OAMARU HIBERNIAN LITERARY AND DEBATING SOCIETY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 12, 21 July 1893, Page 31

OAMARU HIBERNIAN LITERARY AND DEBATING SOCIETY.

The inaugural meeting of this Society was held in the boys' schoolroom on Monday evening, July 10. There waa a good attendance ) considering that moßt of the members live a distance out of town. The Very Rev Father Mackay and Bey Father McMullan were present . The Very Bey Father Mackay gave a very locid address on the benefits to be derived from taking an active part in the Bocieky emphasising the necessity for investigating the truth and employing the best authorities when preparing a subject. Some individual?, said the rev gentleman, were inclined to be so impre&sed with one peculiar aspect or point in a certain subject, that they took it for granted that the main point of importance was contained in that idea. The object of the Socitty should be for the verification of all points in (he dispntes and not rest content with simply a superficial view of a subject. The Rev Father McMullin, in a very effective address, thanked the Societ j for the honour they had done him in electing him to be a patron of the Society, and expressed an opinion that the Society would encourage the development of aDy latent talents which members might possess in the way of public speaking, etc. The rev gentleman suggested that, in connection with the Society, a night-school should be established for the further advancement of the Catholic youth of the place, and who, he was sure, would be willing and eag3r to avail themselves of such an opportunity for improvement. This suggestion was well received, and consideration was left over for a future meeting. Mr Corcoran (.president) addressed the meeting, dwelling chiefly on the fact that the Catholics in Oamaru were not such good public speakers as he would wish th?m to be, and instanced men such as Qrattan, Esmonde, Burke, and, in oar day, Tbos. Sexton, men who, in a great measure, owe the high position they have attained to the early training received in a society such as this (hear, hear, and cheerß). Messrs Harming, Power, Daggan, and others also gave expression tB similar views, aoine of the Bpeikers giving promise of much ability, while others excited amusement by their originality and humour. On the recommendation of Father Mackay, it was resolved that a circulating library of Catholic literature be established in connec-

tion with ihe Club, and Mr Wm, Beid (an enthusiastic and energetic member) was appointed librarian. Father Mackay generously presented the Club with a number of books, as also did Father McMullan, examples which were followed by several other members. Altogether, an instructive and enjoyable evening was spent, and Monday nights will now be looked forward to by the members with a considerable amount of pleasure. The debate for next Monday night is to be " The burßtiog-up policy of the present Government." With votes of thanks to the speakers, to the donors to the library, and to the chair, the meeting terminated.