WELLINGTO.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIII, Issue 42, 14 February 1896, Page 19

WELLINGTO.

CFrom our own Correspondent.)

February 8. At the recent sitting of the Archdioceaan Synod in Wellington the district of Maßterton was created a parish, the administrator, the Rev i Father McKenna, being named parish priest. When the Rev Father McKenna was appointed to Masterton ei^ht years agi, there was a debt of £1000 on the district, but this has now been completely wiped off This would have been a good record for, comparatively speaking, a poor district, but beside this there has been £250 spant on St Patrick's Church, Maaterton, in the meantime, and about £1000 on the schools attached thereto, inc'uding salaries, etc. The presbytery baa been renovated at a cost of £360. Over £200 have been expended on the Carterton Church property, and a new church erected at Pahiatua, which, with incidental items, cost about £400 The new church at Martioborough was erected at an expenditure of nearly £480, whilst the amounts expended en church buildings at Greytown Feathereton, and Tenui, were respectively £80, £25, £30, making a total of over £3,700. Besides this there was collected io the district a sum of £120 towards the propagation of the faith, Peter's Pence, and missions. This is a position which reflects the highest credit on the administrative capacity of Father McKenna, on tbe generosity of his people, and is a good indication of the progress which the Church is making in the Colony. The parish is large and the population scattered, and not tie wealthiest section of the community, still, when we learn that the only debt now unpaid is a small sum on the presbytery, we can well understand how zeal and true liberality can accomplish more than the mere possession of this world's goods. Two pupils of St Mary's Convent, Hill street, were successful in passing the Matriculation examination. Tuese were Miss Blake and Miss Slowey. In the musical examination?, conducted by Mr M. Birket Foßttr, the following resolts are reported : — Sing-ng, senior division. — honours — Miss Brady; pass — Miss Soloman. Junior division — borjours — Missis Sullivan and Gallagher; pass — Misßes Long and Hennah. Piano, senior division — honours — Mies Brady ; pass — Miss Sullivan. Junior division — honours — Miss Long ; pass Misses Falconer and Waldegrave. Primary division — Mies Shapter. Besides the above it will be remembered that 19 pupils, whose numes were published at the tims, passed in the theory eliminations. In pianoforte playing Miss Rosalinda Brady was easily first in senior honoars with 90 per cent of marks, tbe same talented young lady having also taken senior honours in solo siagin? with 91 marks out of a possible 100. In fact, the pupils of the convent Bwept the board in solo singing as far as local passes were concerned. Out of the 27 passes secured by Wellington 12 are to be credited to tha convent. This is a very fine record, and reflects alike credit on the good Sisters, and od the industry and ability of ihe pupils, A sad accident occurred at the Masterton Catholic school during the week when a boy, aged 11 year?, son of Mr F. H. Bnttain, of the stock department, fell from a swing and broke his arm in two places. L am pleastd to hear that the sufferer is progressing very favouraby. The Wellington branchjof the Irish National Federation held a meeting n St Patrick's Hall, on Monday night, the chair being occupied by Dr E. Canigan, J.P. It was reported that the net pioceeds

of the Hon E Blake's lecture would ba something over £20, bat all the returns had not been received. The members of the branch intend to wcik strenoußly to increase the membership, so that in the future still better results may be achieved than even in the past. Reference was made to the forthcoming conference of Irishmen in Dublin, at which it was expected tbe branch would be represented, and from which results were anticipated. Oar volunteers had a real good time of it, as the Salvationists say, on Saturday and Sunday last. They went to Mount Crowford to iepel an imaginary army, who was supposed to be making an attack frow the rear on the forts. It is needlers to say that, under the circumstances, they were highly successful. Officers and men covered themselves with mud and glory. Colonel Fox complimented the men on the alacrity and soldier-like manner in which they went through the programme under trying circumstances, for the weather and commissariat were not all that could ba wished for. It is as'unisbing what a change has been affected in the opinions held by the gallant Colonel on his arrival. His fine imperial ideas have beeD considerably modified by intercourse with the people of the Colony. His idea then was that h« was to run tbe Colony on military lines, and that every adult rrale of a certain age would don a uniform. He got at loggerheads with the Government, and, mistaking the opinions of the Opposition Press for the expression of the majority of the colonists, he imagined he was able to force the Premier and his colleagues to carry out his behests. He reckoned without hie host, for the Hon R. Seddon is not a man to be bounced, and the new commandant had to cave in, Having had a more intimate acquaintance since then with colonial people, he hag been able to form a more correct estimate of their independence, and disinclination to be ruled by horse guard methods, and as a result he understands more accurately the many sacrifices our local forces are prepared to make in order to be prepared for the defence of the Colony, withoat being expected to come up to the requirem nts, in the matter of outward display, of regular troops. It is to be hoped that the occasion will not arrive in onr day, when a hostile fL'et shall make an attempt to land on the New Zealand shoies. But if it should ever occur, I have no doubt that the volunteers of the Colony will receive them with a warmth, the very reverse to hospitable. Miss Agnes Milone, of Stratford, was recently presented with an illuminated address in recognition of tur weak on behalf of the church and school in the township. Miss Malone, her sisters and moiher, have lift on a year's visit to the borne countries, having decided to make the trip via Sydney and Suez. St Prttnck's College reopened on Monday after the Christmas holidays, with an attendance abo?e the average. Some changes have taken place in the staff (since last year. The Rev Esther Aubry has left for Canterbury in consequence of the state of his health, and the Rev Father Herbert haa been transferred to Napier. Tbe Rev Father Holley and the Rev Lather O'Reilly have again joined the College facu y. It is gratifying to the frienls and well-wishers of St Patrick's to know that all the students prts*nted for the university examinations and the Tnn'ty College musical examinations were successful, These results must be highly satisfactjry to the College staff and refl. cts much credit on the institution. Mastar Leo 8. Fanning passed wi h credit the examination for entrance scholarship I of the New Z 'aland University, and Master Cnarles McDonald, Wel'ington ; Ethe'hert W. Smith, Kaikoura ; Francis Morrell, Chrietchurch ; Da -id Holland, Christchurcb ; aid Francis Lynch, Reefton, matriculated. In tha examination ia the theory of music (TunUy College, London), Master Patrick Garvey, Wellington, w<b successful in intermediate honour?, and Masters Charles McDonald, W<;liinnt>n, and William Fuz^erald, Timaru, were successful in juniors, these being tbe only candidates presented.