CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 3, 4 November 1892, Page 18

CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own Correspondent.) A obabd social and musical entertainment, which was largely attended add a financial success, was, on Tuesday evening last, held in tbe Oddfellows' Hall at Port Lyttelton. Tbe Bey Father Purton, the parish of Lyttelton, was present, and his Worship tbe IS my at of the Port, Mr Bryce, who presided on the occasion, expressed the great pleasure he felt to be present and take part in the proceedings, and apologised for the unavoidable absence of the Most Bey Dr Grimes. The concert opened with an overture " Martha," which Miss O'Brien, Miss Beverley, and Mr Smith executed in good style. Messrs Hennessey and Joyce gave each a song, and Mrs J. Hayden rendered admirably the selection "Kate of the Dee." Miss and Mr Hay ward accomplished tastefully a duet, " Life's dream is o'er," and Miss K. O'Brien was as happy in tbe vocal item " Why does mother stay so long ?" Mr Borrows sung " Mona," and later on another song, and Mr Fletcher gave a comic song. Mr B. M. Irwin gave in good style two excellent recitations. Miss Bryant, who was expected to delight the audience with a choice selection, was from some cause absent, and the rich strains of her voice was unheard on tbe occasion. After a short interval in tbe programme Miss Galbraith and Mr Parson rendered with good taste an overture on the piano and the violin. Mr H. Glee* on sung " Comrades," and Miss McCarty Tendered, by special request, " Killarney." A vocal duet, which Mrs Hayden and Miss B. Hollis sung, followed. Miss M. William's song, 11 The last wish," was well received, as was Mr W. Hoban's comic song, " The poor Chinese." Mr Hayden and Master Kenny danced an Irish jig, and Mr Price Bang a comic song. Miss O'Brien performed the onerous task of accompanist, and tbe singing in chorus of ■" God defend New Zealand " ended an attractive and well rendered -programme. Tbe hall was subsequently cleared, and dancing was until a late hour kept up. A large and representative meeting of Catholics in this city took place on Sunday afternoon last in 8t Patrick's Hall, in order to devise means to comply with the wishes which the Catholic hierarchy expressed at tbeir recent meeting in Dunedin. A committee was formed. The Bey Bro Joseph and Mr E. O'Connor, who was elected secretary, have, at the special request of Dr Grimes, who presided on the occasion, prepared a full report of the meeting. There was a similar meeting at Leeston on the evening of tbe same day, at the dose of the mission which tbe Bey Father Cummiogs, V.G., has preached in that district . The Catholic men who attended the various services at tbe pro- ■ Cathedral on Sunday last signed the congratulatory address which is to be sent to the Pope on tbe occasion of tbe golden jubilee of his •episcopate. The address is very well expressed. I regret to record the death of Miss M. J. Fogarty, who died on iFriday last in the 21st year of her age, in Creyke street, Christ•church. Tbe deceased young lady, who was much respected, was by ] trade a dressmaker, and was engaged with tbe firm of Messrs Ballantyne and Co., drapere, in this city. She was on Sunday last buried at the Catholic cemetery at the Sand Hills, and her funeral was largely attended, A mournful coincidence with her death is that Miss Fogarty has expeiienced, within the last 12 monthp, the loss of both her parents.— R.l.P. The Bey Dr Grimes preached an eloquent sermon on Sunday night last at the pro-Cathedral, and has on each evening during the week given a short address in explanation of the recent papal encyclical on devotion to St Joseph. I hear that the Bey Father Chastagnon, who has for many years back been the parish priest at Ashburton, has been transferred to Darfield, and the Bey Father O'Donnell, the late parish priest at the latter place, is to take charge of the Catholic people in tbe Asbburton parish. Mr Walter Bently, tbe talented ani popular actor, who has ended a phenomenally successfully season at the Princess Theatre. Dunedio, commences a season in this city with tho " Silver King " on Monday evening next at the Theatre Boyal ; but owiog to tbe limited nature of the season this favourite play can only be staged for three nights. At the same theatre tbe Jubilee Singer and Virginia Concert Company, a tronp of coloured ladies and gentlemen, art now drawing crowded houses.

T" he last Sunday in October, the month set apart epecially for the devotion of tbe Rosary, was observed at the pro-Cathedral with great solemnity, The Bey Father Bell said High Mass, and ihe Vespers, which commenced at 6 p.m., were followed by a solemn procession in honour of the Blessed Virgin. The tharifier, crossbearer, and acolytes, also a numerous cohort of little ladies, very beautifully attired in white dresses, and under the charge of several Sisters, proceeded first. Then came the Children of Mary, members of the Living Bosary, and the girls' Christian Doctrine Society. These were followed by the school boys under their devoted teachers, the Marist Brothers, two of whom bore on their shoulders a beautiful and richly-draped statue of our Blessed Lady. The members of St Aloysius' Guild, the Literary Society, tbe tanctuarj boyß, his Lordship Dr Grimes, the Bey Fathers Cnmmings and Bell, and the church cboir advanced next. Tbe men of the congregation and, after them, the ladies followed. About eleven hundred persons, including the school children of both sexes, took part in the procession, which advanced from tbe altar into the Btreet. From thenca they proceeded, bearing lighted tapers, along the tree-oversbaded path which winds around the chnrch property. Tbe reciting of the Bosary, the sacred vocal music, the numerous tapers and frequent displays of coloured fire made up a beautifal and angust scene. When the congregation had returned and seated themselves again in tbe church, his Lord* ship delivered from the altar rails a short but impressive discourse on the sacred rite which had just taken place. His Lordship imparted his biessing to his flock on tbe occasion, and a solemn Benediction of of the Blessed Sacrament ended the ceremonies of the evening. _ The Bey Father Cummings requested at the usual monthly Mass, which he said on the morning of the same day at Addington, a very numerous attendance at the concert which is to take place on Thursday next in the Oddfellows' Hall, Licbfield street, in aid of the Addington Catholic school. He showed what a struggle there is to support Catholic schools, and how necessary it is that Catholic children should receive a thorough Christian education. Ten working-men were on Friday last discharged from the Government Bailway Workshops at Addington. It is said that nine* teen more will on Friday next receive their nunc dimittis. Various reasons are assigned for the dismissal of so many hands. The work* men themselves ascribe this issue of marching orders to the malignity of three gentlemen known at the Bailway Commissioners, whose term of office is nearly ended. Tbe first half-holiday under tbe provisions of the Shop Assistants' Act was kept in this city on Saturday last. From the lists which have been published of tradespeople who have agreed to the move* ment, it seems that nearly four hundred shopkeepers closed their places of business at 1 p.m. On Friday evening the shops which were usually kept open on Saturday nights, except those of the butchers, remained open till tbe hour at which they are closed on Saturdays. Numbers of people promenaded the streets, but the crowd was not so large as that which is to be seen on a Saturday night nor did the business done in tbs shops appear to be brisk. But it is thought that matters could not be otherwise. People have not yet become accustomed to shop on Friday evening, and Friday has not yet taken the place of Saturday as a general weekly pay-day. During the week there has been much discussion on the subject. The grocers, who have advertised that they intended to close on Thursdays have been persuaded to close on Saturdays. Business men have met in Lee s ton, goutbbridge, and Bangiora and passed resolutions to the effect that the holiday should take place in these towns on Saturday. A well-attended meeting, at which bis Worship tbe Mayor presided, was held on Monday evening last in Port Lyttelton.