ST. PATRICK'S SCHOOL, WAIMATE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 14, 20 January 1893, Page 25

ST. PATRICK'S SCHOOL, WAIMATE.

(From an occasional Correspondent.) The annual distribution of pnrea in connection with St Patrick a School, which ia under the supervision of the Sisters of 8t Joseph, took place in the schoolroom on the evening of the 22nd of Deoember, and the proceedings were an unqualified success, This, too, is the occasion on which the display of fancy work, etc., is held. The attendance of parents and friends was very large, who evinced the greatest interest possible in the proceedings. The Bey Austin Aubrey, inspector of schools for the diocese, was present. The schoolroom was beyond description, the work of the Sisters and kind friends, the. decorations consisting of lovely flowers, ferns, etc. The stage presented a unique appearance. It would have been impossible to improve the artistic get-up. The draping was very tastefully arranged, and the footlights consisted of fairy-lights of a variety of colours, the stage itself being lighted up with Chinese lanterns, over the centre of the stage stood out very prominently the motto, " Oead mille failthe," being supported on each side with the greeting, " A. Merry Christmas," which was worked in gold on a green ground. So splendidly was the room arranged — the stage and other decora* tions ; in front of the stage the beautiful display of fancy work, etc., by the pupib, and the handsome prizes to be presented to the successful scholars— that one would almost imagine he were in some great exhibition. The whole reflected infinite credit on the artistic taste ,of the Sisterß of St Joseph. The entertainment usually given at the breaking-up of the school aleo took place, and was successful beyond measure, every item being applauded in a very hearty manner, and i this truly not without justification. Every item given was stamped with almost inconceivable patience in its tuition, and the Sisteri really deserve to be complimenied on the self-sacrificing labour of love it must have entailed in preparing so varied and excellent a programme. But after all this is nothing out of the common with the Order. Wherever the Sisters of St Joseph are there their benign iaQuence is felt, and admirable results follow. The euterUinment was opened with the duet, " Osborne Quadrilles." Needless to say that Misses Crimmins, Wall, Dooley, and 8t George did it fall justice.

The chorus, by the girls, "Gathering flowers," was a gem, the harmony being perfect. Miss Nellie Wall acquitted herself with credit in the recitation, " The half-loft." An item which deserves special praise was the vocal duet, " Ring out wild bells," by Misses Bartos and Katie Flaherty. The drama, " A slight mistake," proved exceedingly interesting, the performers being Misses O'Shea, Dooley, St George, Macpherson, and Hughes. The chorus, " Merry sunshine," by the girls, went very merrily, and the recitation, " Orange and green," by Misses Fowler and Garrick, was greeted with loud applause. The " Holiday," chorus and a duet (by the girls) were given with an nnction that called forth applause. This brought us to the farce, '•He would be a soldier," a rather laughable one. The characters were :— Student, Master Costello ; Professor, Master P. Walsh ; Soldier, Muter M. Lyons; Soldiers, Masters McGrath, E. Hughes, and Lundon. The piece was acted with great spirit, and quite deserved the applause it received. " Bonnie Dandee " (trio) found faithful interpreters in Misses Franklin (2), Dooley, St George, Gates, and Bennett. Tbe boys were very good in the chorus, "As welcome as the flowers in May," the warbling seemed quite as welcome. The next item was, indeed, a real gem, the cantata, " Little Red Biding Hood." The caste was as follows : —Mother, Miss Bartos ; Little Bed Biding Hood, Miss Minnie Dooley ; Woodman, Master K. Flaherty ; Wolf, Master M. Lyons ; Little Buttercup, Miss M. O'Connor ; Rose, Miss M. O'Shea. Miss Bartos took the part of M Mother " with much grace, while the title rSle was splendidly sustained by Miss Minnie Dooley. The remainiug characters were also ably sustained. The singing was all that could be desired. The whole programme reflected infinite credit on the tuition. Before touching on the "distribution of prizes a word must be said with regard to the show of plain and fancy work. This was a small exhibition in itself. The plain work was first class, while the fancy was unsurpassable, The tone of tbe school in this respect is quite equal to the excellent results produced at the annual examination. Those who were present in the school on this occasion will, I think, bear me out when I say the Sisters deserve very, very great praise. The prizes were distributed to the successful scholars by the Rev Father Aubrey, the inepector. After the distribution the Rev Father Regnault warmly thanked those present for the kindly interest they evinced in tbe welfare of the school, as was evident from the large number present that evening. The lev gentleman referred in glowing terms to the continued pregreßs the school was> making under the able management of the Sisters of St Joseph, the proof of which was evident from the high position tbe school held among the other schools in the diocese. Tbe inspector of schools (Father Aubrey) also spoke a few words in terms highly complimentary to all concerneJ in bringing the school to its present high standing. He said it stood second to none of those he had examined in Canterbury or Westlaod, and if a Government inspector were to examine it he knew the result would bu very creditable to the school. He had been examining these schools for three years now, and the requirements bad been fixed at a higher, rather than a lower, standard compared with other schools. His Lordship the Bishop had also been much pleased at the results of the examination of St Patrick's School. While thus complimenting the teachers and children, he enjoined upon the latter to be more regular in their attendance, and asked the parents to bear this in mind, for if there was a fault it was in tbe want of punctuality on the part of many of the children, for which the parents were largely responsible. The boys then gave three hearty cheers for the inspector, Father Regnault, and their teachers, after which the proceedings terminated.