GRAND HISTORICAL CARNIVAL AT CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 15, 13 August 1897, Page 18

GRAND HISTORICAL CARNIVAL AT CHRISTCHURCH.

A SUCCESSFUL OPENING. (From our own correspondent.) Ox Monday evening :\eek the Record Reign Historical Carnival in connection with the Catholic schools, supported by the Sisters of Our Lady of Missions was opened at the Opi j ra House under the most favourable auspices. The hall, which had boon gaily decorated. was crowded to the doors, and in the centre of the dress circle was the Right Rev. l>r Lenihan, Bishop of Auckland, supported by the Very Rev. Father Cummings and a number of priest-. The proceedings opened by a procession of picture -ijuoly apparelled representative* of the \arious monaiehial houses of England from the Norman era to the present time. Between t\\ o and three hundred persons took part in the procession, which was an extremely pretrj sight, the dresses correctly representing t lie various period--, ami the blending of colours producing a fine effect, which was loudly applauded by the audience. It is quite safe to say that the procession was the best thing of its kind ever seen in Christchurch. Each period was preceded by the banner oi it> time, and. at the sound of the gong, each section uf the procession marched louiid the stage and took np its position op a raised platfoiin. On the way the characters did obeisance to a \eiy prettily rtevwd fnb'i mi of Britannia. Queen Vicioria with Prince Albeit (Mr. ,1. J. Gresham) and the members of the present Royal Household were preceded by a military brass band playing •• Rule Bmannia," and a squad of blue-jackets formed up on either side and pn smted arras ns her Majesty, who was preceded by little flower girls, entered and ascended the throne. Her .Majesty is Mademoiselle Milliard and she is head dressmaker at Messrs Mranue and Co. I pon the Queen's appearance the audience rose in /wav , and the lady, who so much resembles and so strikingly represents II. R 11. the Empic-, of India, must have been highly complnni nted by the cheering with which she was received. The scene might have been the royal reality. instead of its mimic show, so great was the enthusiasm. \\ hen the characters had iorrred up on the stage. Mr. A. Miller sang the "Commemorative Ode composed by Mr. li. Thompson and set to music by Mr. H. Rossiter. The ode was followed by the National Anthem, in which the whole assembly joined. The Bishop of Auckland, accompanied by the Vicar-General, was then escorted to the sage. His Lordship, addressing the Queen said — " Mo-t Giaeious Lady. — On the part of these, your dutiful subjects, I wish to con\ey their expressions ot reverence to you. 1 know that it is her Majesty's wish to assist in all charitable objects and to aid in all good works. The carnival has been organised to assist the good nuns who have done so much for the poor of the city, and who, in addition to assisting in the education ot the young, are ever re uly to risk their lives by going amongst those afflicted with dangerous diseases. As I look round from the \ast assemblage to the stage 1 see there representative's ot the various djn.isties from the Norman to the present time. I stand here, however, as the representative of

a Church which was founded long anterior to any of them, and which is as fresh to-day as when St. Augustine landed in England. The testers of that Church seek out the distressed and help the widow and orphan, irrespective of what exceed they belong to. They are, therefore, worthy of being assisted. lam agreeably surprised at the able manner in which the proceedings this evening have been carried out. and when 1 return to Auckland I will ask my people to follow in the footsteps of the Christchurch folk. I have never seen a grander sight than the procession we have just witnessed, and I congratulate the Vicar-General and all who have assisted him. I hope the carnival will result in Aviping out the debt on the convent schools, and in relieving the Sisters from the heavy burden under which they are labouring."' His Lordship concluded by formally declaring the carnival open. The Vicar-Ueneral. after thanking Bishop Lenihan for coming down to be present on the occasion, called for three cheers for his Lordship. They were heartily given. He went on to state that in the convents here there were about fifty -six women who expected no reward, but who were ready to devote their lives to the sick, and to go out into the world to teach Christianity. Though a Roman Catholic priest he respected everybody's religion. He saw in his mind's eye hundreds of thousands of children asking for help to reach the goal for which they wore made — Heaven. These children must be taught the know ledge of God and morality, and therefore they must be educated. He had been ten years in Christchurch, and the more he saw of the people here the more he found cause to admire them as they were always ready to help when called upon. He regretted that Bishop Grimes could not be present on that occasion as he was absent in Rome. The procession then marched round the hall, and the characters took up their positions at the various stalls, which are presided over by the following ladies and their assistants, all in costumes : — The Norman Stall by Mesdames Doolan and Fox ; the Plantagenct. by Mesdames Maher and O'Reilly ; Lancaster and York, by Miss Hay ward and Mrs. E. Young ; the Tudor, by Mesdaraes Courtney, senior and junior ; the Stuart, by Mrs. Gilboy and Miss Kelly ; the Commonwealth and Orange, by Mesdames Morkanc, Burke and Miss Staunton ; the Hanoverian, by the Children of Mary ; the Typewriting Stall, by Miss V. E. Moon ; and the Refreshment Stall, by Mesdames O'Neill and Bryant. Very effective ttihhau.r vi rants were then shown as follows : — Lady Jane Grey watching her husband (Lord Dudley) going to execution, and Prince Hal trying on the crown and being rebuked by his father, King Henry IV. Miss A. Cornck sang " Bid me discourse " and " Barney O'Hea. ' and the children ot the convent gave some excellent musical items. During the evening 1 an efficient orchestra, under the direction of Mr. H. Rossi tur, contributed musical selections. The stalls are tastefully arranged a\ ith useful and ornamental articles, and a good business was done during the evening. On each night during the past week large audiences have thronged the Opera House and in every way the Carnival has been a great success. Mr. E. W. Seagar, who has charge of the stage arrangements, is to be congratulated on the effective manner in which everything is carried out and Mr. E. O'Connor, business manager, and the committee are to be complimented on the excellent arrangements. The bazaar will be continued during the next week, and the attractive procession, which takes place, before the business of the evening begins, and which is headed by the Queen and Prince Albert, will be repeated at eight o'clock on each night. As has been the case during the j)ast week there will be an entire change of programme for each evening. The historic t uliI t au.r will be equally numerous, splendid, and well represented during the coming as they have been daring the past week.