ST. PATRICK'S DAY

Evening Star, Issue 16995, 18 March 1919, Page 2

ST. PATRICK'S DAY

CONCERT AT HIS"‘MAJESTY'S, St. Patrick’s Day is a.day dear to the heart of every Irishman and Irishwoman, and this day is generally honored in almost j every town and city by a public gathering. This custom was followed by the Irish | people of Dunedin Inst night, when a con- ' <mrt was held iu His Majesty’s Theatre. I There was a difference between this and previous concerts in this wise: that j whereas the concerts of the past were hold | under the auspices of the Hibernian Society, this year’s entertainment was under the patronage of the Catholic Federation. There was a crowded attendance, and a programme of outstanding merit was presented. The object of the concert was to ’ to the fund being raised for the erection of new dwellings for the Christian Brothers. It was a most appreciative hi. icnce, and an encore number was demanded from each performer, which, in almost every instance, was responded to. The entertainment was opened with a selection of Irish airs by the Kaikorai Band, under the conductorship of Mr Hilmer , Davie. The band received an encore. | Many of the singers who followed have not been heard in Dunedin of late. The ' audience had pleasant recollections of their qualifications as vocalists in the past, and they were heartily welcomed. One of these favorites was Mrs R. A. Power, who sang ‘ Kathleen Mavou r neen ’ to the entire satisfaction of the big audience. She received such a reception that she had to return and sing the last verse again before the house was satisfied. Mr T. J. Hussey, wh i his delighted many an audience in the past with his singing, was in good form. He sang ‘God Save All Here,’ and had to submit to a recall. Miss M. Lemon gave a nice rendering of ‘Killarney,’ for which she received a great reception, and was presented with a bouquet of flowets. Mr J. Leech was very successful in h:s singing of popular Irish ballads. Miss E. aj urphy, who is a singer showing great promise, gave a good rendering of ‘ For the rreen.’ The second part of the programme was opened by the Kaikorai Band with the march ‘(Bn Comrades.’ Mr Colin Mackenzie followed with an Irish jig, which lie executed in a finished style. Mr W. A. Atwill scored a success in ‘Off to Philadelphia.’ Mrs Coventry samr ‘ She is Par from the Land,’ and Mr D. Fogarty won the good opinion of the audience with his rendering oi ‘ O Steer My Barque. ’ M-s R. A. Power's second contribution was ‘An Irish Girl’s Opinion,’ and ,M>i Pralier having sung 1 Avourneen,’ Air Leech concluded the solo work with ‘ The Dear Little Shamrock.’ The last items given were two quartets—‘ A Glimpse of Erin ’ and * Grd Save Ireland ’ —the singers being Miss E. Murphy, Mrs Power, Messrs Leech and Atwill. The musical director was Mr A. Vallis, who supplied most of the accompaniments, and Mr D. Whelan acted as stage managed. During the interval Mr T. J. Hussey moved that the Acting Prime Minister be requested, on behalf of the Irish people of Dunedin, to ask those representing them in England before the Council of Nations to urge the right of Irishmen in Ireland to manage their own affairs without interference from any outside body whatever: and so follow the example of the Australian, Canadian, and South African Parliaments, and of the American Con-

gress. Mr C. A. Shiel seconded. The Rev. Father Coffey, in putting the motion to the meeting. said tint there was no colonv to-day that would tolerate for a moment bein'' treated as Ireland had been treated during the last hundred vears. They had of late heard a great deal about Mr Hughes and his doings .in England. When he had found that he i was not croing to get for Australia wnat he desired, he had said : “We have a right to govern ourselves in our own way. I have been much criticised by my friends in Australia because I put Australia first. When I return to Australia I shall not be slow to tell those who, behind mv hack, attacked this doctrine, that they are grievously injuring Australia.” Our own Prime Minister, Father Coffey stated, had said that all young nations' required the right ' to protest themselves and to foster their i own industries, and he was quite right in I saying that. 1 The motion was carried unanimously, i MEETING AT GREYMOUTH. ' , I A Press Association message states that j at a demonstration in Greymouth last night a--dresses were delivered bv the Mavor, Mr J. D. Lynch, Mr H. Holland. M.P., and the Rev. Fathers Eccleton fßecfton) and Quinn (Greymouth), after which a re- , solution on lines similar to that carried! rn Dunedin was enthusiastically agreed to.