ENTERTAINMENT AT GORE CONVENT.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 3, 17 October 1890, Page 13

ENTERTAINMENT AT GORE CONVENT.

{Southern Standard, October 14.) It was deemed fitting tint advantage should be taken of the presence of his Lordship the Bishop in Gore, to show to parents and friends of the children attending the Convent schools the progress that had been made by the scholars since the Convent was opened. Last night, therefore, an invitation was extended to all to attend an entertainment given by the pupils, to celebrate the opening of St. Mary'a parochi vl schools. The entertainment was held in the Gordon Town Hall, and there was an "overflowing" audience; the hall being inconveniently crowded, and the heat rather oppressive. The hall was decorated, and on each side of the platform were the mottoes, " Cead Mille Failthe," and " Many Happy Returns of the day." Th« scholars, who numbered close on 100, were marshalled in front of the stage. Most of the girls were arrayed in white costumes ; those attending the high school wore red sashes, and the others blue sashes. This blending of colours was very pleasing to the eye. At a quarter past 7 o'clock, his Lordship Dr Moran, attended by Rev. Fathers Walsn, Lynch and Newport, entered the hall, and took their seats in a reserved space near the platform. The entertainment was then commenced by the pupils singing " A song of Welcome, 1 ' with good enunciation. Miss Annie O'Kane then stepped forward f and very distinctly read the following address :—: — " To the Most Rev. Dr. Moran. — May it please your Lordship,— We, yonr devoted children of the Convent school, come witd hearts filled with gratitude to welcome your Lordship amongst us on this, for us, great day— as it most truly is, being the occasion of the opening ot the first Catholic school in our native town. My Lord, no wonder that we, your children, should be glad, and lift up our young hearts with thankfulness to God to-day for having given us such a true father, a wise counsel lor, a sincere pastor, so devoted to our material a,9 well as oar spiritual interests.

j'%! 7 Lord| tDOU SQS Q children, we cannotjfail to recognise all your Liordsnip has done in the cause of religion and education, ever hand in hand in this our dear island. We fully appreciate and gratefully acknowledge the great benefit conferred on us by youi Lordship, and our good realous priest, in procuring from the dear Old Land our present devoted teachers, the Bisters of Mercy. We trust that next time we shall have the great honour of entertaining your Lordship, we may fc. able to show forth the proficiency we have attained uuder their efficient and self-sacrificing care. Tn .t your Lordship may enjoy health, strength, and length of days, to add new lustre to the Cburch, is the hearty wish and fervent prayer of those who are now privileged to address you. " My Lord, we beg your blessing for our parish prieat, the good Bisters, our parents, and ourselves, that each aad a 1 having done their duty her-, may receive the reward of the just hereafter. We remain your Lordship's devoted Children, in Jesus Christ the pupils of the Sisters of Mercy, Gore." My Lord, you will bless your children kneeling round, Who pray that calm and sunshine light your way ; That peace and blessing in your life abound, As on this glorious opening day. The addr bs had been artistically illuminated, and appropriately framed. Ihe floral work forming tbo border consisted of red and blue bell flowers intermingled with maiden-hair fern. The illumination was the work of the Sisters of Mercy. His Lordship briefly returned thanks. The following is the order ia which the items were given :— Opening March, " Song of Welcome, children and seniors ; Coronation March, Misses Mulvey • recitation, " Sewing for Dolly," Miss Aileen May Warren ; Bong "Meeting of tbe Waters" ; boys' dialogue, " Little Foxea spoil the Vines, Masters O'Brien. Robine, Hanley and Mulvey ; song Heaven s Voices," Miss Walsh ; pianoforte trio, " Nornn," Misses Fletcher, O Kane, and Macaffer ; play, " The Magic Box," Miss Fay, a Maiden Lady, Miss M. J. Mulvey ; School Children ; Misses Macaffer, T. Sullivan, A. O'Kano, M. J. Robins, H. O'Brien, N. Mulvey ; pianoforte solo, " Woodland Echoes," Miss K. Hanley • pianoforte duet, "Olivette," Misses Fletcher and Macaffer: song, "Birdies Ball"; recitation, "Son of a King for Me," Miss M. J. Mnlvey ; humorous song, " The Musical Wife," Miss Stockwell • pianoforte duet, " Round about the Maypole," Misses Heffernan ; girls Dialogue, Mieses Fraser, O Brien. Sullivan and Black ; pianoforte solo, "Silvery Waves," Misa Mulvey; "Dolly's Mamma and the Doctor." Miss R. Godby and Mas er Jack Flanagan ; song, Cuckoo"; pianoforte duet, " Home toour Mountains" Misses O'Kane and Green ; recitation, Miss Kitty Ryan ; ending chorus, " Love at Home. There was nothing approaching a hitch in the arrangements, the boys and girls did their parts with clock-like precision. Some of the children were veritable prodigies, Jack Flanagan, little Miss Godby, and Kitty Ryan are each about 4 years of age, and all recited a number of lines capitally, and received rounds of applause. Tbe choruses were all tastefully sung, and by the help of Misses Walsh, Green, O Connor, and other ladies, more fulness was added to the children's sweet treble tones. " Autumn Winds," was sung with excellent expression. Two action songs were given by 15 boys and girls, " The Cuckoo " being especially tnkiog Miss Warren's recitation was given very well indeed ; and Miss Stockwell's humorous ditty was loudly applauded , From first to last, the whole proceedings reflected the hignest credit on the Sifters of Mercy, for the manner in which they have trained the scholars. The accompaniments were severally played by Misses Green, Mulvey, Macaffer, and O Hagan. The children having finished ihe last strains of the popular ballad, " Love at Home," Bishop Moran ascended the platform. He said it was hardly necessary for him to say anything about tne performance. They owed a debt of gratitude to the children for the amuEement they had given the audience, and for tbe great ability with which they had acquitted themselves. He asked everybody present to join in a vote of thanks to the children. Ihe parents must have felt gratified at the performance. He himself was very much pleased. In a few months' time they would doubtless give an entertainment that would astonish those who heard it. He could hardly express tbe great pleasure be had experienced th.t evening (loud applause). He also thanked the children for the beautiful address th^y had presented him with, and spoke of tbe excellent way in which Miss O'Kane had read the text. We may add, that in the juvenile plays by the pupils, capital stage and drop (scenes were used. It w&s no difficult matter to identify the dexterous manipulation of Mr. Nash's brush in the scenery.