ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVI, Issue 26, 3 November 1898, Page 3

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON.

(From our own correspondent.) October 2<J. There was a very large congregation at St. Joseph's Church on Sunday night, when a sacred concert was given on behalf of the choir funds. The programme was made up of selections from the best composers, the various items being ex ellently rendered. G-ounod's ' There is a green hill far away ' was a very fine item, the Rev. Father Hills interpreting it with marked success and devotional feeling. Miss N. Gallagher bang, with expression, Pergetti's ' Salve Regina.' Gounod's ' O Divine Redeemer ' was capably interpreted by Miss Sullivan. Mr. Girling Butcher's fine buss voice was much admired in the ' Shadow of the Cross.' In the chorus, ' Gloria ' from Mozart, the soloists were Misses Sullivan and Rigg and Messrs. Rowe and Haughey, whilst liardomian's 'Aye Maria' was sung by Messrs. Montgonieiy, McCardill, and Haughey. In the Benediction service Miss N. Gallagher gave a fine rendering of 'O Salutadh.' and Miss Segrief acquitted herself w<. j ll in the solo part of the • Tantuin Ergo,' which was capitally interpreted by the choir, as were also Jones' ' Litany of the Blessed Virgin,' Elliot's ' Divine Praises,' Father Murphy's ' Adoremus,' and Handel's ' Hallelujah.' Mr. M. J. Ennis presided at the oragan, and Mr. H. H. McCardill acted as conductor of the choir. On the whole the concert was the best yet given in the church, and the conductor, choir, and organist are to be highly congratulated on the success achieved. The picnic, which is being organised by the Marist Brothers' School Old Boys' Association, to be held on" the Prince of Wales Birthday, promises to be a great success. A comprehensive programme of sports has been arranged, and for the various events a number of valuable trophies have been received by the committee from generous donors. It has been decided to hold the gathering at Mrs. Ross' gardens at the Lower Hutt, one of t:ie moat lovely pliic-s to be found in the Colony, «) that it only neads ii:ie wcitner to insure the success of the gathering. Tne Sc. Patrick'^ Cille^e sports will take pla -c in the li.ism Reserve on Thursday next, a- id the aniiu.il harbour ux^ui'Mnii to D.iy's Bay will beheld on the loth .Novemtjer. Tne Collar holidays will begin on December 1. a somewhat earlier d ite tm-> ycbr thai formerly, in conbcquence oi the aanu.il retreat of the clergy of tun archdiocese and the holding of the provincial s-yuod. Jiluv uud White, the College calendar, will, 1 understand, have several improvements in this year's issue. Last year the writer* u:ni compilers were complimented all round on the excellence ut' the calendar. The Wellington Education Board, at its monthly inue in* on Wednesday, acceded to the request of Archbishop Redwood that

the Catholic schools be examined by the Board's inspectors. A motion to this effect was proposed by Mr. Bradey and seconded by Mr. McArdle. The mover said, in support of his proposition, that children trained in private schools suffered a hardship when they went out into the world, as they were unable to show a standard pass required by business people, anfl it A'as only fair that all children should have the same opportunities. The seconder pointed out that by granting the request the Board would be able to judge of the quality of the education imparted at these schools. Other members supported the application on various grounds, the principal being that it was only fair that the Board should see that every child in its district was getting a suitable education, and that the question of religion should not interfere with a child s change in life. The only dissentient voice raised against the proposal was that of Mr. Buchanan, who, curiously enough, contended that the proposal was in contravention of the spirit of the education system. He sympathised with private schools, but inconsistently said he was opposed to denominationalism. Mr. Buchanan's contention and the opinion of those primarily responsible for the present education system are diametrically opposed, a 9 it was the expre-s purpose of those gentlemen that the Education Boards should see that all children within their borders were properly educated. How this could be done unless by inspection and examination I leave Mr. Buchanan to explain. The strange thing about the whole matter was the admission of the chairman (Mr. Blair) that the inspectors had been in the habit of inspecting the schools of other denominations in the past. Under these circumstances one wonders why there was such difficulty in getting the application granted, or why Mr. Buchanan did not raise his voice against denominationalism when these permissions wera granted on condition that the inspectors were able to cope with the extra work. Matters have been pretty lively in Wellington during the past seven or eight days. First we had sensational suicide, next two alleged shooting cases, then a ' scene ' in the House, which resulted in the resignation of a Member, whilst the newspapers have been trying their best by means of black lettering and sensational head lines to frighten timorous citizens into the belief that we were on the brink of a French invasion. When the war clouds blow over, and the weary legislators, Cincinnatus-like, return to their cabbage gardens, the big head lines will have a rest, and newspaper managers will pray earnestly for some startling- sensation to keep up the circulation of their papers. A very enjoyable entertainment, according to their annual custom, was given by the pupils of St. Francis Xavier's Academy in the Exchange Hall on Tuesday night. The first part of the programme consisted of an operetta in which the tribulations and final triumph of that popular maiden, Cinderella, were recounted. The piece was cleverly acted, many of the youthful performers displaying a proficiency beyond their years. The characters were sustained by Missses Atkins, Cundy, Greenwood, Brettain, Twohill (2), Wright, Arthur, Hickey, Brown, etc. Several pianoforte selections were given during the evening by Misses Vincent, Price, Gallagher, Dorset, McSherry, Skorrett, Coyle, Seaton, Cundy, Wright, Twogood and a violin piece by Miss A. Meehan. A laughter-provoking sketch entitled ' The Goose with the Golden E a 'gs,' wound up tho programme. Afeitureof the entettainment was the appropriate and tasteful costumes worn by the performers in the operetta. The entertainment was repeated on Wednesday night, large audiences being the rule on both occasions, (From our Hawjsra correspondent.) On Sunday last the foundation-stone of the new church, at Eltbam was laid by his Grace the Archbishop of Wellington. This ceremony was performed in the afternoon in presence of a large gathering representing all denominations, and was terminated by\ discourse by his Grace, which, needles to say, was fully appreciated The church, which is being built on a section given by Mr. Brownj will be a nice building when finished, and one of which the Catholics in and around Eltham may be justly proud. For the past few years the Town Halt company havo kindly lent their building for the Sundays on which a Rev. Father could visit the township, and this kindness well, I am sure, not be forgotten. At the laying of the stone about £100 was collected towards the church fund, and by the time the church is opened (which will be in about a month), we hope to hear that there is little debt remaining. On Sunday night St. Joseph's Church was full to overflowing as it was known that his Grace was to preach. Very Rev. Father Power presided at Vespers and Benediction assisted by Rev. Father Cahill. The text chosen by His Grace was, ' The Lord hath sworn and He shall not repent ; thou art a high, priest for ever according the order of Melchisedech.' In the course of his sermon his Grace pointed out the nature of the eternal priesthood of Christ, (which is shared in by the priests of the Catholic Church) and of the great sacrifice of the New Law. The mudic on this occasion was a special feature. The choir rendered • Magnificat ' (Zingarelli) ' Salve Regina' (Smith), ' O Salutaris ' (Miss Flynu), 'Litany' (Professor Higham), ' Tantum Ergo ' (Lambilotte), and 'Aye Maria' (ilist, Flynn).