NAPIER.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXI, Issue 46, 15 March 1895, Page 25

NAPIER.

+ (From an occasional Correspondent.) In a recent contribution to the New Zealand Tablet I said the Catholics of Napier intended celebrating the national festival of Ireland's patron saint in a proper manner. The movement , then only on the tapit and still without any particular form, is now an assured success. The only thing further required is the weather, which we hope will be propitious. Besides a fair share of funds already in the hands of the committee, a most successful concert was given on last Tuesday evening for the same object, The following is the report given by the HarvJtes Bay Herald of March 6 :—: — " The concert held in the Marist Brothers' schoolroom last evening in aid of the school's picnic fund was a most pronounced success. The room was packed to the doors and although the programme as originally arranged was a long one, it was almost doubled by the numerous tncores. The comic element was largely in the ascendant, and this was evidently thoroughly to the taste of the audience, as any item with a grain of humour in it was vociferously redemanded. Mr John Madigan sang ' Hmon the Oellarar' and 1 The mill wheel ' nicely. A pretty duet, ' The Flower Gatherers, I , was capitally sung by Misses M 'Shane and Connor, whose voices blerded nicely together. The singers were rewarded with a well deserved encore. An encore also followed Mr J. Fraser'a singing of a comic f lAn Awful Scrub.' The Misses D'Authreau sang a duet, ' When Life's Dream is O'er,' in splendid style, and were called upon to repeat the last verse. Mr J. G. Swan wasrecalled for bissong, ' Father O'Flynr,' and in response sang ' I'm off to Philadelphia.' Messrs Boden and Fisher danced a double hornpipe splendidly. Mr F, W. Collins sang •Bight before the Miseus,'but declined the hearty encore which followed. Mr Bowe sang ' Eileen O'Connor,' and as a second item 1 The Dear Little Shamrock,' Misa Taylor sang ' The Maid of the Mill ' with excellent effect. An imperative encore wag accorded Miss M'Gnire for her artistic singing of 'Love's Old Sweet Song,' and she was equally successful with her second song. Mr H. Andrews and a large sunflower came on the stage together, the first-named indulging

indisposition. I also heard that three of the same Sisters' pupils in Christ church have won the same laurels. It did not appear from the minutes of the Education Board in Napier that any mention was mad* of the inspection of Catholic schools at the Government cost, This is just what I should exptct. The Board is composed of an essentially Conservative element even to a man. Yet Conservatism received a disastrous shock at the last elections in the district, and is likely to do so again. The question may have been, and no doubt wes, discussed privately, but that, was owing to the peculiar position, equivalent, indeed, to the proverbial dilemma. It is an open secret that the Hon J. D. Ormond, the chtirman, when Member for Napier, falsified his promise to the Catholics in this town, therefore, they need not expect much from him or from any body over which he presides. I am sorry to Ray the Evening News is now in the market and by the 22nd inst the highest bid gets it. I fear the present Government, for which it fought so hard, are not true to it. It seems the editorial chair is again occupied by the late editor of the Christchurch Truth. Why he has left the " City of the Plains" and how he re-occupies the editorial pen in the Evening News office so quickly is to most paople still a mystery. Yet both are fact9<

in some negro comicalities, bis bolo of fun evoking a chorus of laughter and a demand for more mirth, which was supplied. Miss A. D'Anthrean eaDg ' Ora pro nobis ' very sweetly, and a banjo eolo, ' The bobolink's call,' by Mr Blackmore, was well received. Mrs Boosey sang ' Bory O'More ' with an archness of expression and redness of humour which was irresistible, and an imperative encore wae the result, but the fair singer contented herself with bowing her acknowledgments. A hornpipe, danced by Mr P. Linnigan, was followed by a comic song by Mr J. Fraser, who was encored, and gave in response a recitation. Misa Taylor sang Kjerulf's ' Last night ' charmingly, this item beiDg the musical gem of the evening Mr Alf Boden appeared in a plantation song and dance that fairly brought down the house and produced a double encore. Mr Andrews and the Bucflower again came on loshow that they were not 'gone lor ever,' but had merely strayed out for refreshments. Mr Andrews sang ' Gone for ever ' and received the customary demand for a repetition. A double Irish jig bj Mr P. Clarkin and Master Mullaney brought to a close the most successful concert ever held in the schoolroom. The accompaniments were played by Mrs Boosey, Miss Gleeson, and Mr H. Hooper. During the evening the club orchestra contributed a couple of selections in fine style. The Rev Father Grogan thanked the performers who bad so kindly assisted, and also Messrs Durney and Boosey, who had taken a very great deal of trouble in organising the concert.' 1 Laßt week we had the monster procession and sports in aid of the hospital funds, and I am pleased to say the whole affair was a huge success. All the public bodies as well as all the Friendly Societies took part in the procession in their respective regalias Tbejpicture wa9 beautiful. Toe movement, being one of charity, was not only well worth the experiment, but sure to eDlist universe] and is likely to be kept up in future as an aauual festival. takings realised the bandeome sum of £290— a very good example for other hospital towns. Another victory for our cocvent echools. Miss Katie Dungan, a pupil of the Sisters of the Mission in the Napier Convent, passed the Junior Civil Service Examination. Another young lady, equally competent, Misa Katie Sutherland, had also prepared, but, unfortunately about a month before the event was obliged to retire owiog to