NEW ZEALAND: GENERAL.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 19, 11 May 1899, Page 18

N EW ZE A LAND: G ENER A L .

We publish next week the audited balance-sheet of the N.Z TARLEr Irish Distress Fund. Our readers will in the meantime be interested to know that it reached the magnificent amount of £SSS Ns <M. The May number of the Triad is to hand. This month a musical supplement is given, which will no doubt be appreciated by the readers. The illustrations as usual are very well dune, and the printed matter is up to the usual standard. We understand] that Mr. Cyril Gudgeon intends to start a general commission agency in Queenstown. His long connection with banking business, extending over a period of thirty-five years, as well as his knowledge of mining and insurance matters, ghould prove of good service to him in his contemplated sphere. A pleasant gathering took place one day last week, when the staff of Messrs. Neill and Co.. Dunedin. mide a pre-eutation to Mr Norman 11. Bell, who is severing his connection with the firm. The presentation was made by Mr. Raukin, who expressed his appreciation of the recipient's many good qualities, and referred to the good feeling which had always existed between Mr. Bell and the staff. Mr. Bell thanked Mr. Rankin and the others for their present, and acknowledged the many kindnesses which had b.en shown him by those in the office during his connection with the firm. Mr. Bell, who h a tea expert, has, it is understood, joined the firm of Messrs. R. Wilson aud Co. Mr. Hells many friends will wish him eveiy prosperity in hh new spheie. \T the last meeting of the AhhburtDn Citholic Literary Society Mr. M'Sherry read an mtere-ting paper dm • Henry \ (11 i-.nci the Retoi ination, 1 w Inch was well receive I Mr 1) M-|)>n,i. 11 aUo contributed a paper, d- aliu^ with ■ Cy.-linu I .' shivti^ the nuincr.>us advuntag. s oi the bicycle, and the t-tut-'s n..i in mr tin- industry during the la-t in year-. Mr F. (\>op.T tht mi o > : lie me-nli-is for a trip uvtr the Southern Alp- b) the aid ot hi- 1,1 v c Uniciu, showing altogether »bout ."iit slides of th>« most important scenery. Nei-dle-s f) say. the trip wa- thoroughly enjoyed by all present. At the conclusion a heirty vote of thinks w,b ac -orded to the three gentlemen for the able manner in which they entertained the members. Messrs I. IKnratian and R. .1. Hsnry were elected to till vacancies on the council, and three candidates were nominated for membership. It has been decided to form a dramatic club in connection with the society.

The members of the Hibernian Society, and especially the comlrtttee of management, are to be warmly congratulated on the success which attended their first annual social, held in S.C. Paul's Schoolroom, on Friday evening la*t. The schoolroom was comfortaoly filled, so that those present enjoyed themselves thoroughly, which would scarcely h-ive been the case had the attendance been larger. Among the visitors were the Rev. Fathers Murphy, Cofi'ey, O'Donnell and Cleary, who showed by their presence the inter* st taken by the clergy m the welfare of the society. The schoolroom was nicely decorated with rbgs, banners and evergreens, this being the work of Mr. Davy, the custodian. An addition to these decorations was an Irish flag, bearing a harp without a crown, hung in a conspicuous position over the stage, by Bro. J. O'Connor, secretary of the society. About sixty couples took part in the dancing, which was continued up to the small hours of the morning, the music being supulied by Me— rs. Yates Brothers. The duties of M C.'s were admirably carrii d out by Bros. Keogh, Dee, Rogers and Heley. At intervals during the evening eong:- and recitations were c >ntributed by Messis. Black, Attndge. Dee. McCormack aud Miss Gregan, the latter being honoured with an enthusiastic / ih-oiu . General satisfaction was expressed regarding 1 the superior manner in which the eaiering was carritd out by Mr. S. Lean. The committee are so plea-ul with the success amending the initial gathering that they are. consulting 1 the advisability of holding like entertainments mo'ithly, or ;tt lea-r quarterly. The main object us to bring the Catholic people- together, and to get them to know each other.