Nelson Province.

Colonist, Volume XVII, Issue 1876, 16 February 1875, Page 5

Nelson Province.

■ FANCY DRESS BALL IN NELSON. ; Thb n°y .drees, ball to which took place in. the Provincial Hall, on Jan. 29th, although not numerously attended,, a very brilliant, affair. About eighty couples were present, and nearly all of them were in costume, although a few in evening dress were in the gallery. Many of the dresses were very beautiful, and it was evident that several of those present had cone to considerable expense in getting themselves up for the occasion. Amongst the best and most effeotive dresses were thoße worn by Mias Ellen Harris, Hon. Mr. Edwards, Miss Stanton, Mr. H. Rawson, Mr. Stanton, Mr. G-ully, Mies Monro, Mr. Fell, Mr. Acton Adams, Mr. Blaekutt, Mr Nicholson, Dr. Boor, Dr. Cotterell, and Mr. Wix. The make-up of the last-named- gentleman as Mephistopheles was exceedingly good, and Mr. Gully as J^hn Chinaman was dressed superbly. The following -are the names of the ladies and gentlemen present, (as far as we can romember) who wore dressed in accordance with the undermentioned- assumed characters :—

Dr. Cot:erell, Italian brigand ; Mrs. Cotterell, Italian peasant; and Master Cotterell Italian peasant boy; Dr. Renwick, Egyptian undress uniform ; Mr. Martin, Man-of-war sailor; Miss Martin, Spanish lady ; and Miss T. Martin, Lady Fern ; Miss Campbell, Dolly Varden ;

]Hrs. Adams, Quakeress; Mr.Gouland, Barrister; Mrs. Gouland, Swiss peasant; Miss Wells, Flora ; Miss Jessie Wells, 80-peep ; Miss Hiirris, Swiss girl; Miss Ellen Harris, first as Zulieka, and second Queen of the Butterflies; Mr. Oldham, Spanish muleteer ; Mrs. Oldham, Lady of tiie Sixteenth. Century 5 Mr. John O.dham, Hearts-ease ; Mrs. J. Oldham, Lady of the reign of Q-eorge III.; Miss Kent, Stars and Stripes ; Mr". Nicholson, Half Black and White Italian Clown; Mr) Rawson, Black and Scarlet, Spanish ; MX Maclean, Marshal McMahon 5 Mri Ambrose Moore, Mereuf id ; Miss Kingdon, French peasant; ' , Mr. 0. Bonny, first as Knave of Diamonds, seoondas Earl of Somerset;' Mr..Scaife,.Tamb.ourine; Mrs. Scaife, Court Lady of Q-eorge III.; Mr. W. Scaife, Knave of Clubs ; . —Sailor; Mr..Catley, Turkish ; Mrs. Catley, Miss Neville; :.Mi»s Monro, Ciishmerian ; Mr. Aotoo Adams, Rochester ; Mr. E. Adams,, first as Knave of Hearts; second, Courc page; Mr.Wit, Mephistophelea. Mr; Were, Alonzo ; ",.' Mrs. and Miss Marsden, Tioar of Wakefield's daughters, in powder and patches; Meßsrs. Saxton (2), Foresters ; Mr. H. Rawson, first as Knave of Spades, second, Court page; Mrs. Rawson, Isabella of Bavaria; Mr. Blacket, Robin Hood, in green velvet; i Mr. Pitt, Fra Diavolo; Mrs. Pitt, Circassian lady; Miss Dodson, Hungarian, blue velvet, skirt trimmed with ermine, scarlet boots, and square scarlet hat; Mr. H. Dod-on, Algerian ; i Jfr. Edwards Cardinal Wolsey, iv scarlet velvet - and rep; Mrs. Edwards, Venetian lady; j Mr. Stanton, George III.; Mrs.Stantou, Esmeraldaj; Miss Stanton, Swiss girl; Miss C.' Stanton, "Vivandiere; and Mr. Frank Stantoo, Algeririe rover;..... Mr. Gully,. John Chinaman ; . \ Mr. Griffiths, James I.; . Mr. Hervey, Student of Glasgow Academy ; MissSaxton, Winter; Mias E. Saxton, Algerian j \ , Dr. Boor, Mr. Hardcastle ; . \ Mrs. Frazer, Duenna; . . i . Twenty-two dances were gone through, and at intervals, Mr. H. Rawson, assisted by several other gentlemen, produced several dramatic scenes and opera choruses, with excellent effect. There were several other ladies and gentlemen present but we do not recollect their names.

The first scene represented a courtyard in Tuniß, with slave merchants in Turkish costume, Circassian captives being sold by dumb-show auction, the chorus being " Merry Tunis," from the opera " Satanella." The seconddelin'eation was a well-known scene from, Goldsmith's favorite play, "She stoops to Conquer;" in which Dr. BoOr, as Mr. Hardcastle. acquitted himself very creditably. The third was a very effective scene, representing "Stonehenge" : the spirited invocation chorus from " Norma," being rendered by nine Druids, surpliced and laurel-wreathed. The fourth, " the Cauldron scene from Macbeth," •was very successful. It represented the interior ofia cave, in the centre of which stood the cauldron, over which an owl kept watch. The three witches were excellently personifie 1, and the bats and other night birds were capitally arranged, colored fires adding to. the effect. Locke's music was capitally rendered. The scene was deservedly encored, and repeated.

The fifth, described as the, ballet termed, " the Quaker's Daughter,", was well sustained. Although there was no spoken dialogue, the intelligent acting snd descriptive music conveyed the plot clearly to theaudience.

Too much praise-cannot be given to the excellent music rendered by Messrs. Oakey, Jacob 3, and Corriok, it being some of the beat dancing music we bare ever heard. Dancing was kept up with spirit to the end of the.programme, and Sir Roger de Ooverly being added, thYcompany then s.ang" Gfr>d Save the Queen," and separated with three hearty cheers for Mr. Rawson. ~■■..■ - . PRIZE DAY AT ST. MARY'S SCHOOLS. I Thb twenty-fifth anniversary of the above-nampd echools was celebrated-on January 19th. Tea was partaken of at 5; ; p.m,, and in t^e evening Bishop Bedwood distributed-the prizes to the successful scholars in the presence of a large aumbor of visitors, as follows: — .'."'l Boys." .' ■ ' '■' '• : ! First Class—lst prize, J. Brunetti ; 2nd, W. Thomßon; 3rd, S. Sherwood.' . ; > , Sepond Class—lst prize,; Francis Allen ; 2nd, GK Fleming ; 3rd, Gr.Shallcrass." ; ; i Third Class —Ist prize, James Carroll; 2nd, John Carroll ;*'3rd, EV Everett. '' / :..::,■! Fourth Class—lst prize, John Or. Barfcej ;,2nd •■ Fredk. Mills; 3rd, James O'Connor. " •■ Fifth 'Class— Ist prize, W- J. Keesell; 2nd, Charfes ; SHallcrass ; 3rd,' Alfred Jackson.. ~■:.• I . ,'i3ixth" Class—'let prize, B1"." Hanna'gan; 2nd, (E. Cooie j'3rd, Charles' Speed. ;, '". ; ',' I Mapping— Ist prize, James Speed, given by Mr , Bunny; 2nd, J. Brunetli, given,by Mr James. j .. ,'Good Conduct—W.'Chisholm, giyen by Father i,; Binsfeld ; H. Betbwaife, given by L. Broad, Esq. j i Reading—J. Speed,'given by Father Qario. ; ' : (Teachers' prizes for Assiduity—T. W.'Boundy, W. ;, ?lick,H. Wimsett, H; Bethwaito, W. Chisbolm,|F. Everett, J. Spesd, E, Biickeridge, M. KeseeH, Michael Levy, Mark Levy, •W.^ylie^WiM^thieson." j '. ■■■ ;"■ ' •'■• " ••GrIBLS. ' ' '. i t Good Conduct—Miss Brunetti. Honorable Men-1 , tion: Misses Roughton, Green, Kealy, Daroiix, 4nd , Newton. • | ~ First Class—lst prize, Miss Brunetti; 2nd, Miss "Scaly; 3rd, Miss Josephine Frank:1 Ml-' : *'; \■ ■■ '■■'■■ Second Glass^-l?tiprize, Miss Darbui;: 2nd, Mis,s: "' Moore; 3rd,Misߣ:. Newton; ■ ' >■■■ ' j ; .. ~ Third Class—lst prize, Mies'-3L Corrigan ; 2nd, ;',' Miss Mirtney.} 3rd,. Miss M.J.^lieves'tam. j ', ■■■Fourth Claas.—lst..prize, .Miss'S. Junker j 2^d,, , MißsJ..Oglevie. ... ; ■ ■ ■ \ ..'. ''.''''''^:':,■':■■< ■'- ' 'Special Prizes. ■ - - \'.\_ 'VOmpoaition-ri-Mieß Roughton. , | ; . Spelling--Mi?sHibble. ' . | ..Arithmetic—Miss Cr. Freeman, presented by! li, : woad, Esq., R.m. v ; . Reading— Miss Brunetti. ... , j : "■* Regular Attendance—Miss. B. Newton, presented ■■ ,b7- Mr James. ~,'..-, , ■ Bain Sewing— Miss M'Artnej. j ■•■■■-. fancy Work—Miss War^. • ■ i -■.' ~;,-; Music—Miss Brunetti,presented by A.Bunny, Esq; . Singing—MissOoakley, presented by A. Bunny, Esqi .j ( ' *oUteneßß^-Mißß,Green.'■-*■- '-1 ';: ■■■ —'- | - io .oiaii-£SiiD(>Ki)iDtTl6ipK;' '':'• wood Conduofc— Ada Lucas. •uv-At, a t ht-i -.

First Class—lst prize, Ao.uie Wimsett; 2nd, Florence Ivess.

* Second Class—lst prize, Margaret Newton ; 2nd, ■ Erniiy Denne., ,: . ~-. • I Third Class-r-lst prize, , Martha Bolton; 2nd, Harriett Salter. ■ j ■ Fourth Claßa—lst prize, Lily Frank; ,2nd, Emily Easton. ..■....;■ ;■., ■i •. ■ His Lordship the Bishop said :My dear children: It is a great pleasure to me to distribute these prizes to you to-day. It ib a great pleasure also to me ito congratulate you upon your success at the end of this year. What makes the special worth of these prizes is not the intrinsio value of ; each one, but the : whole »urn '; of the efforts which they suppose en your part. They suppose continued efforts, and a will which has been strengthened so as to compete day after day, and week after week, so as, at List, tv obtain the well-earned reward of true industry and true assiduity for your different lessons, and, finally, the reward which is due to perseverance in study; and I may remark that perseverance in study is frequently the ,har.iest of all kinds of perseveranoe. I have therefore to congratulate you on your success, hut what marks still more the worth of these prizes is that they look forward to the future. You look to me to-day like a.tree which is just beginning to bud or blossom, and wbat makes the beauty of the tree is not the blushing honors it bears upon it, but to the mind rather thanto the sense, the. beauty, of .a tree in blossom consists in the promise of its fruit, and to-day. I see in you promise of great fruit in future. I feel a deep interest in you because I know you are the hope of a part of this flourishing colony. You are to contribute to the best of your ability to make New Zealand great, and its greatness will depend upon the cultivation, of its mind by sound instruction. What forms a nation, what raises a nation,to a high pitch, what keeps a nation at a high pitch,, and what, when a nation has fallen, lifts it and places, it on a high pinnacle? Good and, true men t and . education! (Applause.) ~Education takes a,man as he comes,, forward like a^germ beginning to bud forth," and brings out all his faculties. These faculties have to be developed by sound instruction. , Man has^also a will, and that will has to be, strengthened by good sound prudent discipline* i Man has, too, a higher faculty—he has his conscience, and this;conscience!is formed by teaching him,; what,:is right and what is wrong, until he,becom i e8 ao,.length, what is, called1 a conscientious man. The tree begins, to put forth its branches, and very soon is qovered with precious fruits. And now,l have only to exhort you to qontinue to persevere as you have been doing, and, to encourage you to persevere, ,1. say you have one great motive in the ability with which you are taught. You, have a muster who is able to teach you, and who is devoted to you, and one whom this town may congratulate for all his efforts in the instruction of youth. You .have also a pastor who. directs Jhese schools, who will never be forgotten-..in, Nela.on, and who will leave a,mark ip,this part of New- Zealand. You have, in the sister, pergons.w.ho have left their, country and made all kimisof sacrifices for your sakep, who are, able,.and willing to, teach you, and: who hayo consecrated.,ail their efforts to promote your welfarj?. You have also another encouragement, that is the presence hero this evening.of Ihose gentlemen who ; have come to assist, in rewarding you for your labors _, You have the presence of .Mr Simmons, the dis^ tinguished head of the Nelson College—a College, which stands in the very first rank of the educji- ; ttonal,estabh'shments-^-aod he comes to honor with; his presence the rewarding of your labors ; he com4s, to poinlj out to ypu, as it were, the higher grade 6f instruction to which you are to aspire, so that afterwards you may have influence in the country. -I may avail myself of this opportunity to congratulate this, learned gentleman on the fairness, liberality, arid broadness of mind he. has. displayed in conducting that establishment, and he deserves the gratitude of all classes in the Colony for hi* generosity, true liberality, and broadness of. view. (Applause) I have also to congratulate another gentleman—Mr Broad, jl cannot say too much,in his praise, for I know he h^s done all in his power to promote education wherever he has been, and hence, I,say, he comes here to-day tomeet t you,and, aSjit.wete, to ..take .part in your little triumphs, and to tell you that next year even those; who now, after competing with great effjrjt, had nearly, reached the goal, of success will, by perseverance, do so then. : I hope to have again tl)e pleasure of presenting ibese well earned rewardk, (Applause.) And now I have only to invoke updn you the blessing of the Almighty who haß been called the G-od of Sciences. He is eternal truth and Hjis object is to convey that truth to men, and therefore I leave you , under Hia blessing. I invoke tne blessing of Heaven upon all those who contribute fo education, and I hope you will continue to persevere in your exertions, and so at last Oecoine a credit to those who have educated you; the joy and consolation of your parents, and a credit to yourselves, by the great and lasting influence you will have in society. (Applause.), , ! Mr Lowtheb .Beoab said he would, with his Lordship's permission, say a few words. It wa3 la remarkable fact that, during the time he had resided in Nelson, cacti year, when they had met to distribute the prizes, there had been some singular event which had made the presentation notable. On the first occasion there was the arrival of the Sisters of the Convent. That was a great event, and it had bee|n productive of very great results. In the following year they had congratulated themselves on the almost .miraculous improvement which had taken place in both the boys' and girls' schools. And no|w there was another remarkable event—the presence there of one of St. Mary's boys as Bishop of the Church. (Prolonged applause.) Nothing he could say .'would express what all who belonged to the Church felt when they thought of this- They were all willingto pay his Lordship the most willing obedience, and to offer him their most hearty affection, as be was aa honor not only to .the, Church but, also to the town of Nelson. (Applause.) From the presence of the Bishop he might paint a-moral and\ adorn a tale., His Lordship was for the boys, especially a uotable example of what they might attain to by virtue and .industry, and he thought there, could be no doubt, that; Bishop, Redwood would not have occupied his present position, bad he not been in a singular manner possessed of great ability and most eminent virtues. (Applause.) If any small efforts of his, (Mr Broad's) own had hitherto had even a small effect in.promoting the cause of education, he was far more than, repaid, and so, long as: hd continued to live, ; in this town it ;would be his duty year by year to ofler some, small rewards to both scuools for progress in particular departments. Befor6;Cpneluding he desired not only as a member .of the Church, but also as a resident of the City of Nelson, to endorse every word that had fallen from his Lordship's mouth with regard to their dear friend Father Garin. They could never speak of him in too high terms of praise, they loved him too mucti for words to express the'extent of their love; (Loud appiausp.) '~ . ' , . The Rev. Fatheb G-ABIN said he was happy to remind them that there was then amongst them one gentleman—Captain Rough—wlio had been making the.greatest exertion's towards promoting the educa* tion of,the young. He had, gone to the trouble of visiting all the: schools, and, had encouraged education by every means in his power. That day was to him one of especial interest. It was twenty-five years since the schools had been established, and he: wanted to mark the circumstance by something tangible,'and1 he was glad therefore to know that; they' had with theratheir worthy Bishop, who would give a little importance to the occasion. In order that the event might be remembered he had announced that a picnic would be held on the following day (Wednesday), and all the scholars and 'their friends were invited to attend. He exhorted the children to attend school regularly, and to study not only in school but at home also! They could see the result of labor and perseverance in school everywhere. They had had in their schools several boys and \girls who had been remarkable in their after lives. They had a striking instance of this in their worthy Bishop.; : Captain Rocgh said thaj;, having been so kindly mentioned "by hiSjexcelient ojd Garin, he would embrace jihe , opportunity,' ; of .laying, a lew words about the'sqhoojs he 'had visited during, tlae past few yeairß.' Thieylcnew^ tla'at Nejson was every •' where highly, spoken of for its elementary ;scK6ols as well a» for" ite College, x-erhtp. th« eleawutury

sohoola were, not quite so .goodasjihey- .were apt jtc flitter themaelyee they were. Jn fact their elepi<jn ; tary schools were by no meanß; up to.the standard jh« hoped they would reach i in ( future.'y,ears,an i d this Wa« oh'iefly owing to the irregular; attendance of, the scholars, and Bometime»;,to >> the; fact: that; boys ol twelve or fourteen years of age, who had .alreaiy learned a great de»l, and were likely to" learn a gn at deal more, were taken away from; school and set to work. V He reminded parents; that, their , childr sn would lose, a great deal if regular attendance at schc ol were not insisted upon. He thought that every e h; Id should co to school until it; was; fourteen years of age »'t the least, and, inllis opinion, it was very dscouraging to a so'ioolmaßter to see his moßt promißihg pupils" taken from hitn at aa early age, and wh|m they would be capable of receiving, much more Uistruction. Most of the Nelson schools were creditable to their teaohera. To him it had been a grejat pleasure to examine both the boys and girls attending St. Mary's, Schools. Many, p£ the branches of education taught at that establishment were very much better understood than Jin former years, particularly the geography of Ne> Zealand. The reading of the pupils was excelletit, their, writing was very fair, and as to their manners he could hardly speak too highly. He waa sure thht both their morals and their manners) would be vej-y much improved by being'under the care of the eHtimabie ladies whose duty it was to teach tnem-jp (applausey—and, theßohblars could not too highly appreciate their efforts!' ; He asked them to be diligent in their, studies.. and obedient, to their teachers, and concluded by calling upon them to gife three cheers for Father Garin and the otber ; teacheijs. The cheers were given , heartily., A similar cotnpiiment was also'paid to his Lordship. j Mr RIOHABDB, the Master of ( , the boys' school, thanked all.thßjyißitprs who by their attendance gate eclat to the'distrib'ution'pf, the *|>Mzeß'."'. The .prizes had all been fairly and honeetiy ,nv,on by, those whoie' ,Mmeii.,w.^e.a.(;tafihellP.;them;,..and. 'j>e„ was sure tl|e wirinerß would appreciate f ,the, prizes all the mo|e. beoauee. they! had Mied. presente*d by. 'his Lordship. The boya had. conducted themselves well, and hald shown their;-'affection for FathVr Garin and himseilf by pfeßenting'them with little tokens of their esteem.* :He mentioned this to Bhow that the; position betweeln' teacher and pupiii's was'properly adjusted; and'ths^t they were not likely>to have any mishapsdn consequence of that want of harmony of feeling(whioh; exists in some schools.1 boys-progress J ad adswered his expectationfi, and average talent had done' (its work through the year ; : j -Mr F. C,SrMM:ONS Ksaid that Father Garin had 'done him the honor .ofasking him tosay a few words, ' although really he 'hardly knew what remained to qe said. He, however, lwould do -as bin reverend and esteemed friend had requested him,1 because Father ■G-arin was a. man who-must be obeyed. Everybodjy" in NMson-must be thoroughly aware how much; they owed to Father.Garin.;i ABfar:aSib.e,(Mr, t S.immo.n^)' ha,d r s.een. Father, Garin was a __mpd,el. ; man. He' nim^elf.'had, had^they^onor,or.acting, ajfc 'a' public Board' 'witn the reverend genUemau., janeT lie never, heard him say janything. that was not" kind . and cnarltable to all men.' His Lordship bad beeb' kindj enough to speak, in flattering terms of ; tha Nelson College. He (Mr Simmons)'was. a.little1 proud of the College, and;cpuld assure 'thjem tjia|^ as long as he,'h'ad anything. |o do with that institution thsre.would be thorough fair play shown to, everybody, wjipever : they might be. , They should .never hear the slightest vestigeof a word of disrespect to. their creed.J^^ (Applauie.)';;_.Ojie.of his best and ablest pupils had,.been a jßoman Catholic named Daniel' O'Connor, and he was,happy, to say1 that that young' manj had passed creditably a most stringent Civil * Service examinatiori.; "He'hdpedl his Lordship would.i continue to b«*e oonfiderice ih'the1 N!elsbn' College.; Hle^ had given a prize to the best English lady " sbholair and, with the Sisters' kind permission, tte would do; the same next year. (Applause.)' He had had long experience as1 a teacher, and wouldsay that he had nevereeen suchgood'discipline in any school as in' St. Mary's girls sohq'ol. '(Applause;) ;. ' j - This terminafed thel proceedings. " Oii Jan: 20; abouriOO children and a .number of friends1 went to 'the picnic1 which was heldat Stafford place, Waimea lWestr The long' line of traps pre-, sentea a very gay 'appearance,;and attracted much, attention in the suburbs. Races, >&0., were got up, and ■. the children enjoyed themselves thoroughly.' Amongst the visitors were Bishop RedwopdV'Mr; Thomas;^ Red wodd.i MrL.! Broad, Mr Joseph1 Ward," and Fathers G-arin and 'Binsfeld. ; lThe affair was excellently; managed, and- reflected great credit •' on hose who got it up. The party returned to t&wa in the evening.' ■ • ;. '". '