CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVI, Issue 37, 4 January 1889, Page 13

CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own Correspondent.)

Chbistmas has come and goue, and in another day or two tbe year 1889 will have made its bow upon tbe stage of time. Then, I suppose, everyone will settle quietly down to business, and things in general will resume their normal state. At present no one seems inclined to take np tbe thread of social existence jolt where Christmas intercepted it. The consciousness that there are more holidays to corns seems to exclnde seiious thoughts until these have been c jo>eJ. When tbe excursions and picnics and general outings are over then people can go back to business contentedly, quite prepared to delve away f >v another year at the all-important task of accnmulating the dollars. Possibly, if this short season of relaxation did not come every year people would become mere dried-up mumified machines for making money. At Christmas time a sufficient quantity if kindly filling is taken in to keep the hearts and .the souls, of people a respectable size for the rest of the year. Without the recurrence of this season of jollification, these physical and metaphysical adjuncts to tbe human entity would probably shrink to mucn smaller rtimeosions than they measure at present. Therefore, as lam quite «ure that tbe amount of pleasure at the great Christian festival with iU humanising and elevating association, does much towards keeping mankind from becoming utterly selfish, I am by no means sorry to i see people make up their minds to get as much enjoyment as possible out of this holiday time. As far as busimss goes I think it is generally conced d that things have b en much briebtcr in Chmtchurcti this \ear than whs tbe case last Christmas. The complaints of " bad times" are less fruiue itly heaid «han they were a year ago. The htreeis have been fu 1 of c< uutry people ; indeed, on Christmas h.ve it was almost impossible to move about, so crowded were tbe thoroughfares. The shops have done a gool uad»\ Business peop eof every el iss wear a sHt-satisded express'oi. wnicb besp.aks a comfortable tceling upon tbe score * f reoeipta and expenditure. Tbe hotels have bten pretty full of country viMtors in town for tbe holi lays. Ihe eemal hoct of tbe Q lecn's infoims me that the holding capacity of bis hot 1 nts been as severely taxed aa it was during race week. It is not a bad sign of improved limes when leoplts come in large numbers to t >wn f>r tbeir holidays. When the farmer* and tbeir wives have money to spend they coma to towu at Christmas, when they have not they stay at home. They have com« to town in shoal* this year ; ergo tt ma* be presumed that they have a eurp usage of money, which, being startea upon its circuit, results in giving eatisfacti< n to everybody. The decoration <.f the business places in th« city was not very elaborate. The jubilation of the trades people or stly found expression in hanging on Chinese lanterns. A few tstablisbmen tsattempfed a little mild illumination but on the whole tbe fashion of wreathing verandah posts with green bus >es appears to be falling into disuse. At tbe pro- Cathedral thedecoratiojs were \ery elaborate., festoons o' foliage and flowers were bung across the sanctuary. Tne pillars of the sanctuary were decorated with native plant* and grasses. Toe statues of St. Patr ck and tit. Joseph and the sanctuary lamps were made to wear a festive aspect by means of floral and verdant adornments. Tne effect inside of the rails on Christmas evening, when the lights were lit f«r henedicti >n were very pretty indeed. The altar of the 8-icrod Ueurt was laden wiih Cbiistmas lilies mnd b.autnul flowers of every kind. Tbe pulpit, In>ticed, was much improved in appearanc by tbe aJdi'ion of a handsome green and gold drapery and cushion.

The crib this ye»r is arranged where the altar of Mary usually stands. In repaid to the erection and decorauou of the crib, I mtittt say there is room for improvemeat. Ido uot say th sior the purpose of finding fault but in oider to point out to the members of tt c Alttr Society, or whoever has charge of tbe Christinas dec >r»t ions, that considering tbe beauty, and so emnity and sublime fignifi auce of tbe scene represented, finer and more artistic » ffecis ought to bo aimed at. At the Higb Mass on Chris mat Day Gounod's Mass was sung mom admirably by the choir. Miss Funt>ten pictided, us Übual, my efficiejtly at tbe organ. Mr . J. P. Kellv, Miss Fender, and Mr. Pjßcnell sang tbe solos. The " Adesty Fide es " was admirably ren<)eied. Tberj was no seimon, practically. Tne Bishop said afe v informal words relative to tho festival. Ho remiuelud bis hearers of the great lovu for men shown by our divine tW.eemer i i comiug down to earth to be born in a wretched stable He urged upon dum t » f 'How tho example of the shepher It, an I to pay their bomag j to the luf int iv who- e little helpless bands th j heavens h» 1 the iartb were contained, lie conclude iby wishing his people a truly happy and a Loly Christmas.

On Christmas Eve the prizes were distributed by Father Kickham to the children attending the Lyttelton Catholic school. The Rev. Father Marnane aced as examiner. Tbe children gave satisfactory proofs of proficiency in the studies in whicn they were engaged. Much credit is due to the teacher?, Mr. Daly and Miss O'Brien, for the advancement made by the pupils of St. Joseph's School.

Midnight Mass was celebrated in the cburch at Port by Father Kickham on Christmas Eve. The church was most beautifully decorated and pre3cnted a very tastef ul appeannce. The celebration of the Mass at the solemn midnight hour seemed to impress the peope with a profound feeling of awe and reverence. The Catholic residents of the little seaport availed themselves largely of the privilege afforded them of ushering in Christmas morning by assisting at tha Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. Father Kickham preached upon the great mystery of the incarnation. He depicted in eloquent langu ige the sublime and unfathomable love which ctused the great Creator of all things to come on earth in the humble guise of a little child. Father Kickbam, as one might expect, was forcible and original, and was listened to throughout his short but very brilliant bermon with the closest attention.

At St. Patrick's at Kaiapoi, thejdecorations were very elaborate. The young ladies of the district deserve very great credit for their efforts to beautify the interior of the church, and to give it an appearance in keeping with tha .day. C*non L^ughnan celebrated eleven o'clock Mass and preached an instructive sermon. The choir was strengthened by several visitors from town. Mr. Nottingham, who plays the violinccllo admirably, rcudered good service. Mies Lynskey presided at the harmonium. Oa Friday night last a concert was eiven under the auspices of the Catholic Literary Society, in the Brother's schoolroom. The programme was a most carefully selected one. The " comic element " wa» rigorously excluded except in one instance. There was a very good audience. The front seats were all filled. Father Cummiogß, Father Briand and others of the local clergy were present. The Bishop was not there. The concert opened with an instrumental trio for piano, violin and violincello. Miss Funsten and Messrs. Nottingham and Skectin were the performers. Miss Pender and Miss Bryant then followed with A. B.C. duet. Miss Pender was warmly received upon her reappearance^ ter her absence from Chrietchurch. Master George Harper recited "The Legend of Hor<itius" in a very spirited Btyle. The heroic action of the brave old Roman was very well described, but Master Harper spoke much too quickly, and much of the effect of the beauty of Matfauly's swinging epic was lost. His gestures, too, were a little confusing, as they were calculated to give the impression that Clusium and Rome were both on the same side of the Yellow Tiber. Mr. Dougall sang the" Touch of a vanished hand," bat his voice is not sufficiently sympathetic to enable him to sing Bongs of tbat classwith unqualified success. Mr. Mohr's cornet solo was one of the most delightful performances of the evening. That alone was worth going some distance to hear. Mr. Mohr seems to be able to extract from his instrument all the sweetness of which it is capable, and that is saying a great deal. Mrs. Kelly, who was in capital voice, sang the ever-welcome " Dt.ar Little Shamrock" with her accustomed sweetness and expression. Mrs. Kelly, lam glad to say, J does not consider herself superior to tne songs of her country. Like the heroine of Moore's sweetest poem, she never fails, upon every occasion, to sing " the wild songs of her dear native land." Mr. Hoban's " Tricks of the Trade " appeared to please the auditnee immensely. In the second part of the programme the instrumentation of Messrs Mohr, Daniels, and Hcnnessy, and the S'nging of Mis Kelly and Miss Pender were warmly applauded. Mr. Chese was to have given a recitation but he was unavoidably absent. His place was supplied by Mr. Power who recited tbe " Irish Brigaie at Fonteooy," in a very creditable manner. Thi9 recitaMon evoked a hearty burst of applau-e which showei that the memory of the day when the Irish exiles stood in equal terms with " Saxon fo"S " and made the redcoits fly, is still a very dear one to the sons and daughters of Erin. 1 hope the'day is far distant when tbe name of the Insh Brigade will cease tj awaken a responsive chord in Irish heartp. Mr. Hoban's local song in the second part of the programme was well received. The members of the choir rendered a couple of glees very nicely, and Misses Lonargan end O'Neil's violin duet added considerably to the success of the concert. Miss Funsten played the accompaniments and Mr. H. H. Loughnan acted as conducior. Next Tuesday night, I believe, Father Briand is to deliver his great lecture on "Faith. Philosophy and Science," to the Literary ttociety:

On the :28th of December, a most succe sful entertainment was given in the Lee^ton Town H,all in aid of the Cathoho school fund. The first part af the programme consisted of Bongs and recitations the second part of a dramatic representation by a number of young ladies. Mr. R. l\ Lonargan who went out from townrecitod " Sbamus O'Brien " in a manner so striking as to awake the enthusiasm ot his audience in regard to the exploits of the gallant Shamus. " Tre Soldier's good bye ' by Mr. Holly. "Steer my bark to Erin's Isle." by his sister, and " Robin Adair " by Miss Moir, were Dumbers whh j which the audience were well pleased. At the conclusion of the entertainment the performers were most hospitably entertained by Mr. Holly, senior, at whose house a very pleasant evening was spent. I was shown, the other day, by Mr. O'Connor, Ctithohc bookseller, some exquisite religious objects which he had received from France. These comprise most artistic casts in silver and brinze of well-known objects of religious veneration. There are statues of the Sacred Heart of Ist. Joseph, St. Patrick, and the Blessed Virgin, in dull silver. These are perfect works of art. 1 here are crucifixes cf all sizes in black and silver. Some of these are mounted upon plush frames, and are decidedly beautiful. A representation of the Last Supper, in oxidised silver, is especially worthy of notice. The scene U most admirably portrajed in the metal. Then there are all sorts of curios — little carved nicnacs in bone and mother of peail — and some pretty statues in delicate china. Persons in search of religious Bonfenirs for their friends must be very difficult to please if they do not find what they want at Mr. O'Connor's emporium.

Oa Thursday night we had another very severe shook of earthquake. No one was very much surprised when it came, The weather suddenly changed in ihe evening an I became very s'ormy and wild. Tne wind rose and blew a legular gale. Clouds of du^t swept through the Btreets. The sky became quite dark, with a fringe of yellow light just above the horizon. The atmosphere was intensely suffocating. After the earthquake the wind went down, tha closeness abated, Nature having given vent to her a^ry feelings by giving us all a severe shaking, recovered from her sullen mood and returned to her usual state.

Id referring to the Literary Society's concert I forgot to say that I can see no reason why there was a necessity for turning the Brothers' schoolroom into a concert hall when the Hibernian Hall, which is f-o suitable for such entertainments, was available. I hope that an intention to boycott the Hibernian Hall does not exist. By-the-way, I have heard nothing lately ab:>ut the promised banquet which was to take place to celebrate the formal opening by the Hibernians of their building. lam afraid tbat like ail similar projec s this one has fallen to the ground. It is very remarkable how consisiently all things of the kind do, after a weik little 'flicker, die out in Christchurch. Where the subtle influence which kills comes from Ido not know. Bat it exists somewhere in the atmosphere. There has been no social reunion among the Catholic people at all this year. Everyone is left to setk pleasure where he chooses to find it. I think this is a mistake. At holiday time some effort should be made to provide our people with amusement of an innocent kind. Amusement" they will have of some sorr, and surely there is wisdom in directing their desire for pleasure into harmless path?, instead of allowing it to rove in forbidden fields.

On Sunday afternoon a meeting of ladies and gentlemen was held in the convent schoolroom, for the purpose of making arrangements for the forthcoming Sbakesperean Festival. There was a large attendance ; Father Cumminga presided. It wai decided to open the bazaar on January 30. Committees wera formed to set matters in proper working order. The names of the stall holders and the characters which they are to represent were given in. Altogether such satisfactory progress was made as to give a promise of ultimate success. Father Cummings expressed his readiness aud that of the other clergymen to do all in their power to facility matters in connection with the b<zaar, and stated that ap^rt from the financial gain which he hoped the Sisters would reap from the festival, it would be an excellent means of bringing Catholics together.