EXCURSION TO MASTERTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 49, 8 April 1898, Page 19

EXCURSION TO MASTERTON.

The people of Masterton and Palmerston are cultivating each other's good graces in a way which must tend to make life pass more pleasantly among them. The Masterton people recently went on a big excursion to Palmerston, and were right royally received. On the 23rd ult. the Palmerston folk returned the visit to the goodly number of 1.200 all told. They were met at the Masterton station by the Mayor and Mr. Feist (Chairman of the School Committee). The visitors were then taken to the Drill Hall, where a mo=t bountiful supply of light refreshments had been provided. A speech of hearty welcome was made by Mr. Feist, who referred in the highest ierms to the large-hearted hospitality extended to the Masterton people at Palmerston, and stated that all places in the town likely to prove of interest to the visitors would be thrown open to them. Mr. W. T. Woods, Mayor of Palmerston, thanked Mr. Feist, the Mayor and Councillors of Masterton, for their open-he.irted hospitality. He dwelt in complimentary terms on the scenery of the district, and assured the Masterton people of a hearty welcome at Palmerston.

Father Patterson returned thanks to the Mayor and Councillors, Mr Feist, Mr Jaskson (headmaster), and the public generally for the splendid reception accorded to the visitors. He highly approved of such excursions, complimented the Masterton people on their fine town, fisheries, &c, and assured them of the grateful sense of the excursionists for the welcome that had been extended to them.

The visitors thoroughly enjoyed themselves, and left none of the sights of the place unseen.

Father Patterson, on his return, sent the following telegram to Mr Feist, Chairman of the School Committee, Masterton :—": — " Mayor and I give most grateful thanks to you, Mayor, Headmaster, Councillors, and public generally, for royal entertainment yesterday. Excursionists were delighted. Father Patterson."

We received on Tuesday a marked copy of the SLanaivutn Daily T ivies, of March 18, containing a report of the St. Patrick's Day Concert at the Theatre Royal, Palmerston North. The length of time that has elapsed since the concert forbids a detailed account of the various items. We learn, however, that the theatre was literally packed to overflowing, and that the programme — arranged by Mr. W. Gamble — was a particularly attractive one. The vocal items were rendered by Madame Parry, Mrs. W. Kendall, Misses Scanlon, Brandon, Rush, and Messrs. J. and T. Rogers, Vernon Dallow, W. Gamble, and W. Brophy. Accompanists, Madame Thompson, Miss Scanlon, Mr. P. Tombs. The entertainment concluded with the comedietta, //' the Cap Jits, in which Misses Brandon (2) and Rush, and Messrs C. E. Ferry, J. Rodgers, Dallow, T. Albert, and J. Hanley filled their respective parts admirably. At the close of the concert Father Patterson returned thanks to the members of all denominations who had contributed to make the local celebration such a marked success.