WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume V, Issue 257, 5 April 1878, Page 9

WELLINGTON.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) ~ _ . . March 28, 1878. On luesday evening, March 3rd, a musical and dramatical entertainment, under the patronage of the Hibernian Society, was held at the Marist Schools, Boulcott-street, in aid of the funds of a most deserving charity— the Convent Schools. The members of the Catholic Young Men s Dramatic Club, who have been instrumental from time to time in providing for the Catholic community many a pleasant evening's amusement, are deserving of the warmest praise for their kindness in devoting their time and abilities to the recreation of their co-rehgionists, and by which are brought about those pleasant reunions of the Catholics of all parts of the city, which cannot fail to be of a salutary effect ; while the proceeds, often forming a handsome sum, are applied in aid of some Catholic institution. The members of the Hibernian Society, in their regalia' mustered in large numbers, and were conspicuous among the audience. The fine brass band of the Society enlivened the intervals by playing some operatic selections in splendid, style. As this was the first occasion of the band appearing in public they were warmly greeted. The spacious hall was literally crowded to overflowing, many being unable to gain admittance even within the outer door. The dramatic portion of the programme— on the selection of which the club cannot be complimented—consisted of a short one act drama entitled " The Brigand and his Son," with the farce "A sudden Arrival," in both of which the characters comprising the respective dramatte persona were fairly ' sustained, though in some respects overdone. Among the audience, the majority of whom are at least supposed to be followers of Father Hennebery, the drunken freaks of one of the characters, when unnecessarily prolonged, are not apt to be appreciated, but, on the contrary, more inclined to lead to wearisomeness and disgust. The vocal portion of the programme was very well rendered by several lady amateurs ; the duet, " I Know a Bank," being especially noticeable for the harmony of the voices and the exquisite mellow tone of the younger lady. Two glees, "Now is the Month of Maying," and "Good Night, Thou Glorious Sun," by the choirs of both churches, under the leadership of Mr. Putnam, formed an attractive portion of the programme. Perhaps the most appreciable event of the evening from being received with evident enthusiasm, was when the band struck up " Garryowen" and other gay national airs, and into the, spirit of which the whole audience fully entered. Though the entertainment was got up by the members of the Dramatic Club, and who merit all due praise for their efforts, still, when assistance was volunteered in a shape which would have an enlivening effect and likely to £ apprec^teQ by the audience, those gentlemen should have cheerfully accepted the offer instead of rejecting it. The motto of those gentlemen getting up these popular entertainments should be 'all donations thankfully received." There are several Catholic young men m the city possessed of sufficient abilities who should be members of the Dramatic Club, and thus infuse additional life into it. If new members joined the Club it would not necessitate the same persons appearing in public on each occasion, and thus afford them a rest from the drudgery of frequent rehearsal. «. * L per^ iv^ b y a . le , tter wM ch appeared in the Nerv Zealand Times, that Mr. Charles Bright accuses me of having made a false statement" m the columns of the Tablet with respect to the lectures delivered by him some time since in Wellington. As I did not personally attend his lectures, the information which I communicated was derived from the reports contained in the local Press, and from some of those who were present. As the editor of Oegflfew Zealand Times states that the lectures were weli attended, this portion of the information was evidently incorrect. Regarding the unpleasant proceedings, which he endeavours to convey as being of a very pleasant nature to him, and entirely satisfactory, the Evening Post, which is the popular organ of the Press m the Provincial district of Wellington, in the report of one of his lectures says:-^« The Rev. J. Harrington stood up as the people ! were leaving, and said, I wished to ask at the commencement of the lecture, and I ask now whether any discussion is to be perpermitted (uproar). I now challenge Mr. Bright to an argument on StlH Sf '^° \l s be * ter calculated to promote the interests of humanity? Mr. Bright, amid considerable uproar said, that he itup UU a nvtW Ye a c £ airman . on + the following night" and he would then argue anything. For a .minute or two, it appeared as if the scenes at Walker's meetings would be repeated. Mr. Harrington was heard calling the meeting to witness that he had challenged discussion, and had been refused.'' If the report of the Post was not correct, why did not Mr Bright refute it or have it corrected at the time ? Evidently he must he accustomed to warm proceedings of a like nature, when he was so well pleased with the result of this lecture St. Patrick's Day was not celebrated here in a similar manner as last year, on account of its falling on a Sunday. Last year athletic sports were held in honour of the day, from Ah a nice surplus resulted, and was apphed m aid of the Brothers' and Convent Schools. The only feature characteristic of the day was the profuse .display of green ribbon in the costume of the Catholic ladies, and ' the conspicuous position which a substitute for ",the dear little shamrock" found onthe hat or breast of every son of the Green Isle. There was not a single individual of Irish nationality seen under the influence of drink, which shows that the labours of Father Hennebery havenot dLanS^ h r^ efiC | nt , c^ eCt - The "* citi Z en7suffered a disappointment by the band of the Hibernian Society not ushering in t;S S Day ith a PP r °P ria te music ; but as the members of the l^FX^ B^^ B^ 1^ hours of the **gi* round the confesSh % ?£ Ul « *? fc very weU a PP ear in P u &ic -afterwards. The * ofthe Sacwly celebrated the festival by approaching the Blessed Sacrament at early Mass at St. Maiy of the. Angels. S aBa J? c Cath< ?l lc ? ?f? f New Zealand evidently need not expect much S£7 obtauung a repeal of the unjust clausesin the Education wAS^? a^ the newly.elected,member for Wellington. In lh i T^4? leeleCt ?? BattlieTheatre ' ]Ro y al » on «* 21st instant, 2J 1 3^** exception of a few short remark* 'on general political %™ / c^ ted t0 ;, PP 66 * B^ l matters > Mr/Ba-rtdnelpressed himself n favour of a free and secular system of education. He acknowledged

that his return was m a great measure due to the support of his Cathohe fellow-countrymen. He stated that the had not pledgedMmsetf to support the views of the Catholics on the question of education, for he had not been asked to do so. Mr. Barton Lh speech said :-« That he thought with Mr. Sheehan, that the Roman Catholics would in the end confess that State education could oiTbe SSX ut £ ewaßnot »t>igot, and he would go against no man's conscience. He was open to argument and conviction, and if it was clearly proved that the consciences of Roman Catholics wSe violaTed by thepresent Education Act, he would not oppose a just reform " After some unavoidable postpone vents from time to time, Se drawing for prizes m connection wiii the art union in aid L of thl gjf^ *? Marist Brother Schools, tS place at the School-room, Boulcott-street, on the evening of the 28th. There were anTJe r! v "ShT T pre Bant HiS L ° rdsW P »'• S^S? T?^ ftl w tf M^ Yardin ' were present for a part of the evening S? !'■ aM <f mnes ?> wh « had charge of the art union, andhad left nothing undone to make it a success" watched the pioceedines throughout. The drawing was conducted on the usuafart^ unifn principle, and gave entire satisfaction. The band of the HiheSS Soaety discoursed some pleasant music' at intervals duririgThe <W Zf^^r* 0 -,'!,? 11868 ' dt is calculated that a sum^f about £700 will be available for reduction of the debt on the schools also zsftsEr wIU " c published in the iocai ™»w!f^s