NAPIER.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 13, 29 March 1900, Page 4

NAPIER.

(From our own correspondent.)

The Hawke'a Bay section— numbering 37— of the Fourth Contingent contains three Catholics, Lieutenant Jamea Rosa—exchampion rifle shot of the Colony— and Troopers James Doreen and Oswald Goring Johnston. The last-mentioned is an ex-student of St. Patrick's College. All Napier held high holiday on Thursday to bid farewell to the Rough Riders. The town was profusely decorated and the weather was perfect. Patriotic songs and speeches— among these last being one from the Rev. Father Bellwere given in the Recreation Ground. The 'soldiers of the Queen ' escorted by the East Coast Battalion, also by some three hundred civilians all mounted, were then led in procession through the principal streets, after which they took their departure for Wellington by special train.

At the farewell banquet on the preceding night several speakers made complimentary references to Irish valour as diaplayed in the South African campaign and publicly recognised by her Gracious Majesty. The Daily Telegraph in its issue of Thura-

day evening remarked that Napier citizens would be doing a graceful act if they allowed the extensive decorations displayed in town on that day to remain in position for St. Patrick's Day. The public fell in with the suggestion and even improved upon it by making additions, especially in the way of green drapery, so that Napier presented an unusually gay appearance on St. Patrick's Day.

On Friday night — St. Patrick's Eve — a very successful social was held in the Garrison Hall. During a break in the proceedings patriotic addresses were given by the Rev. Father Hickson (who apologised for the absence of Dean Grogan, S.M.) and Mr Fraser, M.H.R. A novel item deserves recording. Precisely at midnight a lad of twelve, attired in a neat Irish costume — a son of our worthy townsman, Mr John Higgins — made his appearance on the stage, where he ushered in ' St. Patrick's Day in the morning ' by striking an immense gong twelve times. The great success of the gathering was due to the energetic work of a large committee of ladies and gentlemen, amongst whom Mr. W. J. McGrath, as honorary secretary deserves special mension.

On Saturday green favours were strongly in evidence amongst all classes of the citizens. In the evening a monster procession, headed by the Garrison Band, paraded the streets, and the rejoicings were brought to a close for the day by a short smoke concert, at which a prominent non-Catholic townsman, Mr VV. R. Blythe, pro posed the joint toast ' The Pope and the Queen,' adding the sentiment ' the grandest old man and the grandest old woman.' On Sunday the sermons at all the services in the Catholic churches had reference to the festival of the day before. The general rejoicings were continued even on Monday, as on that day many business people closed their premises who had found it too inconvenient to do so on Saturday, and the State school at Port Napier took a full holiday.