Archdiocese of Wellington.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 31, 10 December 1897, Page 3

Archdiocese of Wellington.

CFrom our own correspondent.)

December 4, 1897. Ax examination in music under the auspices of the Associated Board of the Royal Academy and the Royal College of music was held here on Thursday last. This is the first examination held in Wellington under the Associated Boards and is not intended to be in any bense a rival to that of Trinity College, London, which was the first in the field. The result of the examination was that the pupils from St. Mary's Convent were again prominently to the fore. In the higher division for singing Miss Lottie McDonald secured honours with 1)1 marks. The other candidates from the convent who passed in singing were : — (Higher division) May Sullivan, 77 ; Annie Cemino, 74 ; Florence Stafford, 73 ; Mary Maxwell, 07 ; Mary Tracy, 00. In the course of conversation after the examination, the examiner expressed his pleasure at the high standard that music had attained in this Colony, and spoke in very complimentary terms of the singing of Miss Lottie McDonald, which was artistic in the highest degree.

The Rev. Dr. Kennedy, of Meanee arrived in Wellington on Friday and is at present the guest of the Very Rev. Father Devoy at the presbytery, Boulcott street. Father Kennedy, lam pleased to say, is much improved in health since he was last in Wellington. Some time ago he took to cycling, with the result that the hip trouble which he suffered from for a considerable time, is fast disappearing, and he is now able to walk with little difficulty, and can travel on the bicycle any distance. I understand that he attributes hia progress to the use of the machine, the exertion having evidently a very beneficial effect on the hip. He will leave for the houth on Monday, to visit his relatives in Canterbury.

I hear that ttio shorthand classes at St. Patrick's College, under Ihe direction of Mr. Whyte, have been very successful, and that the piogres.s made by some ot the students in the study of the " winged ail. has been something phenomenal.

Sunday and Tuesday last were Jetc days at Meanee, when the ordination ot three priests took place, the ceremony being performed by his Grace Archbishop Redwood. On Tuesday morning iit the ten o'clock Mass the Revs. John O'Connell and P. Fay, both ot Canterbury, and old students of St. Patrick's College were ordained deacons, and the Rev.s. Eugene Kiinbell, Nicholas Moloney, and G. Mahoney, received the tonsure and minor orders. There was a very il.irge congregation present, among whom were many relau\ erf of the ordinants who had come from different parts of the Colony for the impressive ceremony. On Tuesday the Rev. John 0 Council, Rev. P. Fay, and Rev. Hugh McDonnell (Greymouth) were rai.«ed to the dignity of the priesthood, and the Revs. llugeno Kimbell, N. Moloney, and G. .Mahoney were ordained subdeacons. The Church was crowded on this occasion also, among tnose present being a number of clergy from difl'eient parts ot the archdiocese, including the Rev. Father-.. Grogan and Pell (Napier),' Rev. Father Sm\ the (Hastings), Rev. Father Power (Wainawa) 1 Lev. Father Amsworth (Wellington), the Rev. Fathers Berisped, Yardiu. and Le Prctre anil the clergy of the seminary. The ceremony was a deeply impressive one, especially at the imposing of the hands, and many were moved almost to tears — tears of joy — when they wont inside the sanctuary rails to receive the newly-ordained priests' bles>ing. On the following morning the Key. Fathers Fay, O'Connell, and McDonnell celebrated their first Mass, when the relatives of the young priests and many others had the happiness of receiving Holy Communion from their hands. The ltev. Father 0 Council passed through Wellington on Kriday on his way to his home in Christchurch. The Rev. Father Fay stayed in the Empire City, being the guest of the Very Rev. Father Devoy, but proceeds to ins home in Leeston next week. It is worthy ot note that all those ordained had been educated at St. Patrick's College, and are members of the Society of Mary.

A valuable oil painting of the Florentine school has been presented by the Countess Jouffiay d'Abbans, wife of the French consul, to the Key. Father O'bullivan, of St. Patrick's College. The p.untnm is over 200 years old, and is regarded as a very tine specimen ot the work oi this school of Italian artists. It is now hung in the Father's dining-room, whi-rc it is an object of considerable interest. The subject is entitled the "Marriage of St. Catherine." 1 regret to have to record the death of Mr. Patrick T. Cosgrove, which took place at his father's residence, Murphy street, on Friday evening. The deceased was a sou ot Mr. .wichael Cosgrove, for many years chief messenger at the House of Represntatives. Mr. Cosgrove had been connected with the local telegraph staff tor upwards of twenty years, and his geniality and unfailing courtesy

endeared him to all who had the pleasure of his acquaintance. Great sympathy is felt for his aped father in his affliction. The members of St. Patrick's Literary and Debating Society held their final meeting for the season in the Academic Hall on Friday evening, the Very Rev. Dr. Wattersipresidingr. The Very Rev. chairman gave a very interesting address on the work of the year. At the conclusion of the Rector's address a presentation of several volumes was made to Mr. Melville J. Crombie, the popular honorary secretary. Mr. Crombie, in the course of a happy speech, returned thanks for the valuable gift. During the evening 1 songs were contributed by the Rev. Fathers Hickson, Claiicey and Mahoney. Mr. G. Redmond and Masters D. Kenny and Findlay, and readings by Masters Devine and Campbell. This Society has been one of the most useful of its kind in connection with our popular Catholic college, as it gives the students an opportunity of discussing the topics of the times, expressing their ideas on matters modern and ancient. That they can speak with confidence, a good delivery, logically and to the point nab been amply demonstrated by the very fineacaden.ic debate which was held on the occasion of the breakingup for the midwinter holidays, when the eloquence of the disputants was the admiration ot those who had the pleasure of being present. The speeches on that occasion are, I understand, to be embodied in this year's College Calendar, which, by the way, is to be brought out this year in first-class style, and will in every way be worthy of the institution.