DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 23, 2 October 1896, Page 281

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own Correspondent.) st. mary's. A veby enjoyable concert was given on Thursday evening last in St Mary's School Hall in aid of the organ and choir fund of St. Mary's | Catholic Church. The attendance was very good, and the various members were heartily received. The Right Rev. Dr. Grimes and the Very Rev. Father Cummings were present. Much credit is due to the members of .the church choir and to the other ladies and gentlemen who took part in the programme, also to Mr. H. Rossiter the organiser and director of the concert. A very picturesque tableau, of the members of the choir opened the proceedings The ladies therein appeared in' white dresses and^ scarlet sashes, and the gentlemen in dress suits. While the tableaux was shown, the string band executed excellently Von Suppe's ' Boccaccio march." The choir rendered also in good style and with orchestral accompaniment the glee, the gipsy chorus, from " Preciosa " (Weber). Mr. Inkson, who owns a good and welltramed baritone voice, sang well the song " The yeoman's wedding- " (Poniatowski) and later on the solo in " Zealandia " (Rossiter) the choruses of which were well sustained by the members of the, choir Two songs, " Espanita " and " The flight of ages," which were nicely sung by Miss Tottie Allen, and two good selections by the Estudiantina band f oUowed. " Ora pro nobis " (Piccolomini), the second part (alto) being sung, by Miss Lilian Thompson and the choruses being effectively rendered by the choir behind the scenes, was artistically executed by Miss May O'Brien, who received subsequently a wellniented encore for the admirable rendering of the fine song «. Killamey." Miss L. Hayden and Mr. C. Goggin were happy in the vocal duet "Life's dream is o'er" (Ascher) as was Lilian Thompson m the song "The charmed cup." A piano solo Irish diamonds," was. played with much taste and finish by a very young musician, Miss Barbara Mackenzie, who secured the first prize at a recent piano contest in this city Miss Mackenzie is a pupil of Miss Florence Triggs, who in company with Mr. T. Allen, played a piano duet " The sleigh race, with bell accompaniment, in a very creditable manner Mr L. Blake sang the nautical song, " Off to the Rio Grande," and Mr! A. H. Blake gave a humorous recitation in good style. Miss Lucy Ryan sang exquisitely, "Take a pair of sparkling eyes" and in answer to a triple encore, Mr. Rossiter's pretty composition The village coquette." An admirable instrumental item was " The spinning wheel," which was well executed by the convent pupils— Misses Poff, Burke, Young, and Hardie (pianos), Miss Quill (violin) and Miss Fowler (organ). The concert ended by the choir sinking as a grand finale, Pinsuti's "Good night." with full orchestra accompaniment, in a very excellent style, the solo part bein"- taken by Mr. Rossiter. The accompanists were Mrs. W. Cronin, Mrs C Edgar, and Miss F. Triggs. Mr. Curtrayne was secretary, and to his labours much of the success of the concert is duo. A MARRIAGE. At 9.30 a.m. on Wednesday last an interesing weddin"- took place at the Pro-Cathedral. The contracting parties belong to the city, and were Miss Annie Cunningham -and Mr. Matthew Garty, who, for years back, has been employed in the office of Messrs. Kinsely, Barns, and Co., customs and shipping agents, Christchurch Mr. WiUiam Garty, a brother of the bridegroom, was the best man' and the bride was given away by her brother, Mr. William Cunningham. The bride, who carried a handsome bouquet of flowers, wore besides the usual wreath and veil, a pretty cream-coloured dress, trimmed with lace to match, and the bridesmaids,- two sisters of the bridegroom, Miss Mary and Miss Margaret Garty, were attired in pink dresses and white hats. The Very Rev. Father Cummings said the Nuptial Mass and performed the marriage ceremony. But as the bride and bridegroom had been on the day before to Holy Communion, they did not receive the sacrament again on the occasion. When the ceremony was over and the nuptial party were retiring from the altar, Miss Funston played artistically on the or^an Scotson Clark's very pretty wedding march. They drove in two carriages from the sacred edifice to the residence, on the East Belt Linwood, of the sister of the bride, Miss Maria Cunningham, where a wedding breakfast had been prepared. After spending the day agreeably at the latter piece, the newly-married couple proceeded to their future home in Queen street, Sydenham. The weddin" presents were numerous, valuable, and useful. - " PAROCHIAL. ' On Sunday next a diocesan collection will be made in aid of the Mount Magdala Asylum, wherein there are at present 127 penitents. From this number, which, of course, does not include the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, it will be seen that a deal of money is required to support the institution. As the cause is one that should recommend itself to the ch«ority of everyone, a very handsome amount should be subscribed. The Very Rev. Father Cummings will preach a special sermon at High Mass at the Pro-Cathedral, and the Right Rev. Dr. Grimes will also preach in aid of the most laudable institution at Vespers. When the Vespers are ended the Bishop will moreover solemnly unveil and bless a fac simile of the identical veil which St. Veronica presented to our Lord when on His way to Calvary, and which retains the impression of His sacred countenance.

The Bishop will also explain the devotion, and in order to spread it throughout the parish, organise a sodality of the Holy Face. I may add that, parents were requested to bring their children to the church on Friday next at 9.30 a.'m., in order that they may be blessed. THE LATE MR. M'CLOY. Much regret is felt at the death, at the early age of forty years, of the late Mr. Alexander M'Cloy, who was well known and much respected not only by his co-religionists but also by others for his many excellent qualities The deceased, who was a farmer and an old resident in the Leeston district, was born in the County of Antrim, Ireland. His death was occasioned by a fall from his horse. and he died, after a short illness of three days, on Sunday week, September 20 last, at his late residence, Doyleston. On Wednesday last his remains were brought to the Leeston Catholic Church, where, at 9.30, a Solemn Requiem. Mass was said for the repose of his soul by the local parish priest, the Rev. Father Chervier, who also officiated at the grave. There was a large congregation present and when the sacred rite was over the funeral oortfge, which numbered forty well-filled vehicles and fourteen horsemen, re-formed and proceeded to the Catholic cemetery on the Lee3ton and Southbridge Road, where the deceased was interred. Mr. M'Cloy leaves a wife and three children to 1 mourn his loss. — R.I.P.

TIMARU.

The Aloysian Society held its closing meeting of the session on Tuesday last. The Rev. Father Tubman, president, presided and delivered a short address, passing in review the work done during the year, and the marked advancement shown by members in debating and declaiming 1 . He especially thanked those members who by their regular attendance and earnest work had made the meetings of the society so interesting and instructive. The finances were shown to be in a very satisfactory state and it was decided that the annual picnic of the members and their friends be held this year as heretofore. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the rev. president for his untiring efforts on behalf of the society, similar compliments being paid to the other officers. One member who pays court to the muses recited an original poem. The author on a previous occasion was made the subject of some verses by another member, and this poem was of a retaliatory nature, the style of its composition and the " palpable hits " evoking roars of laughter. The St. John's Lawn Tennis Club held its opening day on Thursday, the 12th inst. The officers for this year are : — President, Rev. Father Lewis ; vice-presidents,* Rev. Father Tubman, Misses McG-uinness, Aldridge, Howley, Mullins, Quinn and Dennehy. treasurer, Miss G". MeGuinness, and secretary, Mr. J. P. McGowan, The tennis court of last year was abandoned and a new court has been made in a section adjoining. The opening was a great success, the members and their friends being present in good numbers. The court was pronounced by all to be a great improvement on the old one. Afternoon tea was provided by the body of members and a very pleasant afternoon was spent. £1 parochial matters the great- topic of interest is the f ortlicoining bazaar. The bazaar is to be held to clear off the debt remaining on the " Priory " and will take place during the agricultural show week, a strong committee of ladies and gentlemen has been formed and the members, the ladies especially, are busily employed in making all the necessary preparations for a monster success. All previous efforts in the same direction have been very successful, and it may be reasonably anticipated that the result of the present undertaking will be equally satisfactory. A pleasing item to note is the increase of the membership of the local branch of the Hibernian Society. Through the energy of some of the members a considerable number of the young men of the parish have joined the ranks. At the quarterly meeting held on Thursday, the 2-lth inst., the president, Brother O'Kane, was presented by the district officers (Auckland) through the branch secretary, Brother Dennehy, with a handsome members' sash as a reward for proposing and initiating over twelve members within six months. Several members are exerting themselves to earn a similar reward and the result is that the membership of the branch is rapidly increasing. An effort is being made to establish a female branch, but difficulties have arisen in making arrangements for medical attendance which will delay the formation of a branch for some time. An alteration in the teaching staff of the Brothers' school has been made by Brother Dunstan being removed to Wellington, his place being supplied by Brother Gregory. Brother Dunstan's departure was very sudden and unexpected, and, being held in good esteem, many expressions of regret were made at his leaving without an opportunity being available of bidding him good-bye and marking in a befitting manner the high appreciation in which his services were held during his stay in Timaru. The " fourth " Brother is still in the course of construction, and when duly completed and safely landed here should prove to be a wonder. The plans and specifications were adopted some time ago, but no further result has been achieved. The Brothers scored a marked success this year in the examination of their school by the Government Inspector who again drew attention to the insufficiency of the staff. If this fourth Brother could be secured before this generation passes away, then with a full complement of teachers the school would be second to none of the primary schools" in the Colony. It is to be hoped this long felt want will be shortly supplied, and when supplied will be duly appreciated in a practical manner by the parents who will reap the benefit.

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