CATHOLIC AFFAIRS, LYTTELTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIII, Issue 14, 24 July 1885, Page 13

CATHOLIC AFFAIRS, LYTTELTON.

(From an occasional Correspondent.)

The Catholics of Lyttelton and their worthy parish priest, Rev, Father O'Connor, are to be congratulated on their persistent efforts to maintain their school in a high state of efficiency. Your correspondent is informed on good authority that the school scored 82 per cent, at the late examination by tbe Government Inspector. I fancy that a Government school with a staff proportionately moire numerous and vastly more expensive, would consider this amount of successful answering something to boast about. It is also worthy of remark that this is the first time these Lyttleton children were before a Government Inspector. Untrained to the syßtem of Government examinations their substantial answering should be all the more appreciated. To prosecute their good work still more successfully, another teacher has been added to the staff.

To meet the increased demand on their finances, FatherJO' Connor and his committee appealed to the public. That they have been successful the subjoined report from the Press will make known :'— '• On Thursday evening there was held in Ly ttelton a most successful concert in aid of the funds of St. Joseph's Cathoiic school, Lyttelton. The hall was crowded to excess. There was a large and exceedingly good programme. The special feature of the evening was the appearauce of Mr. J. M. Morgan, the premier harpist, who certainly rendered a grand march, and a solo in first-class etyle. Miss Lily O'Brien sang the " Flower Girl " in splendid style, and waß loudly encored. Misses Hill, McCarthy, Morgan, and Pender, also sang some first-class songs, for which they were loudly aplauded. Misses Malcolmson and McLollan gave one or two good pianoforte duets in good style. For the gentlemen Messrs. Collins Grantham, and Milsotn sang well, and Mr. Griffin gave a very good comic reading. During the evening Messrs. Bennington and Smyth gave a sailor's hornpipe, for which they were loudly encored. " It is right to supply the omission of Mrs. Meilly's name from this. This lady with Mr. Collins, contributed two duets to the entertainment, which were well received and applauded. The performance of Masters McCarthy and Collier on tbe violin exhibited taste, and, indeed, talent that bespeaks a future proficiency on that instrument of no mean order. The overtures were by a string Band composed of members of the permanent Artillery. Miss E O'Brien acted as accompanist, and it is needless to say maintained her reputation for good playing," There is no doubt that the Catholics of Lyttelton have passed, and are passing through a critical and trying struggle to educate their children in the faith of their fathers. What is said of Lyttelton can be said, as far as I can see, of every parish in New Zealand. When will a government be found honest enough to recognise this steadfastness to principle and religion? Mr. Stout not long since complained in the House of having been persecuted for his principles. No doubt, and one can see it, he' thought it a great wrong done to him, as he instanced how it touched his pocket. Yet this same gentleman is every day doing what he c<vn to persecute us, and touch our pockets because oar views differ from his as to the education of our children.