NEW CONVENT SCHOOL AT HAWERA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVI, Issue 19, 15 September 1898, Page 19

NEW CONVENT SCHOOL AT HAWERA.

THE FOUNDATION-STONE LAID BY HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR.

On Thursday, September 8, the foundation-stone of the new convent school at Hawera was laid by his Excellency the Governor. An extended space is devoted to the proceedings in the Hawera Star oi the following day, which, however, reached us only a short time before we went to press for this issue. We are therefore precluded from giving a detailed description of the proceedings. From our Hawera contemporary we learn, however, that the school, convent, and grounds were gaily bedecked with bunting and evergreens, the decorators having shown great taste in their work. At the gate was a triumphal arch of ferns and flowers over which the motto 'Welcome' wa- suspended. His Excellency was met by Father Power, to whom he was introduced by the Mayor, and conducted to the verandah of the convent. On the binding were the Sisters, and Mesdames Fennell and Whittaker, and Misses Power and Haughey, whilst the convent scholars were ranged in front. Father Power spoke a few words of welcome, during the course of which he expressed the pleasure which the Catholics — most of whom were his countrymen — expressed at seeing his Excellency in their midst as the representative of her Majesty, under whose reign they had received such wide freedom to worship God. ' There is no need for me to remind your Excellency (said Father Power) of the position held in time past and Btill held by your countrymen in the senate, on the bench, in the courts of diplomacy, and in every well fought battle field. You are as proud of them as we are, and you feel that to belittle the triumphs of the Anglo-Celtic race would be to belittle the achievements of our countrymen. You are proud of General Roberts, the

hero of Khandahar. You are proud of the fighting Beresfords and you are proud of the hero of Omdurman, Kitchener— the hero of the most picturesque battle of the century. We wish therefore to extend to you a hearty welcome, and to prove ourselves grateful for your condescension in coming to lay the foundation-stone of ourschool. We shall ask you to lay it in honour of Ireland's greatest son, from your own province of Ulster, the one who placed England under an eternal debt of gratitude to the Irish people, the one who brought three-fourths of Anglo-Saxon England from dark Paganism to the feet of Christ, Columbkill, the typical Irishman, the warrior Saint of Erin.'

Mr. A. J. Whittaker, the secretary, then read an address of welcome. After an expression of thanks to his Excellency for consenting to lay the foundation-stone of the new school, which is to be under the patronage of the great Ulsterman St. Columba, the address continued : — ' As it is a noteworthy fact that your Excellency has at heart the welfare of this young and fair land you must be pleased to notice, whilst travelling through the country, these Christian schools studding the land, in which the rising generation receives the elements of a complete education. The whole child body, mind, and heart — will be developed in the building, the foundation of which you are going to lay. The body will be developed by a study of calisthenics, the mind by the study, as far as may be of literature, soience and art, and the heart from which character,' nobility, and dignity spring, shall not be neglected, but shall have instilled into it, by example and precept, the priuciples of Christianity, the knowledge of the things of God.' His Excellency suitably replied. Misses Nellie Sutton and Mary Condon then presented Lady Ranfurly with a handsome bouquet, after which hia Excellency went through the ceremony of laying the foundation-stone of the new school. Mr. F. McGulre, then asked those assembled to join with him in according Lord and Lady Ranfurly a hearty vote of thanks for their kindness. The vote was accorded right loyally by three hearty cheers, after which the school children (accompanied by the Hawera Old Band) sang the National Anthem. On descending the steps Mr. L. Milmoe presented his Excellency and Lady Ranfurly with a photograph of himself taken on the famous Turuturu-mokai redoubt, in the defence of which he took part in the early days. The gift was accompanied with a fervent, ' God bless you.'