CHRISTIAN BROTHERS' SCHOOLS, DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 12, 13 July 1888, Page 27

CHRISTIAN BROTHERS' SCHOOLS, DUNEDIN.

A lecture by the Rev. Father Burke and an entertainment, in aid of a fund for erecting a gymnasium in connection with these schools, were given in the Choral Hall, Dunedin, oa Friday evening. The platform was occupiei by the tinging clas^ of the school, other* wise known as the Young Oacliaas, whs, arrange! in order of size and age, ani each adorned with a handsome greem rosette, formed a very goodly and pleasing looking company, *nd one, moreover, that seemed very well pleased with thermal ras, and alao with things in general. H ; a Lordship, the Bishop, tiok the chair at 8 p.m., and the performance commenced with the " Wearing of the Green," sang in a highly spirited manner, and with complete sweetness and harmony, as arranged in four parts, by the Young Oeoihaas, under the conductorship of one of the Christian Brothers, and accompanied on the piano by Herr Sshweers, who kindly gave his valuable services as accompanist throughout ths evening. Father Barke then delivered the first portion of his lecture, '' The Mm of thi Modern Irish Movements," beginning with Theobald Wolfe Tone, and ending with Robert Boa met. Appreciative and eloquent sketches ware also given of Orde, Lord Edward Fitzgerald, Father Murphy, the Brothers Shearea, aad others, and the tragia fate that met each in tnrn whs desoribed in powerful and touching language. The rev. lecturer was throughout evidently dealing with subjects that he had mastered, not as worked up for an especial occasion.but aa realised by long and loving study, and habitually entered into with a deep and ardent sympathy. The frequent applause of the audience, meantime; told how they hung upon the speaker's words. In the interval that followed, the Cecilians sang the " Minstrel Boy," arranged in four parts, and which they gay* with admirable ezpreasion as well as extreme sweetness — Master Frances Heley, one of the pupils of the school, reoited, with genuine fervour, Dr. Ingram' s splendid verses " Who fears te speak of '98 f " and afterwards came the song " Erin the tear," arranged ia two parts, and sung as pleasingly 'as those that bad preceded it by the choir. A pretty effect was produced in this performance by an arrangement of the smaller boys of the class in front, where they accompanied the singing of the verses with appropriate gesture*. Their delineation of the rainbow, the " one arch of peace," at the conclusion being particularly graceful.|Master John Buckley, another pupil also recited Emmet's last speech in a most telling and pathetics mancer. The second portion of the lecture consisted in a review of the days of the Young Irelanders, and the establishment of the Nation— the rev. lecturer again showing himself something more than familiar whh his subject and carrying the sympathy of bis audience with him. At its termination the " Dear Little Shamrock " was sung by Master Nicholas Molony, one of the Oeeilianß, vpry sweatly as a bolo, with oborui, arranged in four parts, by the class. The " Harp of Tar* " was next given by the full choir, with an equal success. The comic element was then introduced upon the platform in the shape of an admirable representation of " His Honour," as got up by Master John Deaker, who looked as if he had just walked out of one of the caricature pictures issued by the Weekly Freeman and United Ireland, and who aaDg with a great deal humour th« " Bxterminator's Song," At the end of each verse " His Honour's " self-cougratulationß were taken up by the writers for the Nation, represented by Masters John Day T. Walsh, and J. Macedo, who, each with a qnill behind his ear, sang the refrain " Ye 3 you are the poor man's scourge, but from such the whole island, we'll purge," and who finally chased " His Hononr " ignominiously from the public view. This occasioned great amusement, and was loudly encored. The rev. lecturer, who was prevented by the lateness of the hour from entering upon the existing agitation at any length, merely alluded to it passingly an 1 ooncluded with a remarkably fine peroration, in which he joyfully hailed the approaching deliverance of Ireland. On the whole we may say that Father Burke surpassed even himself, and that is saying a good deal for in graphic description, quaint humour, quiet though keen satire, polish, and elegance of diction, and literary style, he possesses few rivals in the colony. The plaintiff and beautiful melody " Forget not the ifield where they perished," was then Bung with admirable feeling by six of the Cecilians. The concluding chorus was that very pretty and stirring one, " The Village Choristers" arranged in four parts. But nothing could be more pleasing than the way in whioh the boys acquitted themselves during the evening in everything demanded of th^m. They gave convincing proof that the very most in made of their abilities by the devoted, capable, and painstaking teachers to whose care they have been committed. It mutt, mora^ over, be a source of delight to Irish parents to find that tb»ir children are being effectually trainei up in the admirable ani honourable traditions and sentiments of their dear native land. Were it for this alone, they would owe the Christian Brothers a debt beyond all power of repayment. — A vote <>f thanks to the roverend lecturer wis proposed in a very neat speech by Mr. John Carroll, and seconded by Mr. J. P. Hayes, who in testif/ing to the worth of his former teachers and of the school at which he had been educated,*was probibly unconscious that his own clever ani well delivered little shee^h was a clenr proof of the truth of his testimony. His Lordship ti e Bishop, in pu'timrthe motion to the audience, spoke higily of the pleasure he had derived from the lecture and from the ennertainment gpriM-alv. The vote was cirried by acclamation. Mr. J. P. Armstrong then proposed a vote of thanks to the Bishop for presiding, and spoke in grateful terms of the manner in which his Ljrdship, ein-e his arrival in Duneiin, had vindicated aad upheld the respect due to Irish settlers. The arrangements in the hall were attended to

with complete success by Mr. R. Duaae and other membera of th« Litarary Society and Messrs Brooks, Oarolin and Ooughlain |aye effectual help in the choruses. Here Schweers, as we have already said, contributed much to the success of the music by his able Bervices, kindly given, as accompanist.