WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 24, 31 March 1893, Page 17

WELLINGTON.

(From our own Correspondent.) March 25, 1893. Accounts continue to come in from various parts of tbe district concerning the different celebrations on St Patrick's Day. In Nelson a promenade concert was held in the Princess Rink for tbe benefit of St Mary's building fund. The entertainment opened with a chorus by flower girls, which was followed by a May-pole dance by twenty-eight of the pupils of St Mary's school, who went through their task exceedingly well, reflecting much credit on their instructor Mr O'Gonnell After the dancf, on the selection of Miss Pask, Mill AnDie Day was crowned May Queen. There were three "tails for tbe sale of goods, which were presided over by the following ladies :— Nol. Mrs Malumby, Mrs Hunt, and Mra Butler ; No 2, Mrs O'Oonnell and Miss Nash ; Refreshment stall, Mrs Nash, Miss Gibbons and Mrs Gordon. Owing to the crowded state of the building, many were unable to witness the May-pole dance, and it has been determined to repeat it on E ister Monday. I am pleased to be able to chronicle that the inter-college cricket match was brought to a conclusion during the early part of tbe week with the result that St Patrick's boys came out the winners, beating ihe'r opponents by three wickets, McEvedy (not out) with 17, being the highest scorer. Considering that they have been only a few weeks back at college end that previous to that they had bean scattered to tbe four quarters of tbe Colony, their success is all the more to be proud of. Nowtha' the cricket season is drawing to a close and the football season is cloee upon us, the students of St Patrick's are setting 1 their house in order and arranging their armour for the coming fray. During the paßt week a meeting was held, when the following officers were elected for the next year .-—Patron, Hie Grace Archbishop Bedwood ; president, Hon Dr Grace; vice-presidents, Drs Watters and Cahill, Messrs R. P. Collins, P. S. Garvey, J. J. Device and M. Kennedy ; captain, Mr P. Fay ; vice-captain, Mr D. McCarthy ; secretary, Mr G. Mahoney ; treasurer, Uev W. J. Lewis ; management committee, Rev J. Bowden, Messrs P. Fay, D. McCarthy, G. Mahoney, and H. McDonnell ; delegates to the union, Messrs H. McCardell and W. V. Re d. In consequence of the inclement Btate of the weather on St Patrick's Day the annual display of fireworks in honour of the occasion had to be postponed until last Monday evening, when the display was made from the college tower in the presence of a large number of spectators. A soiree w»b held in tbe Theatre Royal, Palmereton North, on St Patrick's night, which, from a financial and artistic standpoint, was a thorough success. The following ladies and gentlemen took part in the concert -.—Misses Hughes, Oakley, O'Brien, Brophy, and Rogers, and Messrs Dixon, Rush, and Campbell— the latter giving a solo on the bagpipes. At the conclusion of the programme the Rev Father Patterson thanked those present for their aid towards making the entertainment a success, especially those of other denominations Dancing was then indulged in for a couple of hours, tha music being provided by Meisrs Meyrick and Bottomley, Mr Fake acting as master

of ceremonies. Refreshment!!, which had been provided on a liberal scale by the ladies of tha congregati >n, were htndi'd round several times daring the evening. The social was a pronouncM Fuccees, and reflected much credit on the committee who had charge of the arrangements, and more especially on Ihe Rev Father Patterson, who did not spare himself in bis ettortß to see that all tne visitors euj >yed themselves. The grand fair and bazaar in aid of St Patrick's Church, Masterton, the opening of which I alluded to last week, was brought to a •uccesfful conclusi n laßt Saturday, the sum of £306 being netted. This amount will go a long way towards liquidating the debt on the cburcb, and the Rev Father McKenna will ferl considerably relieved in mind by baring the greater part of this monetary burden lifted iff his shoulders. Among the visitors here during the week were Miss Shaw, the representative of the erstwhile mighty Thunderer, of Piinting House Square, and Mr Tom Bracken, the genial journalist f»nd poet laureate of New Zealand. It is expected the genial " Paddy Murphy " will T«ry likely settle down in Wellington, as he has had enough of the other colonits for the present. On the other hand Miss Shaw's stay amongst us was of the briefest. A well-attended meetiDg of the parishioners of St Mary of the Angels' and St Joseph's was held in St Patrick's Hall on Thursday evening for the purpose of making arrangements for the drawing of the art onion, which was postpone 3 at the time of the lac bazaar. The Very Rev Father Devoy, V.G., presided, and after a short diecussion it was determined to have a fancy fair in the Rink on Easter Tuesday and Wednesday, when the bilancj of goods on hand will be disposed of, and the art union drawn on the latter evening. The whole will conclude with a grand social to be held on Thursday evening in the same building. The usual procession of the Blessed Sacrament took place at St Mary's Cathedral last Sunday evening when there was a very large congregation. The high altar was very nicely decorated for the occasion. His Grace the Archbishop preached a very eloquent discourse, taking for his subject " Passion Sunday." During the procession special hymns were sung by the choir, who were assisted by a Tory efficient orchestra. A special feature of the singing, was the rendering of a hymn " O Salutaris " which fras been composed by Matter S. Cimino and '8 according to the opinion of competent critics, a very creditable production. The soloists on the occasion wete Mrs Swift, Mi? sea McClean, and Cimino, and Messrs Loughnan, Lowe and Greany. At the eleven o'clock Mass last Sunday at the St Mary of the Angels', Boulcott street, the Rev Father Briand preached a most impressive and eloquent discourse on the Gospel of the day. It is now somewhat over three years since 1 heard the rev Father preach, and as he bad not been then long away from France, bis acquaintance with onr language was somewhat limited. The progress, which be has mtde since then in acquiring a knowledge of the English language is really wonderful, bis latest sermon being a model of elegant diction, choice of words, and arrangement of ideas.