time to grant or refuse permission for such equipment. He did not refuse and we offer nim our grateful thanks today. There are a host oi others we should thank who are too numerous to mention and you will have to take the will for the deed." ARCHBISHOP O'SHEA'S REMARKS. His Grace Archbishop O'Shea said that no more fitting monument could be erected to the late Archbishop Redwood than a college chapel at Silverstream. The late Archbishop himself had showed something of the kind by his' generous benefaction before his death and the speaker was sure that nothing would please him more. "I hope that in the very near future there will be erected an edifice that will be a splendid addition to this noble building of Silverstream, something in which old boys can show just pride, and in which their children and. their children's children will receive great inspiration," he said. He congratulated all on the success of the jubilee functions, and he exhorted all students, past and present, to endeavour to make the next half-century productive of more good for God and country than the past fifty years had been. Afternoon tea was served and the numerous visitors inspected the building and the grounds. The reception concluded with the giving of Solemn Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament from an open-air altar erected on the wide lawns in front of the college. Archbishop O'Shea was the celebrant, the deacon was Monsignor Connolly, and the sub-dea-con was the Rev. A. Yenning, S.M., Maori Missioner. The assistant priests were Father Dowling and Father D. Nolan, the latter representing the secular clergy. Father J. J., Kennedy, S.M., acted as master of ceremonies, and the college chapel choir,' conducted by Father C. Feehly, S.M., provided Ihe.' music for the occasion.