WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 47, 25 March 1898, Page 6

WELLINGTON.

(From our own correspondent.) THE SPORTS. The great national Irish festival which commemorates the birth of ths apostle ot the i.sle was celebrated in a truly befitting manner by the Irishmen of Wellington on Thursday last. On previous occasions St. Patrick's Day was observed in a semiprivato manner by a picnic at the Hutt or some other out of the way place, tut thit- year's celebration was the lhvt real attempt to honour the day in a manner which gave an opportunity to all classes and nationalities to take part in the proceedings. Many months ago a committee of the Hibernian Society was appointed to device ways and means for the proper celebration of the festival, and the success which crowned their labour-, is ample testimony to the manner m which they earned out the work entrusted to tin m. This succts> wa*. due in a measure to the way in which the pi\n-

cipal business people of the city fell in with the suggestion that the weekly half-holiday should be observed on Thursday instead of Wednesday. The weather, too, was on its best behaviour, which is saying a good deal for our local climate. Many business places hung out bunting of the national colour, and every other person one met displayed a green favour of some sort. The Hibernian Society began the day by attending Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral, when his Grace Archbishop Redwood gave a discourse appropriate to the occasion. After Mass the Society, to the number of 180, headed by their very fine banner, and pr& eded by the Garrison Band, marched through the principal btreets ot the city to the Bn-nn Reserve, where the sports were held. The various items on the programme were well contested, the events being keenly watched by a large concourse of people, which was estimated at something less than three thousand. Here the Celtic element predominated, but there was a decidedly large percentage of other nationalities. The sports were a great success, especially as it was an initial venture, and the committee, judges, and others, are to be warmly congratulated on the innmier in which they were carried out. The committee were : — Messrs. J. McMillan, J. B. Doherty, J. Stratford, B. Nolan, J McCarthy, A. Minogue, E. Daley, T. Burke, J. Connell, M. Hiokey, W. G. Grant, M. Gleeson, F. Custice, F. Lissington, R. Patton, and J. McLoughlin, who received yeoman's assistance from the indefatigable secretary, Mr. W. White, on whom the brunt of the work had fallen. The judges were : — Messrs. Stratford, Lissington, Doherty, J. Daley, M. Hickey, T. McCarthy, H. Houldsworth and M. Mackay. Mr. W. King acted as timekeeper, and Mr. J. Doyle as referee. Among the visitors during the afternoon I noticed his Grace Archbishop Redwood, Very Rev. Father Devoy. S.M., V.G., Very Rev. Dr. Watters, Rector of St. I'atrick's College, Very Rev. Father Aubrey (Sydney), Rev. Father Lewis, Rev. Father Ainsworth. Rev. Father O'Shea, Rev. Father Holley, Rev. Father Hickson, Rev. Father Clancy, and others of the professorial staff of St. Patrick's College, the Right Hon. R. J. Seddon, Mrs. Seddon, and the Misses Seddon (2), the Hons. T. Thompson, Walker, Carroll, and Hall-Jones. The Hon. Dr. Grace, M.L.C.. who, as president of the sports' committee walked in the procession in the morning, Mr. George Fisher, M.H.R., Drs. Martin, Cahill, and Maokin. eic. It is not necessary, with your limited space, to give a detailed account of the various events, suffice it to say that the Maiden Race was won by A. A. Pritchard, who also appropriated the 100 yds and the 440 yds, and later on secured the St. Patrick's Day Handicap value £23. J. Courtenay well deserved his victory in the Hurdle Handicap, whilst the inter-College Handicap was easily secured by P. McEvedy. The Mile Handicap was an easy victory for A. C. Foster. The results of the remaining events were as follows : — Boy's Handicap, Pole ; Committee Men's Race, R. Holcroft ; St. Patrick's Day Bicycle Handicap, half-mile, E. H. Watson : one mile, E. H. Watson ; three miles D. J.Plunkett ; hop, step, and jump, J. Sullivan (4 lit lliin); throwing the hammer (Irish style). Dalton (81ft) ; Irifc.h jig,~Monnock ; Putting the Shot, Rowe (S'.U't Tin); Friendly Societies' Handicap, H. E. Greathead ; Wrestling (Irish style), Price ; Shop Assist .nts' Handicap, H. Flemington. THE CONCERT. The Opera House was filled with an appreciative audience in the evening, when a grand Irish National concert was given as a finale to the day's proceedings. Among those present were Archbishop Redwood and nearly all the local c\< rgy, and al.so the Premier, Mrs. Seddon, and the Misses Seddon. Hon. Dr. (.lra.ee, Mr. R. O'Connor, Mr. Martin Kennedy, Mr. Di vine, and other leading citizens, including several representative of the Medical Congress now in session here. The programme wa-> opened with '■ Gems of Irish melody," by an orclii stra under the leadership of Mr. S. Cimino. Miss May Sullivan gave an exquisite rendering of '■ Kathleen Mavouraeen," for which she was w. irmly applauded. The sinning of the solo and chorus, "Oh, wheie is the slave so lowly," by Miss Riichael Moeller and 10 other pupils of St. Mary's Convent, was an artistic success, and regret was expie-sid that the audiences wore not treated to a lew more items by the same vocalists. Mi*-s Nellie Gallagher sang with sympathy and good e\pression. "The Dear Little Shamrock," and in response to an encore repeated a portion of the item. "'I he Harp that once through Ttra's halls.'' Was utti-.tio.iUy interpreted by Mr. E. J. Hill, who was aKo encored. Miss Mongredien't. '" Kate O Shane " was a charming vo^al contribution, ami needless to say that she wa-i recalled, when she favoured ihe audience with the patheho ballad, " 1 am waiting lor thee, Aithore." Madam Carlton gave a finished rendering of "The Rose of Killanu-y.' and in answer to an imperative iceall, sang with expression " Barney O'Hea." That tine popular ballad, " '1 he we inng of the green," suffered somewhat at the hands of Mr. H. Smith, vvhosc singing lacked animation. This concluded the first part of the programme. The second was opened w ith the orchestral item " Erin's wreath," which was much enjoyed. The voices of Madame Carlton and Miss Mongredien blended finely in the duet substituted for " Farewell, but whenever." Mr. H. S. Reunert. who possesses a well cultivated voice, pang " Let Erin remember, ' and m response to an encore '• The deathless army," both of v\hich weie much appreciated. Miss Gallagher sang with much sweetness " Ihe meeting of the waters," and on being encored repeated part ot the item. The audience were imperative in their demand tor moie when Miss Mongr^l^n finished her singing of " Oft in the stilly night," but she contWed herself with bowing her acknowledgment of the proflferred compliment. Miss Sullivan's second ountribuuon was "The last rose of summer," for which she had a recall. The remaining items were contributed by Mr. Smith and Madame Carlton, both items being redemanded. The accompaniments were played by Miss Grant and Miss Sullivan, who deserve a word of praise for their artistic execution. The concert as a whole was an arLisLic and financial niecess — a success which must have been highly giatitying to all concerned, especially to the committee who had worked so energetically.