PRESENTATION BY THE CHILDREN.

Colonist, Volume XLV, Issue 10407, 13 May 1902, Page 1 (Supplement)

PRESENTATION BY THE CHILDREN.

At the invitation of the Rev. pother Superior, the. Very Rev. Dean Mahoney.met the pupils of the various schools in connection with St. Mary's Church in St. Mary's Hall, for the purpose of taking goodbye ere he set off on his trip to the Home Country. An appropriate little programme had been prepared for the occasion, and the children entered into the spirit of this with great goodwill and intelligence. The opening song by the boys, "Außevoir,'' was composed for the occasion, and very aptly referred to the ; Rev. Dean and his contemplated voyage. This was sung with great zest to the tune of "Auld Lang Syne." An amusing little dialogue, which followed, artfully led up to three cheers for the Dean, and these were very heartily given. Masters Hayden and Woodward were the principal actors j jin this scene. The songs, "Dear ! Little Shamrock and " Steer my Bark," were sung by "different sections of the schools, and Misses H. Gibbs and McMahon contributed a violin duett; Miss M. Mercer and Miss Stewart each played a pianoforte solo ; and the concluding item was "Adieu,'' a song specially composed, 'and sung by the whole of the children to the tune of "The Harp that once."

Four of the smallest of the children then brought forward and presented to the Dean a. large, comfortable travelling rug, with straps, and the reverend gentleman thanked the children in a kindly little speech.

Lollies were then distributed to each of the children present, and three cheers were given for the Dean, the Rev. Father George Mahony, and the Rev. Father Clancy, and as the party left the room a verse of "Auld Lang Syne" was sung. A holiday was granted the children on the application of the Dean, and this, of course, gave rise to another outburst of cheering.

During Dean Mahoney's absence the work of St. Mary's parish will

be divided between the Rev. Father George Mahony and the Rev. Father. Olancy, the former acting 'jas legal manager of the St. Mary's Industrial Schools. To arrange the details in regard to the latter matter with the Education Department, Father Mahony will visit Wellington at dnce. '-■■ • 3 Dean Mahoney leaves Nelson early on Monday morning.