ST COLUMBKILLE'S CONVENT SCHOOL. HOKITIKA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 37, 11 January 1895, Page 25

ST COLUMBKILLE'S CONVENT SCHOOL. HOKITIKA.

(From an occasional Gorrespoadent.) On the evening of Friday, 23rd Diceonber, the parents and friends of the pupils of St Columbkille'd Convent schools, assembled in the large schoolroom attached to the Convent fjr tne purpose of assisting at the entertainment usually given by the papils, prior to dispersing for the holidays. Very Bey Daan Martin, 8.M., occupied the chair. Rev Father Le Petit, 8. 51., and Kdv Father Servajean, S.M., were also present. His Worship the Mayor, the Hod J. A. Bonar, Mr and Mrs Wade, the Mißses Mandl and several other friends of the Convent were present. The curtain rose at 7.30, and tbe young ladies went through ,he following programme with all the ease, grace, and self-poesession characteristic of the pupils of St Columbkille's Convent schools :— Chorus '• Tell me where do fairies dwell," singing class ; piano duet " The battle of flowers," Misass L. Bums and M. Qainn ; academic debate, " Are we batter or worse than we used be— and by bow much," chairman, Master C. J. Daly. Members of debating society : Masters F. Sellers, W. Harding, J. Harvey, W. Smith, J. O'Connor, Mcßride, F. Stobba, P. Finnel, R. Boss, L. Daly. Tableau "Faith, Hope, and Charity," Misses C. Burke, E. Harvey, an i L. O'Connor ; solo (piano and harmonium) L. Burns and M. Ward ; vocal duet " Home to our mountains," F. O'Connor and C. 0. Bnrke ;

chorus " Give me my own native isle," singing class ; solo (piano and harmonium) " Cantilena," A. McGuigan and O. Bnrke ; tableau and recitation « King Solomon and the beei," 0. Shine, J. Dowling, and M. Hartnette. » Pranks" (a farcical comedy in two acts).-Ohar-acters :— Oaptaia Neverwed (bachelor, retirtd from the army), Agnes Dolan ; Mrs Honeymoon (a lively widow) Lily Daly ; Miss Kitty Gush, Monica Hartnette ; Miss Lucy Scatterbrain, Lizsie Burns ; Mies Mary Prattle, Katie Bourke ; Miss Alice Plotter, Clara Bourke ; Miss Tattle, Josephine Dowling (mischievous maidens) ; Mrs Fireman, Mary Elizabeth Shine ; Mrs Clatter, Helena O'Connor, and Miss Swallow, Agnes Dolan (have nothing to do with the plot) ; Nellie, (a faithful deaf retainer) Mary Bourke ; domestics, M. Hartnette, C. Burke, J. Dowling, M. B. Shine, and K. Burke. Chorus " Sunshine and shadow," singing class ; solo (piano and harmonium) Misses C. C. Burke and M. Ward ; tableau " The Madonna crowning her children," Miss L. Burns and infant class ; piano duet " The last rosa of summer," Misses M. Ward and 0. Burke ; tableau « The Bavionr blessing the childreo," Miss A. McGuigan and infant class ; closing chorus " Hearts and homeß," singing class. At the conclusion his Worship the Mayor/.congratulated the Lady Superior on the excellent performance of the evening. H« referred in gratified terms to the success obtained by eight of the pupils at the recent London University Musical Examination. He ventured to predict that the pupils at present preparing for the Civil Service Examination would be equally succassful. The Mayor conclnded his observations by thanking the Very Rev Dean Martin tor having introduced the Bisters of Mercy to the Coast, " who art," he said, "snob a bless'ng and advantage to the whole district." Mr Wade, in a few well-chosen words, expressed nil appreciation of the evening's entertainmea', and he complimented the Mother Superior and Bisterhood on its complete success. Very Rev Dean Martin then announced to the children that their holidays wtre about to commence. He gave this tender portion of hia flock a little fatherly advice as to how they should conduct themselves during the time of relaxation. The young people testified their gratitude by loud and prolonged cheers which were taken up by

the whole assembly. Thus a very pleasant evening was brought to a clost.