INVERCARGILL CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 4, 16 May 1884, Page 7

INVERCARGILL CATHOLIC LITERARY SOCIETY.

A COMPLIMBNTABY entertainment was given by the members of the above society at their usual meeting place on Wednesday evening, the 30th ult., to their friends and members of the Church. The attendance was large considering the inclemency of the evening. The chair was taken at eight sharp by the President, Mr. M. O'Brien, who briefly introduced the speakers of the evening, and reminded the audience that it was unnecessary for him to detain them at any length on matters connected with the Society as the Secretary would give a statement of its progress. The Secretary then came forward and spoke at length on the progress of the Society, and said its object when established was to offer facilities for the improvement of education and literature generally, as many young men had received a good education in the Home country, and when driven to the most remote parts of the country to toil for a livelihood are deprived of any opportunity of practising that education which, in many cases, after an eiapse of years is forgotten altogether. After giving a brief explanation a? to the nature of debates, and the knowledge derivable from the practice of taking part in such discussions, ttie speaker proceeded to bring before the notice of his hearers the superior advantages offered by the Literary Society compared with kindred societies in this town by its having a large library. Still the memberabJo is below the average of that of other societies possessed of an inferior advantage. The membership of the Society at present is about twenty, five of whictt there are about twenty financial members. Since the formation of the Society about two years ago the total receipts are £78. The greater part of that amount was paid for books, and still there is a credit balance to the Society's credit in the bank of £14 (applause). The next item on the programme was Mr. Bradley's recitation, " Modern Logic," which was well rendered. Messrs. P. and J. Reid appeared next with a dialogue, •• Fitz- James and Roderick Dhu" which was done full justice to. The next item wag an address, " Ireland a Nation," by Mr. McCann, who was received with applause The programme terminated with a long and interesting essay on " Pood " by Mr. O'Brien. *