ST. PATRICK'S CLUB.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVII, Issue 10242, 3 September 1909, Page 2

ST. PATRICK'S CLUB.

A very enjoyable fpnction.took place in St. Patrick's clubrooins on Wednesday evening, when there was .a large attendance of members and . their friends, including a fair proportion of ladies considering the boisterous weather-.. . < ■ ' ■ The. chair was taken by Mr I. O'Grady (president), who, in a brief opening speech, extended a cordial welcome to the visitors and expressed his pleasure at seeing such an excellent muster of members. A short mitsical programme was then gone through-, the following contributing thereto: —Pianoforte solo, Miss K. Hannon; song, Miss A. Magee; song, Mr E. Curran; song, Rev. Father Farthing: recitation, -Mr P. Corcoran, jun.: song, Mr J. Walls (encored); song, Master W. Haggio (encored). Miss Hannon'b services as accompanist were indispensable, and each item was warmly applauded. . The Chairman then rose and m a good speech explained the. main object of the gathering. Some three months ago it had been decided to remodel the club and endeavor to bring it to a high standard of proficiency, and a most worthy and energetic leader was found in the Rev. Father Farthing; who had just come to Oamar'tt. since that time wonders .. had been worked—the club was now one of the strongest numerically and financially > in the; Dominion. With a membership of Well rjv.er .one hundred and a substantial credit balance, the club possessed some valuable assets, including a splendid billiard table, a piano, and evgry' comfort in the way ST furnishings. How much this desirable result was due to Father Farthing's efforts the members all knew, and to the generosity of Monsignor Mackay, who kindly advanced the ready money necessary to purchase the table. It was to reimburse their kind benefactor and. to make him,a presentation of a substantial dphairbn from the club towards ( the ,c.hufch funds that they, .were called together that evening. He (the speaker) had very great pleasure in handing to Monsignor Mackay a cheque for £75, to cover the loan advanced by him towards purchasing the billiard table (£55) and £2Q as a donation to the Church funds. As president, of the club, Mr O'Grady said he wished to express the deep gratitude of the members for the ready help they had received from.the Monsignor when the subject was first mooted, and in return he febuld promise that whenever assistance was required or wOrk. to be done the club woUld be evdf rfeady and anxious to be called ug.tthi . . Monsighijr Mackay, in replying, said he Was quite upset by the great surprise they had given ,hjm,.,arid.about which he, had, been kept q'uftfe in the ! dark.:.. „.It, S'eemed . almost wonderful that in M'e short space of three months the club had done what experts in finance had declared would take at least two years to do. St. Patrick's Club had proved a huge success in every way, and he could scarce find to express his gratitude, lor ttVsir gift. He thanked the#i.f&r; their willing help in connection with the Carnival and all who so zealously labored to make it such a success. When all matters were settled it was expected to net £640 from the latter event, which was a splendid return at this particular time of the year. Rev. Father Farthing also addressed the assembly, and expressed his gratitude to all who worked so well for the club, for the club's dramatic production, and for the bazaar. The President then presented a cheque for two guineas to Mr James Ruddy, being a donation from the club to the member selling most tickets for " Our Boys." The final round of the. billiard tournament was next -played, and caused great interest, the winner being Mr O'fionnell, who defeated his opponent by five points. An adjournment was then made to the supper-room, where the spread provided by Mr Bartrum was done justice to, after which ' the evening's programme was concluded in the customary majiner.