Diocese of Christchurch.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 31, 27 November 1896, Page 13

Diocese of Christchurch.

(From our own correspondent.) THE UNITED KINGDOM FESTIVAL. The promoters of the '-United Kingdom Festival" opened on Wednesday evening week in the Oddfellows' Hall. Lichfield street, in order to raise funds ior the liquidation of the debt on St. Mary's Church, and they deserve the success which has so far crowned their efforts for they have gone to much trouble in the matter. The interior of the hall has been transformed into a scene of great attractiveness by the erection of effectively decorated stalls bearing the names and surmounted by the banners and draped in the colours of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. These stalls are tended by bevies of young ladies in the characteristic national costumes of the four countries, and within the stalls is displayed a really admirable assortment of goods, plain and fancy needlework, objects of art, toys and the multifarious articles known under the generic name of fancy goods. The English stall is under the charge of Miss Somerville, aided by Mrs. Cassan and the Children of Mary. That representing Ireland is tended by Mesdames Harper and Moir. The Scottish stall is supervised by Mesdames Wilson and O'Brien, and the Welsh by Misses Lavin and Willis. All these are helped by a large number of young ladies. A tastefully arranged and well supplied refreshment stall is under the care of Mrs. Ivess and the Misses Ivess. Mr. W. A. Inkbon has also charge of a very attractive and successful side show. At 8 pm. a very good programme was be^un under the supervision of Mr. H. Rossi ter, the musical director, and Mr. E. W. Seagar, the stage manager. In the opening tableau the several countries of the United Kingdom were charmingly represented by Misses Heslop, Byrant, Adams, Brown. Dalton, O'Brien (3) and Sullivan. Several other highly effective tabltau.v were also represented. Songs were sung by Miss Lucy Ryan and Messrs Falvey and Petersen (2), with choruses by a number of young ladies of St. Mary's choir. The instrumental selections were played by Mr. Rossiter's orchestra. The Dragoons' March from " Patience " was capitally done by a number of the convent pupils and an exceedingly pretty tambourine dance was performed by about a dozen little girls picturesquely attired in Spanish colours. There was a good attendance, and the business at the stalls appeared to be brisk. On each evening during the week there was a change in the programme. The number and variety of the interesting tabltau.r, which were ably shown by the stage manager, and the splendid orchestra, under the lead of the musical director, have contributed much towards the success of the festival. The Stanmore Brass Band who have played each evening during the week, before the festival opened, excellent selections outside in front of the hall, have also rendered excellent service. Amongst those who have continued to take part in the musical portion of the programme are Miss Lucy Ryan, Miss M. McLachlin, Miss F. Partridge, Miss F. Triggs and the Misses O'Brien. Mr. Inkson and Messrs Petersen have also rendered excellent service in this connection. One musical item " The Two Peddlers " an operetta, which has been cleverly performed several times by the convent pupils, reflects much credit on them, and on their instructors, the Sisters of Mercy in St. Mary's. The festival has been well attended, and all engaged therein have worked hard to make it a success. The Rev. Fathers Marnane and Malone have been constant in there attendance, and the festival, which has also been opened on several occasions during the day time, will be finally closed on next Thursday night. THE PRO-CATHEDRAL. On Sunday week, at High Mass, at the Pro-Cathedral, Gounod'a Messe Solennelle No. 1 was again admirably rendered by M. Ovide Musin's concert company, who have been playing in this city during the past week. The company was well supported by local musicians, and the whole formed an excellent orchestra. M. Musin delighted the congregation, which was very large, with his brilliant manipulation of the violin, an instrument over which he has evidently complete power, and Madame Musin sang exquisitely the music generally in the Mass and the solos incidental thereto. Miss Funston presided at the organ and Mr. A. Hill not only conducted the choir but also sang the tenor solos, and the basß solos were rendered by Messrs Cronin and Hay ward. A great musical treat

was the Priests' War March, which was played by the orchestra with much spirit and effect when the Mass was ended. The Rev. Father Galerne sang the Mass and the Vicar-General in the course of a powerful sermon, spoke at some length of the collection fixed for that Sunday. The appeal, the object of which was to defray the expenses recently incurred in the renovation of the ProCathedral, was met by a most generous response. Considerably over £102 were subscribed, a sum which does not include the promises, and when these come in the collection will indeed be a very handsome one. Most of the subscriptions were half-a-crown donations, but many gave far more than this amount. The same talented musicians, also Miss Venie Flower, appeared at Vespers in the evening, when three veiy celebrated pieces of music were splendidly rendered. The selections were " 0 Rest in the Lord," " With Verdure clad," and Handel's famous *' Largo." The sacred edifice was crowded to overflowing and the Vicar-General again delivered an admirable discourse. When Vespers were over he announced the result of the collection, for which he returned many and sincere thanks. The fact that very many of his people that are certainly not overburdened with the goods of this world had responded so well and so willingly to the appeal moved him very much, and he said that the spirit of faith and of self-sacrifice which he had witnessed that day was a si^ht which would never fade from his memory. In reward for which he would continually ask Almighty God to bless them and their families both spiritually and temporally. He thanked the members of the church committee for their efforts to make the collection a success, and he thanked in a very especial manner M. and Madame Musin and the other musicians for the useful and admirable services which they had kindly rendered on the occasion. The vocal music of tht fifty boys, who form the sodality known as the guild of St. Stanislas, was also excellent. With their clear and beautiful voices M. Musin was highly pleased, and he warmly congratulated the Rev. Father Galerne, who has expended much time and care in teaching the boys to sing, on the musical capabilities of the guild. Altogether the event* of Sunday week will make it for ever memorable in the annals of the ProCathedral parish. SUXDAV LAST. On Sunday last the Rev. Father Tubman.of Timaru.'-aid the High Mass at the Pro-Cathedral. He uNo preached a very instructive discourse on the theological virtue I*,1 *, dealing principally with the virtue ot faith. On the same day Weber's Mass in G was. under the baton of Mr. 11. Rossi ter. well rendered at High Mass at St. Mary's There was a full orchestra. Miss Lucy Ryan took the soprano solos, Mr. A. II Blake, the tenor and Messrs L. Blake and Inkson the bass. At Vespers, a procession of the Blessed Sacrament took place around the interior of the church. The Rev. Father Marnane preached a very devotional sermon on the nature and dignity of man, who, says Holy Writ, has been created a little less than the angels. Before the sermon he alluded to the United Kingdom Festival, and strongly exhorted his people to make the best of the next four days which it has to continue. To those who have been engaged therein he said that he could not sufficiently express his thanks, and he hoped those who had not taken enough interest in the m.itter would now do so, for should the festival not answer expectations, throuyh lack of attention, much regret would be afterwards felt. For his part he was doing what he could to make the festival a great success and he wanted everyone in his parish to do the same. [The above was unavoidably held over from last week — En. N. Z. Tahle'l J