ST. MARY'S HALL, NELSON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 19, 11 May 1899, Page 6

ST. MARY'S HALL, NELSON.

Between four hundred and five hundred people assembled in St. Mary's Hall, Nelson, on the evening of April 2(5, when it was officially opened by the M.iyur, Mr. Tiask. The Very Rev. Dean Mahoney (says the Colonist) expressed his pleasure at seeing so lar^e an. audience present, and he heartily welcomed them all. He noted that the new building stood on the Bpot formerly occupied by St. Mary's School, which, having become old and dilapidated, it was determined to replace with a newbuilding, which had given them aa infant school and a hall for social purposes. They had desired to have Archbishop Redwood present, but that gentleman was coining next week, whi n probably a conversazione w.uld be held to welcome him. The Archbishop was one of the old pupils of St. Mary's School, many of whom weiv scattered all over the Colony, and some of them occupying very important positions. 'lhcre was present another old pupil, Mr. John Graham, M.TI.R., and he would be a*ked to address the assemblage. He had greit pleasure in asking the Mayor (Mr. Trask) to preside, nrd to officially declare the hall opened. P.- A'orship the Mayor regretted the absence ot Archbishop v • . .om vho would have performed ths duty he had been asked to vi' that evening much better. He referred to the labours in tne cwse of educ ition put forth by the late Father Garin, Father Mahoney and the Sisters, and eulogised their self-sacrificing * Sorts. He bore personal testimony that many had gone from St. Mary's Schools who had become worthy men and women and worthy citizens. He hoped that Father Mahoney and his co-workers would long live to enjoy the pleasure they received from the good and important work they were performing. He had great pleasure in declaring the magnificent building — St. Mary's Hall — duly opened for the purposes for which it had been built. An excellent concert, under the direction of Mr. L. Frank, was then given, the performers being Mis c es Scott, Pratt, Waters, Hanron, Mesdames Roberts, Walker, and Messrs. Mackay, Naylor, Maginnity, Kidson and Moller. Mr. Graham, M.H.R., added his congratulations to Father Mahoney and his co-workers on the addition of such a beautiful new hall to the buildings of St. Mary's parish. He was proud to remember that he was one of St. M iry's dtvs. He referred to the vast amount of good done by the late Father Garin and Matthew Campbell in the eirly days of ihe Nelson settlement in providing some education for the children of Ihe early setJers. He compared the present educational advantages with those in < xistence when, he was a b iy. He ur^ed upon the young people the imp irt ince ot embracing the opportuniti s so freely gu en them ot obtaining a ffood education. II al-.o asked th 'vi to retne nber that the Victoria University Coll- ge was established as much tor tht-ir good as those of Wellington, and pointed cut that if they used their brains they could go onward from the First Standard until they obtained a University education. He c muratulated Father Mahoney upon his having received the title vi 'Very Rev. Dean,' and concluded by hoping that the educational institutions ot St. Mary's, under the management of Father Mahoney and the Sisters, would keep pace with the rapid advance of the times. A number of joung ladies and gentlemen then handc-d round refreshments, afttr which danciug was indulged in tor a couple of hours by the younger pouion of the audience.