IRISH ATHLETIC SOCIETY, SOUTHLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIII, Issue 49, 10 April 1896, Page 25

IRISH ATHLETIC SOCIETY, SOUTHLAND.

(From an occasional Correspondent.)

As a public holiday St Patrick's Day appears to be growing in favour in New Zealand. This wsb strongly emphasised in Invercargill at the Annual Sports of the Irish Athletic Society held on the 18th March. The weather was perfect, the sport good, and the attendance of the public the largest on record, there being over 3000 persons on the ground, and the gate receipts amounting to over £116 Commendable promptitude was exercised in getting off the events, bo that a programme of 19 events, exclusive of 14 heats for the 6t Patrick's Handicap, commencing at 12 o'clock, was completed at 6 o'clock. The entries were large, the competition keen. The St Patrick's Handicap was won by A. Small, 0. Kane being second. The finish for this event was very exciting, Small and Kane running a dead heat for first place, and so close was Martin, the third man> that many of the spectators thought the three had ran a dead heat. In the run-off Small won. Nearly all the other events provided keen competition. One which I would like to call attention to is the Irish jig. The entries were numerous but it would be difficult to say which of the costnmea worn by the competitors was the moßt ridiculous. Green stockings, a tall hat with a green ribbon round it aad a shillelagh seem to be in the ideas of the competitors indispensable requsitesto the proper performance of an Irish jig. Doubtless they get their ideas from the stage Irishman, pourtrayed by so-called Irish comedians, who have never seen Ireland nor mingled with her people ; or perhaps, for vaiiety sake, they go to alleged comic papers which delight to show their crass ignorance of the habits of the Bturdy peasantry of the old land and all that belongs to them by publishing badly executed woodcuts of a type of humanity not to be found on the face of the earth. If the directors of tbe society cannot stop this they had better eliminate the levent altogether. At any rate they will not thus offer an insult to their countrymen. One pleasing feature of the day's proceedings wbb the display of Ireland's national colour, made by stalwart " bouchals " and fair " colleens.', Time was when to do such would have subjected the wearer to insult. It is gratifying to find that the Irishmen of Southland are learning the lesson that the respect of foes is won, not by despicable flattery, not by fawning and cringing, not by cowardly submission to insulta from the powers that be, but by hones*, sturdy, manly independence by first respecting themselves and by fearleßS assertion of their own' rights and those of their countrymen. IRISHAVOGTJE. As a conclusion to the day's sport, the Irish Dramatic Society staged Boucicault's drama " Irishavogue." Here again success attended tbeir efforts, the takings for the two nights being a record for tbe society. The plot of the play is simple. Iriehavogue (Mr T. J. Anthony) proscribed for his share in the rebellion cf '98, is compelled tj leave his wife and infant daughter, The wife dies sooa after. The daughter is adopted by Sir Roderick O'Dwyer (Mr Bedford; whose infant has just died, and Insbavogue'e daughttr takes her place unknown to Lady O'Pwjer. Time goes on and Kate (Miss Burgoyne) Irishavogue'a daughter, has a lover, Harry Carrington (Mr Godward) who has a rival, Ulick Buike (Mr McKay) tbe villian of the piece. Here the play opens. Burke, in order to outwit Carrington, persuades Irighavogue, who has returned in disguise, to claim Kate as hfa daughter by promises of a large reward. Iris I]avogue1 ]- avogue under dread of disclosure of bis identity at last consents. The matter is further complicated by Irisbavogue'a discovery from* papers that Kate really is his daughter. Then follows plot and couDterplot,lriehavogue'Bonedefire being looutwit Burke. He finally succeeds and, as the children fay, " everything ends alright." As Irishavogue Mr Anthony hart a heavy part to play. His rjmorse at the pain he is causing the gentle girl he has grown to love, his s'eru manliness when he finds Kate to be really his daughter, and all the humourous points were well bronghtout. Mise Burgoyne, as Kate, entered fully into the spirit of her part, bringing out well the seme of duty which causes her to retire to her father's lowly but and to try and love him as a daughter should, A great deal of the fan of the play ia in the hands of Biddy (Miss Bradley), the devoted servant of Kate. Tbe character could not have been in better hands, and her advent on the stage was always the signal for great applause. Mr McKay never played better than in tbe character of TJhick Burke. Mr Bedford did well as Sir Roderick O'Dwyer, and was well supported by Mrs Mussen as Lady O'Dwyer. The other charae'era were also well filled. The scenery was capital, especially that of the fourth act, where a real wateifdll in a romantic glen gave a most realistic appearance to tbe scene. Mr Anthony was heartily applauded for hia singing of " The wearing of the green " in the st'CODd act. Though one cannot help a passing shadow of regret that well known forms and faces that ia days of old nobly sustaine I the £OOil name of the Society are no longer to be seen on the boards, it is cneenug to find that their successors have worthily upheld the reputation of their predecessors. The Society is to be congratulated on tbe artistic and financial success of their entertainment.