DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 49, 7 December 1899, Page 18

DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN.

Arrangements have been made by the Rev. Father McMullen Port Chalmers, to give a social to the committee and stallholders at the recent bazaar, in recognition of the good work performed by them.

The Christian Brothers' School breaking-up ceremony will take place in St. Joseph's Hall on the evening of Friday, December 15. A competitive programme is being prepared. The items will include conteets in solo singing, elocution, and gymnastics.

The devotion of the Forty Hours' Adoration will begin at St. Patrick's Basilica, South Dunedin, on Friday morning, when Solemn High Macs will be celebrated at nine o'clock. There will be special sermons on Friday and Sunday evenings, and on Sunday at 11 o'clock Solemn High Mass. The devotion will be brought to a close at Veppers on Sunday evening. A well attended meetine was held in St. Joseph's Hall on Friday night for the purpose of making arrangements for the annual picnic in connection with the parish schools. The Rev. Father Murphy presided, Rev. Father O'Donnell being also present. After a general discussion it was decided to hold a combined school picnic at an early date, the spot selected being the Seminary grounds at Mosgiel. A strong committee was formed for the purpose of arranging details, preparing a sports programme and other matters.

A ralmerston South correspondent writes : One of the best entertainments given for years in Palmerston was witnessed in the Town Hall on VWdniKday evening, November 29, by a very large audience. The ( bj' efc of the entertainment was to raise funds to renovate the lochl Ouholio Church." The performer?, who were all local people, acquitted themselves in a very creditable manner. Most of the itemi were deservedly encored. DuriDg the interval the Rev. Father Lynch thanked the performers for their services so kindly, and so adn.irably rendered. Financially the entertainment was a very great success, the sum of £20 being realised. The Tasmanian Monitor of November 17 publishes another letter from the Rev. Father Kels-h descriptive of various portions of the Dunedin diocese, which he visited whilst here some weeks ago. Of his visit to Queenstown he says :— Though Queenstown on Lake Wakatipu has only a population of a few hundreds and the Catholic quot* is stnaU in consequence, the household of the faith deserves great credit for the energy shown in the cause of religion and education. A very handsome and substantial stone church, the finest building in the town, has been erected within the last few years on a commanding site through the exertions of the worthy pastor, Father O'Donnell and his generous flock. To raise * 2,300 among so quiet and scant a population speaks well for priest and people, and the building is one of which they are justly proud. Adjoining the Church is a Convent of Dominican nuns with boarding and primary schools. The number of non-Catholic pupils attending proves how well every class and creed prize the education imparted by the Sisters.

St. Mary's Convent School, East Gore, was examined on November 16, by Inspector Braik (says the Southern Standard). The following is the Ii spector'a report : — Class Subjects. — Grammar, satisfactory. History, fair. Geography (of Standard II.), very good indeed Elementary science and object lessons, fair. Mental arithmetic, good. Additional Subjects. — Repetition and recitation, very good indeed Drill and exercisee, excellent. Needlework — the garments made by the pupils make an excellent display. Comprehenson of the language of reading lessons, satisfactory in the lower and good in the upper classes. Singing, excellent. The pupils of Standards IV., V , and VI. are more or less weak in arithmetic, but hi other respects they have passed a very satisfactory examination in the standard subjects. Writing, drawing, and composition may be singled out as being very good indeed. The weakness shown in arithmetic is, no doubt, due to the unsatisfactory nature of the attendance of the majority of the pupils. The additional subjects have been taught with pre-eminent success, while the class subjects have received a satisfactory amount of attention. The infants have made good progress. The pupils promoted in Standards I. and 11. have passed a satisfactory examination. Conduct and manners are very good.