ST. PATRICK'S DAY, AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIII, Issue 47, 27 March 1896, Page 19

ST. PATRICK'S DAY, AUCKLAND.

A UNIQUE CELEBRATION.

A magnificent success— fully 10,000 people present.— All the Auck> land Catbolio day and Sunday schools at the fete.— The Auckland priests supervise the arrangements for the little ones and patronise a noble gathering of their people.— The huge sporta programme carried out without a hitch.— The Hibernian Society have excelled their great successes of former years, and merit the hearty congratulation of all Irishmen. — The following description in the Herald of the mustering and processiins will give our readers an idea of the gala day, which evidently rcfi-cted infinite credit on the priests and people of Auckland : — Shortly af'er ten o'clock in the forenoon the school-children from the Ponsooby Sacred Heart, St B -neciict's, and Surrey Hills, headed by portions of the Newton Band, marched to St Patrick's, where the children from the latter school awaited their arrival. At half-past ten o'clook, headed by the Newton Braßß Band, which enlivened the proceedings by striking up "St Patrick's Day," followed by other patriotic airs, the procession started out for their destination, the schoo's represented being : Star of the Sea Orphanage (girls), St Patrick's Convent School (girls), **t Mary's Convent and Sacred Heart School, Ponsonby (girls), St Patrick's School (boys), Ponsjnby School (buys), Marist Brothers' School, Surrey Hills Convent, St Benedict's Day School, and Parnell Convent Bchool, Toen followed the Hiborniaa Society, headed by their beautiful new banner, the route taken being up Hobson street, down Wellesley street, through Symonds street, down Kyber Pass, and round Grafton Road to the Domain, a fair idea of the length of the procession bemg gained from the fact that when the leaders were abreast of the Free Library, the end of the proceision had not turned the corner of Hobson street into Wellesley street. Thousands of spectators witnessed tbe imposing and pleasing sight from the sidewalks, and many coloured bannerettes and banners carried by the juvenile pleasure-seekers adding greatly to its attrac-tivt-nees, The management of tbe gathering was conducted with a thoroughness and completeness that reflects unstinted credit on the several cfficiais connected, and more particularly on secretaries O'K>ine and M. J. Sheehan, who were untiring in their efforts to promote the comfort and convenience of the visiting public, and in this respect their efforts were crowned with well deserved success, approbation being expressed freely on all sides. Mr Austin Smith, who ac'ed as starter, is to be commended on th 9 firmness with which he handled the fields, and the excellent starts effected throughout.