ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON. CFrom our own correspondent.)

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 51, Issue 51, 22 April 1898, Page 27

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON. CFrom our own correspondent.)

April 16, 189S

EASTER SUNDAY

The great festival of Easter was observed with the usual solemnity in the Catholic churches here. Solemn High Mass was sung at St. Mary of the Angels' by the Very Rev. Father Devoy, V.G., Rev. Father Doherty being deacon, and the Rev. Father O'Shea sub-deacon. The music was Haydn's " Imperial," which was rendered in a finished manner by the choir, assisted by an efficient orchestra led by Mr. W. Brown, Mr. F. J. Oakes conducting-. The soloists were Mrs. Oakes, Misses Gurney and Kimbeli (2)," Messrs. Hynes, L. Dwan, and T. MoCocker. Father Devoy, in the course of* a short discourse on the festival, expressed his pleasure and that of the priests of the parish, at the manner in which the laity attended the devotions of Holy Week. The numbers who were present at the early Masses were a proof of the faith of the people, whilst it was still more edifying to see the numbers who received Holy Communion on Easter morning, when upwards of -iOO persons received the Blessed Sacrament at St. Mary of the Angels' alone. In the evening at Vespers the Rev. Father Ainsworth preached. The principal parts in the singing were taken by Messrs. Wright, F. J. Oakes. Eagar, Tabor, and Hynes, and Misses McParland and E. Gurney. The high altar was tastefully decorated with red and white dahlias by Misses Sheehy, Kent, and other members of the Altar Society.

The Rev. Father Hills was celebrant of High Mass at St. Joseph's Church, the Rev. Father Clancey deacon, and the Rev. N. Moloney sub-deacon, the Uev. Father Bower being master of ceremonies. The choir, under the conductorship of Mr. H. H. McCardle, gave an admirable interpretation of Gounod's Mass, the soloists being Mibses May Sullivan and Gallagher, Messrs. Griffen Gflfling, Butcher, and Hatghey. A numerous orchestra, under Mr. Hotop, gave the choir effective assistance. The high altar, which lends itself to decoration, looked very fine at night with its wealth of flowers and candies, the latter being arranged so as to form the letters of the word " vici."

Pontifical High Mass was celebrated at St. Mary's Cathedral by his Grace Archbishop Redwood ; Rev. Father Hiokson, deacon ; Rev. Father Mahoney, subJeacon ; and Very Uev. Dr. Watters. assistant priest ; Father Herbert, master of ceremonies. Cherubim's Masß was sung with devotional effect by thy choir under Mr. S. Citnino, with the assistance of a number of instrumentalists. There were large congregations at all the services, especially at

Vespers, when his Grace preached an eloquent eernaon appropriate to the festival. The decorations were effective and in good taste, ST. MARY'S BAZAAR. St. Mary's Bazaar was opened in the Skating Rink on Mond,iy evening in the presence of about 1500 persons. The spaciom, but uninviting: building- had been transformed by willing hands into a thing of beauty. Flags of all nations hung from every vantage point in the interior, so that the bare roof was a mass of buntinaand colour. The same transformation took place in regard to the walls and pillars, for not a foot of woodwork could be seen to offend the eye. Four artistically arranged stalls were utilised for the display of the very fine collection of goods which had been made by the ladies in charge during the past six months, or collected by them from the four corners of the earth. The collection was one of the finest, and certainly the most valuable ever offered at any fancy fair in this city. On our right as we entered was " Chrysan' hemum stall," presided over by Mesdames Devine, Holt, Bolton, Bridge and Watson, who had for assistants :— Mrs. Tame; Misses Seddon (2) Meecham (2), Weston, Condon (2), Henderson (2), Mouatt (2)' Scanlon, Fitzgerald, Waters, McParland, Walsh, Wrigglesworth| Saunders, Lonergan, and Oakes. Here were shown a fine collection of useful and ornamental goods, including some valuable works of art, among the latter being several oil paintings of New Zealand scenery, hand-painted mirrors and panels, with an endless variety of needlework. A little further on we come to " Forget-me-not " stall, in charge of Mesdames Mackin, Halse, Runcie, Kent, and Dwyer, with their assistants :— Misses Pender, Wright. St George Minogue, Cuff (2), Walsh (2), Runcie (2), Reston (2V McParland (2) Kent (2), and McArdle (2). This stall had a fine show of oil paintings, and floral panels, a prominent feature being two first-class bicycles presented by Dr. Mackin, whilst a carved oak chair attracted the notice of all connoisseurs of art furniture. The " Azalea " stall was a triumph of artistic furnishing, and was laden with articles of ornament and utility. Hand painted panels were there in abundance, as well as valuable oil paintings, real Mountmellick lace, exquisite pieces of drawing room furniture, etc. A feature of this stall was an oil painting of his Grace Archbishop Redwood, the work of Miss C. Kearsley, who is to be complimented on the life-like manner in which she caught his Grace's expression. Miss Kearsley has evidently a future before her as a portrait painter. The ladies in charge of this stall were Mesdames Macarthy, Segrief, Brady and Comiskey, assisted by Misses Fitzsimmons, Halpin, Lawliss, Seddon, Gallagher, Butler, Kearsley, Geogehan, Waters, Segrief, Pettet, and Macdonald. The hildren of Mary made a fine show in the " Lily of the Valley " stall, among the most prominent features being a set of vestments from Lyons, with fire screens, panels, and blotting pad, and numerous other articles got up in the most artistic manner. A feature of the bazaar was the tea kiosk, where a bevy of young ladies in the daintiest of aprons and caps served the cup that cheers, with sundry eatables in the form of trifles, creams, even the savoury soup being not forgotten. The Refreshment stall was under the care of Mesdames Duncan and McG rath, and Miss O'Connor, assisted by Misses Kennedy, Rose, Rdd (2), Ponder (2), Smith, Brady, Shapter and O'Connor. It would not be just to close this description of the fair without mentioning the very pretty piece of scenery which ornamented the stage, representing the most romantic portion of the far-famed Lakes of Killarney, which was painted by Mr. G. P. Hoskinga. As previously stated, there were about 1.100 persons in the building at the opening time, and on the stage were his Grace Archbishop Redwood, the Very Rev. Father Devoy, V.G., the Very Rev. Dr. Watters, the Mayor of Wellington, the Hon. Drl Grace, M.L.C., and many prominent citizens. The Hon. Dr. Grace, in introducing the Mayor, said that they owed a debt of gratitude to Mr. Blair for accepting the invitation of Father Devoy to open the bazaar. It was, however, only another evidence of the kindness and goodwill which existed between all classes in the Colony. The Mayor, Avho was received with applause, said that the object of the bazaar was to pay off the debt incurred in the purchase of land for the Xewtown School, and also to assist in building the new Convent School in Dixon street. He considered it a great honour and privilege to be requested to open the fair, and complimented the stallholders on the very fine collection of wares which they had collected together. Not alone was the excellent work done by the convent schools known to the Catholics, but their excellence was acknowledged by all classes in the community. Notwithstanding that he came from the opposition (as chairman of the Education Board), he was perfectly aware of the good work they were doing, and he believed it would be a bad day tor New Zealand if all their educational systems were to run in the same groove. He wished the undertaking every succebs, and had much pleasure in declaring it open. — On the motion of the Very Rev. Father Devoy, a hearty vote of thanks was pa.>scd to the Mayor for his attendance, which was supplemented by three hearty cheers.

A feature of evening's proceedings were the Maypole, Washington Post, and other dances by a number of school children in picturesque costumes. The children had been admirably trained by Miss Crombie, and, as they gave an exhibition each afternoon and evening during the week, it is needless to pay that their work was no sinecure. The success of the bazaar has been due in no small degree to the energy and enterprise of the committee, of which the Very Rev. Father Devoy was chairman, and Mr T. Davis, who is a host in himself, the secretary. Admirable work was done, too, by Messrs. Palmer, Houldsworth, Hoskings, Hyland, and Halcroft, who put up the stalls and decorations, and also assisted in various \v;iys each evening. Last, but not least, comes Mr. F. J. Oakes, who, with a numerous orchestra, discoursed each evening sweet music.

The takings since the opening will total about £GOO, and as the bazaar is to be continued during the coining week it is expected there will be a very large addition to this, especially as the stalls, are still laden with a tempting supply of goods.

GENERAL. In the current number of the Review of Reviews Sir Robert Stout discourses on the political situation in this Colony. As a leading public man one would expect that Sir Robert would be accurate in his figures, but evidently his political bias prevents him from looking at matters in an impartial manner. He says en paxxant that the liquor trade is mainly in the hands of Catholics. As far as I know of New Zealand this statement is not warranted by facts, and especially so in Sir Robert's own constituency. Of the fifty odd hotel-keepers in Wellington only about eight, or at the outside nine, are Catholics, which gives us a fraction over our proportion to the total population. I regret to notice that among the sufferers by the fires in the Wairarapa district, Mr. Stempa, a prominent parishoner of the Very Rev. Father McKennaof Masterton, was a heavy loser. Mr. Stempa and his.family are among the most respected Catholics in the district and sincere regret will be felt at the trouble that has befallen them. (By Telegraph from our own correspondent.) Tuesday. Rev. Father Power has been appointed rector of Hawera in place of Rev. Father Mulvihill, who has resigned (in consequence of ill*health. Rev. Father O'Shea of Hawera takes Father Power's place at Waipawa. Rev. Father O'Meara is to assist Father Power As curate. Dr. Watters, the popular Rector of St. Patrick's College, has been elected a member of the Council of Victoria College- He occupied the first place on the Parliamentary roll.