ST. MARY'S ORPHANAGE, PONSONAY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVII, Issue 5657, 5 January 1880, Page 3

ST. MARY'S ORPHANAGE, PONSONAY.

Tub examination of the children of St. Maty's Orphanago. v -:« held on the 16th Dec., in the Convent uct building on tha Point which is called "The Star of tha Sei." The site of tlii* building is one of tha mosi beautiful in Auckland, overlooking the har"; sur fiord its commanding position, and a healthy location f-r the orphanage J.d t.;.i is ; ■ been selected. Tlie present < :mcf 'ir<i 13 y >\- a p >rtto:i of what it is iute.iiU j to bf re beintj only at present, in aivlitf'm to t , 1 very : p:icion3 schoolroom, in whi- 1 the ex;~.nination was held, and smaller roo . , , a rlcrmitiTyf'iraboi.t 250f the orphans. Th. roorr.isa very pleasint, cheerful, and wellventilated apartment. Iu about a month or so it is Intended to add a win", in which there will be accommodation for the 50 orphans who are at prescut located in St. Mirv'a Convent; and when it is finished, the whjieof the children, about 75 in numbar, will theu be all together in the : 'Star of the So".,' where they can be more comfortably md conveniently watched over by the Sistera than at present. Being divided as they ara now, ejtails a (livi-;;;;ii of labour on tha Siiter?, which will be obviated when the children aresl'.inone building. The dormitory for the 50 iu this Conveut is a model for cleanliness, is well ventilated, and the management for th j ir comfort in every rr specs very complete. T;ie examination room wa3 file i w.tli the orphan 3, who were all tastefully attired in a plain but noat and uniform dross, and looked the picture of contentment. Th«y went through their programme, cxliibi'ing the progress each class had made iu their resolutive studies, in a highly creditable and praiseworthy manner, reflecting credit on the tuition and ptuns that w.-.u evidently been taken by the Sisters on whom hid dcvo : ved this particular duty. Tli? Motaer Superior and leveiai of the Sisters of Mercy were present, and the Vicar General (the Very Rev. Fathtr Fyaes) presided. Fathers Walter McDonald, Paul (of Onehunga), O'Ovvyer, and Adelaar were also present, as well as a number of friends of the institution. The programme wr.s opened by 11 brief addrcs 3 , very eloquently delivered, by one of the girls of the "first class (Miss T>ryers), after which each clas3 in succession went through their several examinations, which were performed most creditably, ■ The exercises were greatly enlivened by the excellent sieging, in which all the children joined, which contributed much to the pleasure and enjoyment of those present, and of the little ones themselves. A marked feature in the pogramme was the very practical and useful character of some of the exercise, which showed that the Sistera, in givir.£ their pupils a sound plain education, litd trained them to be all able to a livelihood for themselves in the future". Attached to the Orphanage is a laundry, in which all are taught to be useful, and nearly the whole work of the Convent is formed by the older orphans in the way of laundry, housework, and such like. When the new building ia completed at the Point, this feature will be still more fully carried out in all its details. A more healthy, happy, and cheerful assemblage of children than these orphans we have seldom seen, and it was quite a pleasure to see the utter absence of all evidence of restraint or fear that marked the intercourse between them and the Sisters. At the conclusion of the entertainment, the Very Rev. President distribu!ed the prizes, accompanying each with a few words of praise and encouragement on the proficiency they had exhibited; and after this was over, he briefly congratulated th 3 Siateiv. on. the very satisfactory result of the examination. I'he whole school then joined in singing *he National Anthem., which closed a very enjoyable entertainment.