ST. PATRICK'S SCHOOL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XII, Issue 42, 6 February 1885, Page 17

ST. PATRICK'S SCHOOL.

The picnic this year was held late in the Vacation and was ia every respect a success. Parents, visitors, and children enjoyed themselves thoroughly, and our worthy Pastor the Rev. Father Ahearn entered .into the sports with the boys with all the zest of one of themselves. He showed himself a formidable knight of the willow, a faculty he no doubt received from bis ancestors, when for want of a better weapon they nsed to hammer the heads of Cromwell's soldiers with Ash Wattles. The event gave birth to a train of thought in the mind of the writer which was cheering and hopeful in a religious as well as a national point of view. Here was a section of the people in point of numbers, and wealth inferior to their neighbours, and at the same time educating their neighbours children as well as their own. The fact shows us to be superior in principle. Even our bitterest enemies must admire the sacrifices we make, yes ; and will continue to make, as long as He for whom we do it endows us with health and ability for our schools in spite of every attempt to seduce us. It is to be regretted that there ate a few — only a few — who longing after the fleshpots of Egypt, give way to senseless Jeremiads, because their children are not allowed to gain scholarships, etc., which are given away right and left to pupils attending the godless schools. They forget the history of their country and how long their forefathers suffered every persecution that their crnel taskmasters could devise, sooner than yield up one jot or tittle of their right to Heaven and Ireland, two places which Irishmen declare themselves heirs to, and which have never yet been divorced from their minds. An incident occurred on the morning of the picnic which will illustrate what I have stated clearly The children were marched from St. Patrick's Church to the sohooi paddock, where the sports took place, with Father Ahearn at their head, and Mr. Crofts in the absence of Mr. Ward the teacher bringing up the rear. At the gate of the paddock, facing the Hokitika road, a beautiful banner of the late Hibernian Society was gracefully waving in the gentle breeze, on the first sight of which th« boys, with one mind and without the slightest preconcerted signal of any kind, waved their hats, and gave a cheer that would warm the heart of a Davitt or a Parnell, if they could only see and hear it. One of the boys unintentionally kept his hat on, but was soon brought to a sense of his duty by the others, who gave him unmistakeable bints of their displeasure. Racing, foot-balling, cricketing, and prize dancing for Irish jigs and reels, formed the principal features of the days' amuiement. Tea, coffee, cakes, buns aod lollies in abundance were supplied to the children while the adults had their creature comforts attended to in a more substantial manner. Messrs. Healy, Landers, O'Neil and others were in their usual places on the occasion and worked hard to make the affair worthy of the Catholics of Ross, the greater portion of whom assembled for the occasion. Messrs. Finlay and Owens supplied the music in their well known excellent style on the flute and violin ; and the whole affair was such as it should be, Catholic and Irish iv every sense of the word. The very interesting ceremony of Matrimony took place this morning at St. Patrick's Charch. The bride Miss Stewart a native of the County Tyrone and the bridegroom Mr. Patrick Clare a native of the County Clare, attended by Mr. John Crowley, of the firm of Crowley and Daly, merchants of Ross and Hokitika, and Miss Reedy, arrived a little past eight o'clock. The Sacrament was administered by the Rev. Father Ahearn, after which the Missa Nuptas was celebrated, at which the happy pair received the Guest, who turned the water into wine long ago at Canu in Galilee. What a subject for consideration in these few words, and how strong the hope must be that such a marriage must prove happy. After the performance of the ceremony and the compliance with the laws of registration, the party drove to the residence of the bridegroom, and were subjected to a regular shower of rice, and slippers, until they left the town. The bridegroom is an old resident of Ross and is very popular and much respected by his employers Messrs Crowley, and Daly. The bride is a genuine daughter of Erin, and although only a short time from h%me, she has earned for herself the respect which Irishmen can so well exhibit towards their virtuous country-women.