HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL CELEBRATION AT QUEENSTOWN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVI, Issue 24, 20 October 1898, Page 2

HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL CELEBRATION AT QUEENSTOWN.

(By our special correspondent.)

A HIGHLY successful and enthusiastic demonstration was held in the Garrison Hall, Queenstown. on last Friday evening, the anniversary of the death of William Orr. The Centenary Committee, under the presidency of Father O'Donnell, had been at work for some time. The wisdom of their choice of the springtime for the celebration was appreciated by everybody present, while the enthusiasm and good feeling manifested throughout proved once more that, where celebrations of this kind are in the proper hands and carried out on the right lines, they serve to enlighten the public regarding a little-understood, or rather a much-misunder-stood period of Irish history, and result in increased cordiality and good will between the members of various creeds and classes. Practically every religious belief in and about Queenstown was represented together in the large Garrison Hall, which was arranged in the pleasant, home-like style suited to a conversazione. Among those present were many who had come great distances, some from as far off as Cromwell. Among the visitors were Very Rev. Dean Burke (In vercargill) and Fathers O'Driscoll, Ryan (Dunedin), and Cleary (Dunedin). A telegram expressive of cordial sympathy with the celebration was received from Mr. Mitchell (Five Rivers), cousin of the great patriot and historian, John Mitchell.

A highly enjoyable entertainment was carried on without break and with unflagging interest until eleven o'clock The programme furnished abundant variety to cater for every cultivated taste. The important items termed in the programme ' lerturettes' were in the highly capable hinds of the Very liev. Dean iiurke and Father O'Donnell, and created an impression i;i favour of the men of '98 that is not likely ever to pass away lrom the minds of tiiose who were fortunate enough, to be pro-en l at the denonstracmn.