ST. PATRICK'S SCHOOL, LAWRENCE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume II, Issue 75, 3 October 1874, Page 8

ST. PATRICK'S SCHOOL, LAWRENCE.

The merry peals which issued from the belfry of St. Patrick's School on Thursday morning announced that a marriage was about to take place — a thing, we regret to Bay, of very rare occurrence in the Tuapeka district, so rare that it may be considered an event in the history of the place. The marriage referred to anyhow was an event of no small importance to a considerable section of this community, seeing it was the happy nuptials of the master and mistress of the Roman Catholic School. The bride, Mrs Conway, is very well known to the most of our Tuapeka residents, having occupied with very great acceptance the position of female teacher of the school for the hist three years. By her frank and generous disposition she has endeared herself to all the children of the school, and gained for herself a large circle of friends. The bridegroom, Mr Wood, is a comparative stranger to the place, having only been a resident a few months! But we feel confident that he only needs to be known to be appreciated. He is & young man of great and versatile ability, is a good musician, aud an excellent teacher. Since he assumed the mastership of the school, it has shown wonderful signs of vitality ; and if the numbers continue to increase as they have lately been doing, the capacious schoolroom, will not by any means be too large for their accommodation. Shortly after ten o'clock, Mr Larkin entered the room with the bride leaning upon his arm, followed by the bridegroom and bridesmaids — the Misses Topsy and Tilly Wolfe,~and took their places in ront of the altar. By this time, a large crowd of ladies and gentlemen had gathered in the building to witness the ceremony. To the right and left of the altar wore ranged on forms the children of the school, trimly dressed for the occasion. The Rev. Father Larkin, priest of the parish, was the officiating clergyman, and after administering the sacrament to a considerable number of communicants, he proceeded to tie the silken knot- The ceremony was a very solemn and impressive one, and was concluded by tlie priest addressing the young couple in a few very appropriate remarks, followed by the usual prayers spoken at these times. Then came a general shaking of hands, wishing a newly-wedded pair long life and every happiness, &c, &c. The children, meanwhile, retired to the other end of the building to enjoy the cakes and sweets that were provided for them without measure. After songs had been sung by Miss Dalton and Mr Wood, which were accompanied on the harmonium by Mrs Wood, to the great delight of all present, a very pleasant scene was enacted, viz., the presentation of congratulatory addresses beautifully engrossed on vellum, from the children to their teachers. The first was the following address to Mrs Wood, read by Miss Mary Bowes, and signed by a large number of the girls : — " To Mrs John Wood.

"Dearly Beloved Mistress,— On behalf of the girls attending St. Patricks School, we, the undersigned, affectionately embrace the auspicious occasion of your marriage to manifest our heart-felt gratitude for your untiring zeal and noble exertions in the promotion of our religious and social welfare. " During the past three years, we have ever looked up to you as our faithful councillor and guardian, nnd you have endeared yourself to every one of us by many disinterested acts of kindness and affection. "We now fervently beseech our good God, through the intercession of His Immaculate Mother, to pour down His choicest blessings on yourself and your worthy consort. May you live long and prosper ; nnd if it is the Holy Will of God, may we be spared to prove our gratification for your anxious solicitude in our regard." Master Frederick Monaghan then read the following address to Mr Wood, in a clear and articulate tone of voice :—: — "To Mr John Wood, Principal of St. Patrick's School, Lawrence. "Dear Sir, — We, the boys of St. Patrick's School, Lawrence, having heard with affectionate joy of your intended happy marriage, take this opportunity of testifying our gratitude for your zealous -efforts to promote our spiritual and temporal advancement. We are well aware of the difficulties you have to encounter in our many shortcomings and imperfections ; but we trust to your distinguished talents, our own assiduity and cheerful obedience to you, for success in all our studies. "We entertain a lively sense of the honor we possess in having for our guide a teacher so distinguished. "We will, therefore, fervently pray that the Almighty may vouchsafe to grant you and your amiable spouse every blessing in this life, and in the life to come everlasting happiness." Mr Wood acknowledged the kind congratulations of the children in a few well chosen words. lie could have expected such expressions from them on behalf of Mrs Wood, who had been so* long amongst them ; and as for himself, if he did not deserve their attachment to .•any great extent yet, having been but a short time with them, he was sure they would become greatly attached to each other on more intimate acquaintance, and it would be his constant endeavor to instruct them intellectually and spiritually to the best of his ability. — (Great applause.) The children were then released to play. The Rev. Father Larkin afterwards entertained the newly-wedded -couple at breakfast at his residence. There were also present the Church and School Committees and a few friends. His reverence certainly did not mock his young friends, as the dejexlner was most lavish in its character. " Long life and prosperity to Mr and Mrs Wood " was drank and responded to ; and prominent amongst other toasts proposed on the occasion was that of "Success to St. Patrick's ■School," and the " Health of the Rev. Father Larkin," through whose indomitable energy and perseverance so much had been done for the •Catholic religion and the education of the Catholic youth in the Tuapeka and surrounding districts. Shortly after three o'clock, the wedding party proceeded to the Beaumont Ferry, and we are sure that they carried with them the hearty good wishes of many many friends. — ' Tuapeka Times.