TARANAKI.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XVII, Issue 37, 3 January 1890, Page 29

TARANAKI.

(From the Taranaki Herald ) BREAKING UP OF THE CONVENT SCHOOLS.

The ladies who conduct the Convent schools sent out a long list of invitations to the friends of the pupils attending the Sacred Heart High School and St. Mary's Select School, and accordingly, a number of visitors assembled, on Tuesday, December 17, in tbe large room of tbe Convent to witness the presentation of the prizes, as well as hear the concert which had been prepared by the pupils foi the occasion. There would, no doubt, have been more present but for tbe wet weather, which prevented several from attending. As usual, the visitors were shown the progress the pupils had made during the year in needlework, both fancy and plain, in drawing, and other accomplishments which ladies all try to excel in, and which at the Convent schools are by no means allowed to be neglected. The display of work in the parlour of the Convent was fully equal to the excellent exhibitions of former occasions. It would be icvidious, perhaps, on our part to mention specially any young lady's work where all was so good, but those who had not before seen the annual display seemed truly astonished at the proficiency of the pupils in these useful as well as ornamental accomplishments.

The Convent Schoolroom was very prettily decorated for the occasion, the walls being festooned with flowers and evergreens, At the back of tbe stage was the Irish welcome, Cead Mille Failthe to our friends, and over head were the words " A happy New Year." Great care had evidently been taken in rehearsing the musical pieces, all the pupils being very perfect ; whilst the mounting and dressing of the little drama, " A Double Triumph," was very creditable indeed. The young people worked well together, and all the visitors owned at the conclusion of the entertainment that they bad spent a very pleasant afternoon. Altogether the excellent and devoted Sisters of Notre Damedes Mission have, we think, every reason to be pleased and satisfied with the progress of their pupils. The chair was occupied by Dr. O'Carroll, the Rev. Father McKenna sitting oo his right. The co.icert commenced about three o'clock, when the following programme was gone through with considerable success by the juvenile performers :—: — Programme. — Duet (5 pianos, organ, and harmonium), " Gloria in Excelsis," Misses Leedom, Woods, Cadigan, Cottier, Connett, Hamm nd, Teed, Ellis, McGonnell, and Cunningham. Organ, Miss Flabavan ; Harmonium, Miss J. Moore ; Latin duet and chorus. 11 O Glonosa," Young Ladies. Solo (5 pianos and organ), "La Somnambula," Misses Woods, Connett, Cottier, Leeclom, and Flabavan ; organ, Miss Moore. Vocal duet, " Hope beyond the Skies," Misses Ellis and Oldfield. Solo (4 pianos, organ, and harmonium) " Irith Diamonds, No. 3," Misses Cottier, Moore, Leedom, and Woods ; organ, Miss Flahavan ; harmo ium, Miss Cadigan. Song, " Voices ot the Night," Young Ladies. Solo (5 pianos an! organ), "II Trovatore," Misses Connett, Flahavan, Leedom, Cottier, and Woods ; organ, Miss Moore. Vocal duet, " The Lily and the Rose," Misees Teed and Oldfield. l">uet (5 pianos, organ, and harmonium), " The Abyssinian Expedition," Misses Flahavan, Woods, Leedom, Connett, Street, A. Btreet, Hammond, Cadigan, Ellis, and Cunningham ; organ, Miss Cottier ; harmonium, Miss Moore.

" The Double Triumph," (a drama in two acts).— Dramatis persons : Placidus (Roman General), Miss Taylor ; Stella (wife of Placidus), Miss Teed ; Imogen and Farfax (sonsof Placidus), Misseß Gill and Moore ; Rwfus (Captain of Banner Guard), Miss Oldfield ; Felix, Miss Cadigan ; Adnas, Miss Sullivan ; Trajan (Emperor), Miss Teed; Adrian (hmperor), Miss Cadigan; Calphuinius, Miss Cowan ; Proculus (Governor of Gaul), Miss Cunningham ; Epicurus (Manager of Baths), Miss Callaghan; Hintulus ( Military Tribune), Miss Ryan ; Hibernian (Indian planter), Miss Parker ; Sylvia (slave), Miss Flahavan ; Eggeus, MissColdwell, soldiers, Misses McGonuigeU, Griffiths, Puffin, and Julian. Finale.—" The Holiday Duet," The Pupils.

Prior to the distribution of the prizes, Dr. O'Carroll rose and said he must, on behalf of those present, thank the young ladies for the treat they had just afforded them. He had a 1 tended the gatherings year after year, and had always looked forwarded to them with pleasure. He, therefore, considered he waa able to judge of their proficiency, and it was » pleasure to him to be able to hay that they seemed to improve more and more under the kind Sisters' insructiou, Tbey must recollect that the Sisters, who were highly educated ladies, did not devote their time to teaching for personal gain, but they devoted their lives to the instruction of the young, win tbe view that they should be properly educated, not only in the faith they then-selves professed, but also tn tho secular things of this woild. The secular instruction given by the bisie s was however, so excellent that those of other denominations entrust tneir children to these ladies' care, but in such cases the Sisters were c ireful not to interfere with the religious belief in whicb the children had been brought up ; one thing tbey might be sure of, and tbat was that nothing would be taught in the Nuns' school but what was strictly moral

The prizes were then presented to the children by Dr. O'Carroll, who was assisted in doing so by the Rev. Father McKenna and the Lady Superior of the Convent.

The Sisters return their thanks to the following persons who have kindly contribute! towards procuring the prizes : — Key. Father McKenna, Dr. O'Carroll, Mr. and Mrs. Seffern, Mrs. Goldwater, Mrs. King, Messrs D.ngle, and Corke, Mr. and Mrs. O'Neil, Mrs.Fiahleigh, Miss Cottier, Mrs. Francis, Mrs. Read, Mrs. O'Rigley, Mr. Corkill, Mr. Parker, Mr.Gilmour, Mr. Cock, and Mr. Walsh. At the conclusion of the distribution of the prizes, Dr. O'Carroll said he had been requested by the Key. Father McKenna and the ladies of tbe Convent to thank those who were present for their attendance, and to announce that the schools would be closed for six weeks. He hoped that thoße who had sent children to the schools would continue to do to. .

The compiny then dispersed.