FOR THE ORPHANS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 31 March 1930, Page 6

FOR THE ORPHANS

GARDEN FETE AT ST. MARY'S

A SUCCESSFUL EVENT The garden fete held in the Convent grounds, -Manuka street, on Saturday afternoon in aid of Hie orphanage and Convent funds, proved to he a pronounced success. Favoured by perfect Weather I here was an excellent attendance resulting in a larger "gate" than last year. The. stall holders and (heir assistants worked earnestly and hard, as did the sitle show men, and good results were recorded. Afternoon tea was served in a large marquee on the lawn, and was a pleasing adjunct on so warm an afternoon. The Regimental Hand was in altendance! and discoursed many pleasing items. The hoys' life and (hum hand belonging to the orphanage paraded and played several selections prior to the opening. There was ,■; representative attendance of town people, including the Mayor (Mr W. J. Mol'fatt) and several visitors from the country districts. The Rev'. Father O'Connell, S.M., in an introductory speech, eulogised tho work of the good sisters, who did their level best to take the pa at of the parents and bring up the orphans as their own fathers and mothers would have done in their own homes. He welcomed His Grace. Archbishop Redwood, and said he was sure everybody would he pleased to see him looking so well and so little the. worse for wear after his 01 years of earnest and strenuous work. Father O'Connell also took the opportunity of thanking all for their efforts to make the fete a signal success, particularly the Regimental Hand, who were ever ready to conic forward and lend a helping' hand. Father O'Connoll's remarks were endorsed by his Worship the Mayor, who emphasised the magnitude of the work connected with so large an orphanage for Nelson. His Grace he referred to as not only the prized and peculiar possession of a great church but as something more than that—a distinguished produce of Nelson, older than Nelson itself, and as one of the last of a noble band of pioneers connecting us with Nelson's foundation in the year 1842. He trusted all present would live to see His Grace celebrate his centenary, and that the efforts being made that day would prove eminently successful and worthy of so great and good a cause.

His Grace, on rising to declare the fete open, was greeted with three ringing cheers. His address was interesting and largely reminiscent of his boyhood's years, particularly of tho time when "tho great decision" was to be made for him to go or not to go to France. The value of studying abroad where the acquisition of foreign languages particularly was concerned w;is emphasised by His Grace. Going to France so young, he learned to speak French like a native. He was frequently by his tongue taken for a Frenchman. Even to-day it was his second mother tongue. He could think in French, speak in French, and preach in French if occasion arose. He left Nelson as a young and inexperienced school hoy, and at the age of 34 (in 1874) in the good providence of God lie came hack to New Zealand a Bishop. In closing. His Grace referred in touching terms to the tender motherly care of the orphans by the sisters, and he had, he said, reserved his very best item till the last —the scholars and all in the Convent were to have a whole holiday on Mondav next.

The Hon. Harry Atmore, M.P. for Nelson and Minister of Education, was the next speaker. It gave him very great pleasure, he. said, to speak alongside the oldest living Nelsonian. He referred to the life and work and the kindly Catholic temperament of Father Garin, of happy memory. He was a citizen of Nelson that everybody" loved and prized. Nelson in the early days had paid more attention to education and spent more on it and had paid its teachers better salaries than had any of the other provinces of the colony. No education was complete if the spiritual side of education was ignored or neglected, yet he did not consider it was the function of the State to leach religion. Private schools were costing in education £350,000 yearly, as against the State's expenditure of over four millions. He himself welcomed Catholic efforts in education. In Archbishop Redwood they had one of New Zealand's most distinguished men and a man of whom they were all justifiably proud. He was pleased to be present that day and trusted the efforts being made for so noble a cause would be amply rewarded.

THE STALLHOLDERS / Following is a list of the stallholders and their assistants and other helpers at the fete: Produce Stall: Mesdames Stewart, Dunphy, Silke. Hinksten, Langley, Curran, Byrne, Bell and O'Sullivan. Fancy Stall: Misses Carrick, Frank, Fitzgerald, Stevens, Willis and Slowey. Novelty Stall: Mesdames Gross, Finnigan, Fowler, N. Harlcy, C. L. Webley, L. May and Misses T. Skyring and M. Keenan. Tea Kiosk: Mesdames Day, Edwards, Fauchell, Misses W. Rogers, Ollson, Baker, M. Lynch, R. Day, C. Giffney, M. Mumford. Sweets Stall: Mesdames Armstrong, Atkinson, Barry, Farmer, Bishop, 11. Stewart. Side Shows: Miss D. Ronton, Messrs Spelhnan, M. O'Sullivan, Dal ton, Day, Walker, Fowler, McKenna, Crcighton, Armstrong and S. O'Sullivan. The net proceeds of the fete will exceed £3OO and for this help tho Rev. Mother and the Sisters are gratefully thankful to all.