NAPIER.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 23, 6 October 1893, Page 18

NAPIER.

(From an occasional Correspondent.) September 29, 1893. At Mass on Sunday, the Very Eev Father Grogan referred to the ex ereion of the franchise to womeD. Ha said he would not say anything in favour or against it, but advised all ladies of the age of 21 or over to register as soon as possible, bo that if occasion should arise in which their votes were required they would be prepared. St Mary's Literary Society brought their short session to a close on Tuesday night by an excellent concert in aid of the proposed library, and I must congratulate the committee on the financial success of their undertaking. Before the hour of commencing the seating accommodation of the Marist Brothers' schoolroom was sorely taxed. As to the audience, well I never saw a more enthusiastic assembly of people in my life, encores being the feature of the evening. Both Father Grogan and Father Kerrigan were present, and also the Mariet Brothers. At 8 o'clock the rev president of the Society started the ball rolling by making a few observations as to the aims and objects tf the Society. Miss and Master Gleeson followed with an instrumental duet (piano and violin). Mrs Tatea gave a vocal item in her usual effective Btyle. The next item, and undoubtedly the gem of the evening, was a duet by Misses Lee and St Clair entitled '• Music and Bong." These young ladies are students at the convent, and the way they acquitted themselves is another illustration of the good trainiDg young ladies receive at that institution. Messrß M. O'Rourke and C. Jarman gave recitations, the latter receiving an encore. Miss M, Sbane sang two songp, •' Killarney " and "Vale of Avcca " The comical element waa in the hands of Messrs D. Rowe and F. W. Collins, and they succeeded in provoking roais of laughter whenever they m c <ie their appearance on t\ c 6tage. TLe former, however, does not bind bimsdf to the comic line alone for he can sing some excellent songs in the sen'imental line. As an instance of this 1 may mention his Bingiog of " Eileen O'Connor,"' for which he wbs loudly recalled. In tbe second part of the entertainment. Mr J. H. Kirby ascended the stage End made some very sensible remarks n the Society, urging everyone to taka the deepest interest in it. Prior to the close of the concert Mr Shannagban gave some selections on the bagpipes, which caused nms of laughter. To-day (.Friday) the fiast of the Very Rev Father Grogan was celebrated. About ten o'clock the boye, in charge of Brother Leo assembled in the schoolroom end presented the Rev Father with an address and a silver-mounted riding-whip, 'ihe following is the address read by Master Cullen :—": — " Very dear Father Grogan, — It is with feelings of unbounded pleasure that we, the pupils of the Marist brothers' sctool, Napier, approach you on this your patronal feast, to tender you our best wishes, and to thank you for the deep interest you l-ave at all times taken m our welfare, spiritual and temporal. In spite of the tenderness of our yeara we have learned to appreciate your apos'ohc devotedness to duty, and your indefatigable zeal for God's glory, as evinced in yoar present strfenuous efforts to raise in our mid6t a new and noble temple, where the Sacr< d Heart of our Blessed Lord may be adored and he noured. end our daily prayer i B that you may be spared to see your arduous undertaking crowned with unprecedented tucctss. V\ iih what care have you not guarded the tender lambs of your flock, warding eff every danger, everything that might tarm&h their punty or weaken their faith, in order that they may be able, at tbe end of their earthly career, to exclaim with the Royal Psalmist : ' Saepe rxpugnaverunt mea jurcntute wea ; ttenim non potuerunt mihi,' or. with the great apostle, ' Bonnm ctrtamen certavi eursum consummari /idem irrvaii.' Placed as you are, on the watch towers ot Sion, jou have not failed to obey the injunctions of St Paul to his beloved disciplep, preaching the Word, being instant in season, out of season, reproving, entreating, rebukiDg in all patience as as bohoveth your exalted dignity.

Wishing you, very dear Father, a very happy feast day, we beg your acceptar.ee of this email token of our esteem and veneration. Ttiat you may be preserved ad multos annos is the prayer of your obedient an-* affectionate children,— The pupils of theMarist Brothers' school. 1 ' The Tery Rev Father Grogan suitably replied. Fa'her Kerrigan alao made a few remarks, and urged tbe boys to go in for the study of vocil an instrumental music, but especitlly the study of elocution. The following programme was then gone through by the boys in first rate style : — Overture, selections, school orchestra ; song. " The harp that once," pupils ; recitation, ' The old arm chair," Master L. Lonergan ; dance, Irish jig, Master J. Mullany ; recitation, •• Capital Punishment," Master B. O'Rourke ; chorus, '• Hail Z 'alandia," pupilß; recitation. " Fontenoy," Master J. Falvy ; dance, Highland fling, Master M. Flynn ; comic dialogue " Raising a ghost," MasteiS J. Brophy, J. Moore, and J. O'Rourke ; cboru?. ' Our hearts are light," pupils ; finale, National anthem, orchestra ; accompanists, Masters J. Gleeson, M. Flynn, F. Cullen. The proceedings then terminated, Father Grogan grantmg the boys a holiday. It is not often that tbe Hawltes' Bay Herald has anything to Bay In favour of Catholics, but in referring to the case of the •' martyr '' Kerr a couple of mornings ago it Bays :— " The prohibition of religions aod other processions, calculated to annoy other people or to cause disturbance is no new thing. The law, for example, forbids Roman Catholics carrying the Hrst in prosessioi in the street of British towns. Bat our Catholic fellow-citizen.9 do not persist in marching in procession against the law. and then whine childishly about interference with their liberty when they are punished for breaking the law. Perhaps they feel it a hardship. We do not know wheher that is bo, but we do know that they bo?o to tlie law. The Salvationists must do the same."