Diocesan News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 8, 23 February 1899, Page 3

Diocesan News.

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON.

(From our own correspondent.) February 18. OPENING OF THE BRIGIDIXB CONVENT, MASTERTON. His Grace Archbishop Redwood and the Very Rev. Father Lewis returned to Wellington from Masterton on Monday evening, where bis Grace had been to open the fine Convent of the Brigidine Nuns. The building, St. Bride's as it is called, is a very fine one, with large, lofty rooms. It is built on a slight eminence, and has a beautiful view of the surrounding country. There are at present (i Sisters in the Convent the Superioress being Sister Gertrude. They have a fine school for day-scholars besides a school for boarders, and close to the grounds of the Convent is the parish school, which is also under the care of the Sisters. The Convent is almost opposite the Catholic Church, so that for the present the Sisters are able to attend services there, but as the Order is an enclosed one, no doubt ere long they may be able to build a small private chapel for themselves. The Convent, was solemnly blessed and formally opened, on Sunday last, by his Grace Archbishop Redwood, in the presence of a large concourse of people, representing all denominations. Solemn High Mass was celebrated in St. Patrick's Church by the Rev. Father de Lach, Very Rev. Father Lewis being deacon, and Very Rev. Father Lane sub-deacon. The sermon was preached by the Very Rev. Dr. Watters, who treated of the position which the Church took on the Education Question. The music of the Mass was ably rendered by the choir, assisted by outside talent, especially by Miss Pender of Wellington. Mr. A. R. Bunny conducted, and Mrs. Bunny presided at the|organ. Shortly after two o'clock a procession was formed in the church and proceeded to the Convent. Besides the clergy already mentioned there were also present Very Rev. Father J. McKenna, Rev. Father T. McKenna, Rev. Father Osborne, with his Grace the Archbishop. At the conclusion of the ceremony of blessing, Father McKenna (rector of the parish), addressed the people and expressed his gratitude to them for the generous manner in which they had come to his assistance in this heavy undertaking. Out of tl.">(>o, which the buildings and improvements had cost, £750 had been already subscribed. The people could assist still further in the good work by sending their children to the school, where they might rely on receiving a true education from the devoted Sisters. His Grace the Archbishop congratulated Father McKenna and the people oi Masterton on the good work accomplished— the introduction of the good Sisters, for the Convent would be a beacon of light and truth in their midst. There was a very large congregation at Vespci-, when the Archbishop preached on the observance of Lent. The music -was exceptionally good, especially the solo sinking of Miss Pender. OTHER DIOCLSAN 1 TEMS. The ex-pupils of St. Mary's Convent held a picnic last week at Day's Bay. They had a most enjoyable day and were entertained at afternoon tea by Miss Flanagan, whose house and grounds are j quite the finest at the Bay. Mrs. T. (i. Maearthy intends entertaining the orphans of St. Mary's at a picnic to be held one day next week at Plimmerton. The day has not yet been fixed, but it will probably be on Thursday next. Miss Elsie Hall paid a visit to St. Mary's Convent this week and played a selection of music for the community, with which they were very much pleased. The boarders attended her concert at the Art Gallery a few days later. Rev. Father Ainsworth, who is at present in Greymouth on a holiday trip, leaves next week for Chribtchuroh and Hanmer Plains He is due in Wellington on the (ith March. The Very Rev. Dr. Watters was in Wellington for a few days to attend a meeting of the Victoria College Council. His friends will be pleased to hear he has already benefited by his rest and change. He returned to Masterton after the meeting. The Very Rev. Dr. Egan, of Auckland, who came to Wellington for the meeting of the Synod, returned to Auckland via Palmerston last Wednesday. While here he visited all the schools and was very much pleased with what he saw. He delighted the pupils of the several schools by his singing and playing. Last night the first half-yearly meeting of the Marist Brothers' School Old Boys' Association was held in St. Patrick's Hall, 00 members being present. The chair was occupied by the Very Rev. Father Devoy (president). The report and balance sheet, which were read and adopted, showed that a great success had b.en achieved by the Association. The following officers were elected — Patron, His Grace Archbishop Redwood; president, the Very Rev. father Devoy ; vice-presidents, the Rev. Father Lewis and Drs! *Arace and Mackin, and Messrs. M. Kennedy, Devinc, Cumin and JJJ'Meara ; hon. secretary, Mr. J. A. Gallagher ; hon. treasurer, Mr. E. Leydon ; committee, Messrs. M'Kenzie, Ryan. Kelly, Healy J E Gamble, Twohill, O'Reilly, Gibbs and O'Brien ; librarian Mr. G. M'Kenzie ; assistant librarian, Mr. T. Marshall. ' The friends of Mr. and Mrs. Martin Kennedy will be sorry to hear of the illness of their grandson, Master Leo Darby, who is in a

critical state. He has been staying for some time in Wellington with his grandparents.

By the last San Francisco mail, Mr. R. Parker received the results of the musical examination held here last year, under the auspices of Trinity College. As usual St. Mary's Convent was highly successful. In fact the number of passes from the institution exceeded those sent up from all other teachers. Only one pianoforte candidate from the Convent failed, whilst all the singing candidates were successful. The following are the results .—Solo SingingSenior Honours : Daisy Marshall (winner of Mr. M. J. Brooke's gold medal), 95 ; Lily White, 93 ; Theodora Shapter, 92 ; May Putnam, 90; Winifred Wilford, 89; May Me Leod, 82. Senior Pass: Nellie Driscoll, 72. Junior Honours : M. F. Waldegrave, 8G ; Constance McClosky, 78 ; Elizabeth Minogue, 71 ; Frances Butt, 74 ; Marion Brady, 08 ; Gwendoline Flanagan, «7 ; Ellen Ryan, Go ; Theresa Rowe, 64. Pianoforte Playing— Senior Honours : Theodora Shapter (Dresden Company's gold medal), 90 ; Daisy Reilly, 89 ; Olive Beck\ »:> ; Anne Quinn, 84 ; Marion Brady, 81 ; Christine Smith, 80 Catharine Segrief, 80. Intermediate Honours : Winifred Richardson, 81. Intermediate Pass: Ellen Ryan, 77; Lily White 76Mabel Price, 71; Madeline Mitchell, 71; Alice McDonald! 68 j Mu«el Waldegrave, WJ - Primary Division : Constance Reilly, 72 : Elsie Watson, (><>. "" '

In the list of successful Junior Civil Service candidates published this morning, I notice that Miss Ethel Casey, daughter of Mr. J . J. Casey, of Cuba street, heads the Wellington names, and has been third for the whole Colony. Miss Honora Casey, I see, was also successful in passing. Both of these successes are to bo credited to St. Francis Xavier's Academy. There may be others from the same institution, but I have failed to recognise the names in the telegraphed passes. I see that Miss Isabel G. Runcie, a puDil of St. Mary s Convent, is among those who successfully passed thia examination.