WANGANUI.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 24, 15 June 1899, Page 19

WANGANUI.

(From our own correspondent.) June 8. The Junior Columbans had a very enjoyable evening on the first of the month. The boys are very enthusiastic, and Rev. Bro. Alfred is deserving of praise for the excellent way in which he has worked up the club. There was a Procession of the Blessed Sacrament on Sunday, June 4, it being the tirst Sunday after Corpus Christi. After Vespers, the Very Rev. Dr. Pestre, S.M., preached on the subject of devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The collection for the enlargement of the church has been started in real earnsst. In grappling with the difficulty of raising the necessary funds, the Very Rev. Dean Kirk and hid church committee hit upon a plan that at once commends itself as being practicable. This plan is to make the promised subscriptions payable in quarterly instalments, extending over a period of two years. Last Sunday a large number of the congregation recorded their promises and paid the first instalment. As a result, something over £000 has been guarant-ed. There was a large attendance at the opening meeting of the St. Columba Literary and Debating Club last Thursday evening. The Very Rev. Dean Kirk, patron ot' the club, presided. He first introduced the Very Rev. Dr. Pestre, S.M., who was passing through Wanganui, and then exhorted the members to strive their utmost to make the ensuing session a grand success. To stimulate their efforts he generously offered a very valuable book for competition among the members, the conditions to be laid down by the Council. During the evening songs were given by Messrs. McCulloch, sen., Burke, Dennehy. Ayes, Pilases, and Simpson, recitations by Messrs. Hogan, MoLachlan, and Loftns. Miss Rainey was responsible for two excellently played pianoforte solos. Mrs. Lloyd, with her usual kindness, performed the duties of accompanist.