MARIST BROTHERS' SCHOOL, WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume X, Issue 507, 29 December 1882, Page 11

MARIST BROTHERS' SCHOOL, WELLINGTON.

(From the K.Z. Tiiiien.)

The anrual dramatic performance ami distribution of pr'zes in connection with the Marist Brother*' School, Boulcott street, took pace lat-t eveninp, 21bt ii st., and, a*- u-ual, ihe attendance was so large that it was impost Me- to find sin ii.tr ace mitnodation for all who fouud their way into the )oom. T/j some instances ladies had to stand during tbe whole proceeding, and the fact that they did so without nrurmtir spoke volumes for tbe interesting natare of the entertainment. Tbe walls of the hall had been very prettily decorated with festoons of flowers and evergreens, and hang with drawings, the work of pupils attending the school ; some of these showed considerable merit. Over the stage hung an immense wreath of flowers, in the centre of which, in gold letters, were the words, '•' A Merry Christmas. 1 ' The entry of his Lordship Bishop Redwood, who took a seat opposite the stage, was the signal for a round of applause. One of the pupils then read a short address to his Lordship, thanking htm for his attendance that evening. After a march had been played by the Hibernian Band, Master Mcßrearty recited "My Familiar," in a manner that called forth the heartiest applause, and in response to an encore he had to repeat tbe last verse of the poem. Then followed a drama in three acts, entitled " The Expiation," the following being the cast :— Count Flavy, J. Morrissey ; Rinaldi (his intendant), J. Sheridan : Beppo (captain of his guards and jailor), G. Gardner ; Loredon and Gerard (two knights), 8. Boss and M. Hodgins ; innkeeper, B. Levoi ; Robert of Lusigny (a boy captive of Flavy) J. Gamble. There was nothing very complicated in the plot, bat the boys who took part in the drama had ample opportunity to display their elocutionary attainments, and it is not too much to say that as a whole they acquitted themselves admirably, particularly Masters S. Ross and M. Hodgins. It will be observed that Boss was the winner of the special prize offered for declamation. In the intervals between the acts some excsllent music was given, the items most worthy of notice being — " Tbe death of the old year," by the pupils ; the song and chorus, " The mill by tbe rivulet," by the junior pupils ;an appropriate solo by Master it. Levoi ; song, " Has Borrow thy young days shaded ? " by Masters Kimbell, Smith, and Dixon ; and a vacation song and chorus by the whole body of the pupils. The Hibernian Band also contributed some instrumental music. When the time for tbe distribution of prizes arrived, his Lordship tbe Bishop ascended the stage, with him being Mr. G. Fisher, mayor, Mr. C. J. Johnston, M.H.R. and the Rev. Fathers Kerrigan, McNamara, Des Chesnais, and others. It was announced (M v ' owing to the lateness of the hour only a few of the prizes would be distributed that evening, and that the remainder would be handed over to those who had won them after 10 o'clock next morning. The following is the prize-list :—: — His Lordship Bishop Redwood's prize of £5, Howard Reid. Class V. — Messrs. Whittaker Brothers' prize for good marks obtained during the year, Samuel Ross. Mr. C. J. Jonhston's prize for attention to lessjns, John Morrisßey. Hon. P. Buckley's prize for arithmetic and algebra, George Gardner. Mr. B. O'Connor's prize for good conduct and diligence, John O'Donnell. Hon. Dr. Grace's prize for gymnastics, John Morrissey ; second prize for gymnastics (given, by Mr. K. P. Collins), Frank Morgan. First prize for French (by Mr. J. O'Brien), John Sheridan ; second prize do, John O'Donnell. First prize, drawing (given by Mr. O'Meara), John Morrissey ; second prize do, Samuel Ross ; other prize-takers, John Sheridan, Michael Hodgins, and George Mahoney. Class IV.— Mr. C. J. Johnston's prize for good conduct and attention to lessons, Herman Brown. Hon. P. Buckley's prize for rlrst in English history, W. Scanlan. Other prize-takers, James Ross, Robert Allan, B. Levoi, J. O'Shea, J. Gamble, J. Gagan, T. Redward. Class 111. — First Division— Mrs. Sharp's prize for good conduct and attendance, Walter Reid. Rev. Father McNamara's prize to the best competitor, Patrick Ryan. Other pnzi- takers — Ist prize (given by Rev. T. L j Menant des Chesnais) A. Smith, T. Hood, E. Scanlan, S. Swan, M. Tier, D. Ryan, F. Brown, T. Hodgins, F. Ross, C. Swan, J. Wallace, T. Evans, F. Drake, T. Twist, A. Egan. R. Harding, E. Seager, T. Monahan, G. Grey, T. Murphy. J. McGregor, J. Burke, W. Gamble. Second Division, Ist prize for marks and pood conduct (given by Mr. D. Clark).— T. Dixon, E. Mill-, p. McCarthy, W. Jones, E. McNamara, M. Levoi, W. Dixon, H. Kimbell, D. Knight, B. Tier, F. McLean, J. Kearsley, G. Salter, P. McNamara, H. Lichtschicndl, H. Saunders, F. Meyer. Class ll.— First division— Mrs Sharp's prize for good conduct and attendance— Patrick Skerrit. Rev. Father Kerrigan's prize for tbe best competitor— W. Tabor. Other prizetakere— E. McMahon, J. Hicket, J. Doyle, F. Morgan, J. "McLaughlin, D. Tobin, J. McGonagle, M. Worth, J. McGinlcy, J. Hancock, J. Caiman, C. Yore, W. Yore, J. Kelly, J. Redmond, J. Barry. Second division — Ist, A. Murray ; 2nd, S." Davis ; 3rd, W. McMahon ; Joe Doran, T. Traccy, J. Brown, M. Coogan, H. Truman, W. Doran, L. Sievera, W O'Driscoll, A. Marshall, S. Evans, J. Raines, T. O'Brien, G. McCarthy, K. Creigh, J. Bromley, P. Smith. Class I.— First division— lst prize, giveu by the llev. Father Abern, G. Budge ; R. Gamble, W. Nidd, J. Brett, D. Reid, H. Liardet, H. Brown, J. Conrad, E. Kimbell, C. Morgan, E. Toohill, F. Boyd, G. Silk, W. Franklin, J. Coogan, J. McMillan, F. Scanlan, J., Flannagan, M. Dickson, O. Williamson, S. Brown, M. Beck, J. Cadipan, T. Finucane, B. Gallagher, A. Hancock, W. Kecgan, H. Miller, H. Mcßrearty, H. Sievers, T. Doran. Second division— J. Walsh,' Alexander McMillan, T. McMillan, F. Sandbrook, J. Gallagher, D., Greig, A. Liardet. Third division — B. Brown, A. Compton. Special prize for singing — E. Kimbell. ' His Lordship Bishop Redwccd said, as the hour was late, he did 1 not intend to address them at any length. He could not let thej oppoitunity pass by, however, without congratulating them very sincerely on their success during the past year. He was delighted to hear that the attendance had been generally good, and while he thanked them for that he bad to thank their parents also. They bad

come to school with satisfactory punctuality, and he hoped this would be the case next year, for there could toe no improvement without regular attendance. No matter, how good the masters might be, no matter how good the books they studied, nor how great their application was — under the most favourable circumstances they would not succeed unless they attended regularly. He also congratulated the boys on the really excellent performauce.givent.hat evening.' He would now wish the boys a. merry Christmas and a happy New Year, pleasant holidays, and a return to school with a new re*>lution to Btudy. He thanked them very sincerely for the address that had been read to him, in which they had expressed such excellent sentiments. He thanked toe ladies and gentlemen present for their 1 kindness in coming that evening, and' encouraging the boys by sharing an interest in what they did. He wUbed them . one and all the compliments of the season. (Applause,') He had been. requested tortate that the winner of the prize for declamation, presented by Mr. James O'Shea, was Master Boss.

The Mayor said be bad oa the previous day committed a fault in not saying a few words of congratulation at the oloie of the distribution of prises at the convent. He would now do so, and he could not help bearing the highest testimony to the tone of the institution managed by those good Sisters. - Ho most now congratulate the Marist Brothers on the success of their work, and he would remind the boys that most of them had the making of their own futures in their own hands. Each boy should map off a high aim for himself, and work steadily up to it in spite of all discouragement. He asked them above all things to be manly and honourable in their dealings, and try to excel in their love of troth. (Applause.) His Lordship said the date of the re-opening of the schools would be made known later on in the churches in the city.