WANGANUI.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 244, 4 January 1878, Page 9

WANG AN UI.

4 (From, a Correspondent.) Our Catholic children here have been enjoying great treats lately. On the 30th November the children and their teachers presented the Rev. Father Kirk with a beautiful dressing case, and a lot of fancy work made in the school ; and, in the address read to him, all wished their kind father many happy returns of bis natal day. After the reading of the address, Father Kirk replied, expressing himself; as very much pleased as he was surprised at the touching v*ay in which they had given expression to their affection for him. He knew they would like to please him, and he would tell them how to do it Attend to three things," said. he, and you will/plen?o'.me'very much. Ist. Be very fond of your teachers, who arc so painstaking. 2nd. Be of your school, and prove you love it by working well. 3rd. ■Let every child hate lying, Avhich is so mean a thing/ And now began the ical day. In .-.ingins; and playing, the .time -Was spent, until the entertainment began at 3 o'clock ; then came the feast lat 5 o clock, and the happy day finished up with the exhibition of a fine magic lantern at 7 o'clock. On the following Monday morning, at half-past six o'clock, the children preparing for First Communion, and the Children of Mary received the "fii;st instruction of their Retreat, and afterwards assisted at High ' Mass. Catechetical instruction was imparted at half-past three o'clock, and in the evening at seven the Rosary was recited, atid a little sermon was delivered. The same order was followed until Friday. Confessions were heard during the week. On the Sth. the beautiful feast of the Immaculate Conception, twenty-tLve received their First Communion, after listening to a very simple and touching discourse. On the evening of the i)th, these children renewed their Baptismal vows, and made their consecration. Then the Children of Mary road their renewal of their consecration ; and afterwards, all took part in the procession through the church. Benediction' of the M. U. Sacrament followed.' On Monday, 37th. the examinations of the schcol began, but I must refer you to the very fair report of the Herald for interesting particulars about theso :—: — 11. v.-as^ already known that the examination of St Mary's Schools, which commenced on Monday morning in the presence of the Rev. Father Kirk and a few more gentlemen, were to be concluded on Tuohday evening, and were to be followed by recitations, ice. Hence at about 7 o'clock in the evening a large crowd, consisting of the children attending, the schools and their parents, assembled in the fine hall presented by the three schoolrooms when the separating partitions are removed/ At half-past seven the curtain, in front of the simple yet appropriate platform or stage was drawn, and a number of girls of, the senior and junior schools delighted the audience with a beautiful chorus. The touching and difficult selection from Byron* ''The Prisoner of Chillon," was then recited in stanzas, by, the girls of , the first class. No sooner had they bowed themselves off the platform, than Master James McKittrick sent the audience into fits of laughter 'with his well delivered piece "I'm a Merry Little Squirrel." And then Miss Jane Lough as "Sarah," and Mies Efiio.Gerse as '-Mary.'' would give a practical lesson to everybody— Sarnh had lost her thimble, and came as usual to borrow the one used by Mary ; but whilst giving a reason for asking the loan, Sarah had administered to her by her young friend, in an inimitably sage tone of voice and with capital gesLurcs, an excellent rebuke. Snran promised an entire cl.au fro of conduct, and all present were very spnouHly informed that " there is a place for everything, and everything ought, to be in ,its proper place." A manly little fellow, Master W. Counery, succeeded to the little wiseacres, and no sooner had he done his nice piece than the two Birdies, Misses Polly Turner and Tcres-a Hartnett, entered, into a disquisition as to whether they should fly away dr hot. 'Little ' Sissy Reid chased them away, however, thai she might have a word with the audience, until Master (irogan, as '■ Rolla,'" stripped forward with his "Address to the Peruvians." The chorus which, .followed enchanted the audience, lhc music was faultless, the different voices blending in delightful harmony, and the time being well kept. This was a fitting prelude to the little drama, " Who is to Inherit," one of those excellent home phiys n6w used in 'the best convents,— indeed, it is to- the .good Superioress of the Duncain' don vent, which ranks' second to no educational establishment in the colony, that St. Mary's is indebted for its copy of thcpresenfcplay. Theae plays arc intended to develop' the powers of head and heart, to exercise the memory and cultivate man's nobler feel ; iip< f and to give facility in conversation aud grace of movement. The various parts wore well sustained by the Misses Agncs'Loydon,:Ferdinonda Gerse, Mary Cronin, Mary Counery, Lina Gi-rse, Amelia Neill, Ellen Cullum, and Jane Sweeney. Each of the girls rendered the part assigned her faultlessly ; and it must .be admitted that for the pitch of voice, distinctness of utterance, and naturalness of action the Christmas, play of 1877 was far superior to the best efforts of the children., hitherto. - With .the distribution of I prizes, and the crowning of best children and a 'beautiful- chorus, the happy evening was brought to a close. * v - -*