ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 9, 2 March 1899, Page 3

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON.

j (Prom our own correspondent). February 25. His Grace Archbishop Redwood left Wellington for Chriatohurch on Monday last to attend the meeting of the Senate of the New Zealand University. He is expected back early next week. The Very Rev. Father Henneberry, of Hobart, has just returned from a trip to the Old Country, and is looking all the better for the change, after 33 years' residence in the colonies. He has been the guest of the Very Rev. Father Devoy during his stay in Wellington. He leaves early next week for Hobart, visiting Christchurch and Dunedin en rovtr. I regret that in the account of the passes for the Junior Civil Service last week an error occurred in stating that Miss Honora Casey was a pupil of St. Francis Xavier's Academy. She has alwayß been a pupil of St. Mary's Convent. Hill street. The following are the principal points of interest touched upon by the report presented at the half-yearly meeting of the Marist Brothers' School Old Boys' Association : — The Association was started in August lat>t, since when a great deal of good had been done. The Very Rev. Father Devoy, V.G., was chosen president, and several influential Catholics had consented to act as vice-presi-dents. St. Patrick's Hall, which had been renovated, had been handed over to the Association for its exclusive use, with the exception of one night in each week. The thanks of the Association, for this privilege, were due to Father Devoy, and also to Messrs. Brady and Sen for decorating the hall free of cost. The Association was presented with the books belonging to the late Catholic Young Men's Literary Society. Several persons had promised to give donations of books to the library, which the incoming committee would no doubt endeavour to make more attractive. A picnic in connection with the Association had been held at Ross's gardens about the cud of the year, and was a very successful gathering. One general meeting and twelve committee meetings had been held during the half-year, which showed that the interests of the Association were well looked after. During the same time several concerts were given, and these proved highly successful. The Dramatic Club provided the programme for the entertainment at the prize distribution in connection with the Marist Brothers 1 School. In conclusion, it was hoped that the Association would increase in membership, so that it would be a credit to the Catholic young men of Wellington. (From our Gueymouth correspondent.) The following pupils of the Convent passed at the last practical music examination : — Senior honours : Maud Bradshaw, S3 ; senior p.i^s : Evelyn Tarrant, c>s ; intermediate : Cecilia Kennedy, 76 ; Kate Sheedy, 73 : Nellie M'Donnell, •>(;. It may be mentioned, also, that Hilda Beresford and Cecil Yarrall passed the second grade freehand drawing at the last examination. The Sibters of the Convent have again shown their capabilities as teachers, three out of four of their candidates for the Civil Service Examination having passed. The names of the successful candidates are Florence Foot, Maggie Kennedy and Emily Roche. The ladies comprising the committee who carried out the recent bazaar are not satisfied with the results. About £300 was cleired. As a large stock of materials remains unsold it is intended to have another bazaar shortly. Several cause 3 militated against the late bazaar being the success it was expected to have been. The drill shed — the only available hall — is in rather an out of the way

situation. The next effort is to be made in a more central place. The object is a most deserving one, as the old school is altogether unsuitable for school work. The lady stall holders, who deserve all S raise for their zeal in this good cause, are Mesdames Campbell, riffen, Burke, Hannan, Doogan, Foot, Miss Roche, the Children of Mary, and Mrs. Dr. Morioe, sen. During the absence of Father Malone, who is visiting 1 hia home at Hawera, the Rev. Father Ainsworth has been assisting Father Carew. The hearing of the application for the Old Age Pension brought together a large number of veterans, who in the early days of the Colony faced many dangers by ' flood and field ' in hunting for the precious metal, but who are now literally stranded. Our worthy citizen, Mr. Felix Campbell, has been again unanimously elected to the chairmanship of the Greymouth Harbour Board. The teaching staff of the Brothers' School has been reinforced by the arrival of Brother Hillary. Under the able guidance of Brother Canice — who has had large experience as a teacher in Victoria and elsewhere — the school has made great progress, the results of the last Government examination beating all previous records. The Catholics of the district show their confidence in the Brothers by sending their children to the school from the surrounding district!, many of the children travelling long distances. The attendance is now larger than on any previous occasion. ST. MARY'S SCHOOL, NELSON. The old school building which was for many years known as 4 Father Garin's School,' and which was situated in Manuka street, (says the Nelson Colouisf)has been pulled down. The old edifice was quite historical, and was associated with some of the earliest educational efforts in this city. His Grace Archbishop Redwood and many other oolonists, who now occupy very prominent positions in this Colony, in their boyhood days w» nt to the old school, over which the late Father Garin ever exercised a watchful eye, and took care to provide the beat tuition obtainable in those days for the scholars. The Very Rev Father Mahoney has had the old building replaced by a new, substantial, and up-to-date structure. The new building reflects much credit on Messrs. Leaper Bros., the architects »nd builders, and all who have had a hand in its contruction. On entering the building by the main entrance, one finds two ante-rooms, one on the right hand, and the other on the left, where provision is made for hanging hats and cloaks. Passing through swing doors we enter the main room, which is seventy feet long, thirty-one feet wide, and in height is twenty-one feet six inches in the clear. At the eastern end of the room there is a fine stage, which is fully thirty feet long and fourteen feet deep. The room will hold comfortably between 400 and 500 persons. Special attention has been paid to the ventilation and the acoustic properties, both of which are excellent. Passing through the main room, along the south end of the building, there are three more small rooms, one of which is fitted up for a refreshment room, and contains a copper for securing hot water when required. Gas and water have been laid on throughout the building, and special provision has been made for combating a fire if one should occur, as water can be cfuickly obtained from three different parts of the building. A belfry has been erected over the main poition of the building, and outhouses with conveniences have also been supplied. Father Mahoney marked the event of the completion of the building on the evening of February 14, by inviting the tradesmen who had been engaged therein, thtir wivos and families, together with a few friends, numbering 1 altogether about f«rty persons to a social gathering, which took place in the main part of the building. Father Mahoney, in welcoming his guebts, remarked that during his residence in Nelson he had had to do with the erection of many buildings in the city and country, the aggregate cost of which was between £20,000 and £25,000, and he never had a cross word or unpleasantness with any employed on the numerous contracts. He ■aid he had great confidence in Messrs. Leaper Bros., and the excellence of their work showed that that confidence had not been misplaced. Messrs. C. and H. Leaper responded, and stated that all who had been employed on the building had done their duty well and pleasantly. Father Mahoney was congratulated on having not only a fine schoolroom, but one which will be useful as a capital hall for social gatherings, Refreshments were liberally supplied, and several of the company provided entertainment in the shape of songs, recitations and music. The very pleasant gathering was brought to a close just before 1 1 o'clock, by the company singing the National Anthem. BAZAAR AT DANNEVIRKE. A bazaar in aid of the Catholic presbytery buildiDg fund was held in the Town Hall, Dannevirke recently. At the opening ceremony Rev. Father McGrath took occasion to thank Mr. Hunter on behalf of himself and the Catholics of the town and district for kindly consenting to open the bazaar. Mr. Hunter said that it was very desirable that bo able and popular a pastor should be provided with suitable accommodation, and as the bazaar was for the purpose of raising funds to provide Father McGrath with a residence, he hoped it would be a financial Buccess, and had much pleasure in declaring it open. The hall was tastefully decorated, whilst the four stalls, representing England, Ireland, Scotland and New Zealand, were artistically furnished with a fine ttock of goods. The stalls were managed as follows : — England, Meedamea Rice and A. F. Browne, assisted by Mesdames Lyons and Jones, and Misses Wright (2), Scrimgeour, Grimwood and Jones. Ireland : — Mesdames McDermott, Burmister, Misses Hal pin, Gleeaoo, Parker (2), and Allardice. Scotland : — Mesdames Kemp and Wysocki, assisted by Misses Shrewsbury, MuGee, Brophy and Freeman (3). New Zealand :— Refreshments : — Meßdames Moss, Traynor, and Tyson, and Miss Traynor. During the first part of the evening the town band played outside the hall, and later on an orchestra gave selections in-

•Ide the building at intervals daring the evening. A number of children, dressed to represent various flowers, went through the intricacies of a maypole dance under the direction of Mre. Burmiater. The local paper (the Morning Press) stated that the bazaar was a social aad financial success.