ST. MARY'S SCHOOL FETE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 272, 19 July 1878, Page 16

ST. MARY'S SCHOOL FETE.

(Communicated to the Nelson Evening Mail.') As seated by advertisements in the local papers the Rev. A. M. Garin invited the pupils of St. Mary's Schools to celebrate the twenty-eighth anniversary of his schools by a grand picnic at Foxhill on Wednesday, 3rd inst. It unfortunately happened that the day was rather o-loomv for a picnic, but the Rev. Father Garin and Mr. Ashcroft took every precaution that in the event of the day being wet the young people should be properly sheltered. Mr. Ashcroft ran a special train, and instead of the open carriages used on such occasions, kindly supplied covered cars The boys mustered in large numbers at the station, and at 930 the tram started for Foxhill. It was a bright picture to see the flags of all colours flying, and happy faces beaming with joy at the expected day s pleasure. The Rev. Fathers Garin and Ma- }? nc J.^ Mr : X^ a ° a ? h accom Panied the boys. As the train ncared £ i• ! CaP^Edwm s warning was verified, so on their arriving at Foxhill Mr. Wamhouse, the station-master, very thoughtfully offered the use of the goods shed for the boys, and in a short time he had swings put up for the youngsters. Mr. Jervis had his carriage ready to take the little ones to his hotel where he had tents pitched for the Picnic. About noon the sun made its welcome appearance, and football, rounders, and other games were started. Mr. Jervis supplied over seventy boys with tea, Sec, provided the gentlemen who accompanied the boys with a sumptuous dinner, and kept his carriage running to and fro gratuitously, while Mrs. Jervis had everything arranged m grand style. This act of generosity was altogether un°looked for and quite unexpected by Father Garin. The boys visited KiTJ? 8 ' f™ 1 seventy-two years of age, known, as Old Gauk, afforded plenty of fun for the youngsters by his quaint sayings and doings, A little after three the bugle sounded, and all returned to the station sit Foxhill when the Rev. Father Garin addressed the boys as follows :— « My dear boys —Although the weather is not very enticing for a picnic I am glad to see so many here to say farewell to you on this the twenty-eighth anniversary of St. Mary's schools. The majority of you are of a different persuasion from my own but I have never been less friendly on that account Your religious principles have always been respected in your teaching and during twenty-eight years I have never heard a single complaint of a pupil s faith being tampered with. In some books you may read that Catholics are not friendly to Protest ants, but I hope from what you have seen you will be able to contradict the assertion. Many of your parents have been educated at St. Mary's, which has always held a high position with other Government schools, but unfortunately the btate refuses support for denominational schools, and we are obliged to depend on the voluntary aid of the people. Under these circumstances many of you will go to other schools, but don't forget that you have been to St. Mary's, and by being truthful and honest you will become good and useful citizens. I wish you every happiness and success m your future undertakings, and though you go elsewhere for your studies I shall always be pleased to meet St. Mary's boys " The boys then gave lusty cheers for the Rev. Father Garin, Father Mahoncy, Messrs. Kavanagh, Jervis, and Wainhouso. At 4.30 the train started for Nelson, where it arrived at 5.30, the boys being all pleased with their day s outing, and grateful to Father Garin for his kindness in affording them so much pleasure.