INVERCARGILL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIII, Issue 42, 14 February 1896, Page 15

INVERCARGILL.

(From an occasional Correspondent.)

The Catholic schools of tbe town have re-opened after tbe Christmas holidays, and are once again io full swing. The Rev Father Vereker strongly exhorted parents to send cheir children regularly, and read the declaration of the clergy assembled at the lat3 Plenary Council of Sydney on the subject of Catholic education. Tne Irish Athletic Society of Southland are vigorously following the spirited policy of past years. This year the principal event, the Sheffield Handicap, has been raised to the value of £42 10a ; to the chopping contest, £10 has been been assigned ; to the sawing, £7 ; to tbe mile race, £8 10d ; to tbp half-mile race, £8 10. There are alio two bicycle races, one for amateurs and the other for cash riders. One of the items on tbe programme is an Irish jig. This is as it should be. But it is earnestly to be hoped that those who have charge of the affair will see that none of the competitors parades himself ia the ridiculous costume in which the jig is accustomed to be danced, and which is a libel on, and gross insult to, every Irishman. It should bs the aim of eveiy society of the kind to banish the ignorant prejudice prevailing in regard to our countrymen, and to show ttum in their true colours. Irishmen ask for no more, and do not fear the result. For the rest, the directors are to be commended for their spirited policy, and it is to be hoped that a large attendance of tbe public and numerous entries for the various event ) will reward them for the responsibility they have tiken on their shoulders, That tbe responsibility is no light one will be evident when it is known that about £110 will be given in prizes this year. The sports will be held on Wednesday, 18th March. On the Dighta of the 17th and 18th March the Irish Dramatic Society, in conjunction with the Athletic Society, will sage Dion Boucicanlt's famous Irish drama, " Inshavogue." The name of the author is a sufficient guarantee that tbe Irish character will not be held np ' i ridicnle in the way we have often seen in tbe " stage " Irishman, and aa the management of the drama is in the experienced bands of Mr T. J. Anthony, a faithful and appreciative rendering can confidently be looked to. A concert is to be held at West Plains on next Wednesday, in aid of the building fund of the Catholic Church, now being erected there, and which the residents are making strong efforts to have opened free of debt. I hope soon to have the pleasure of recording the opening of this monument to the ceaseless activity of the Rot Father Vereker.