ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXV, Issue 49, 8 April 1898, Page 5

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON.

(From our own correspondent.) April 2. AMONG the improvements recently made at St. Mary 'a Convent, Hill_ street, is a new tennis court, which is highly appreciated by the pupils. The court is a, Mrly large one, and is as well appointed as any in the city. It was iormally opened on St. Patrick's Day, ami was accordingly called utter the apostle of Ireland. On the opening day matches were pi iyt.d between the clubs representing the junior and senior pupils. Atternoou tea was dispensed to the pupils and their friends who were present, and altogether t lie ceremony wa« a ■very enjoyable function, and was a favourable augury of the

pleasure which the wielders of the racquet will have in their new court.

His Grace the Archbishop returned to Wellington yesterday from the Forty Mile Bush district, where he had been engaged for the past fortnight in preaching a mission. The final act in the St. Patrick's Day Celebration took place at the Skating Rink la9t night, when the Art Union was drawn. Prior to this a concert was given, in which several local vocalists took part. The Dresden Piano Company of this city have intimated their intention of presenting a gold medal to Miss R. Falconer, a pupil of St. Mary's Convent, who passed in the senior division with honours for pianoforte playing, at the musical examination held here in October last under the auspices of Trinity College, London. A very enjoyable entertainment was given on Thursday and Friday evenings in St. Patrick's Hall, by a number of pupils from the Convent School, Dixon street. On both occasions there were " crowded houses," as the theatrical notices say. The programme consisted of several items of vocal and instrumental music, and a cantata entitled " The children's queen." The stage, which was fitted up to represent a woodland scene, looked exceedingly pretty. The principal item of the programme was the cantata, in which a crowd of girls took part, some as fairy mites, and others as mountain lasses, all being in appropriate costumes, the fairies being especially picturesquely attired. The principal characters were filled by Miss K. Gallagher as Laila, Miss B. MCleary as the mountain girl, and Miss A. Segrief, a little dot of seven, as Fairy Queen, who sang and acted her part with an ability which would do credit to one of maturer years. It was indeed a pretty sight when the Fairy Queen, resplendant in royal costume with star tipped wand and bejemmed crown, with her retinue of maids in court dress, and each carrying a magic wand, came on the stage. Great praise is certainly due to those who trained the children to such perfection, especially children of such tender years, as the solo and chorus singing, and the inarching and counter-marching were more than could be expected from such tiny performers. Among those who took part in the remainder of the programme were Misses J. Gallagher, Garvey, Lavery (2) and K. Segrief who gave instrumental items, and Miss Wilmot, who contributed a recitation. All the items were warmly applauded, as they deserved to be, considering the age of the performers. Miss McDonald played the pianoforte accompaniments in her accustomed finished manner. It is intended, I understand, to repeat the Cantata at the Skating Rink during the bazaar, where the children will have a better opportunity of going through the necessary movements, as there will be more stage room.