DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 13, 29 March 1900, Page 5

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND.

(From our own correspondent.)

March 22. The Licensing elections have gone in favour of 10 o'clock closing, the whole committee being committed to it.

Special services in honour of the Feast of St. Patrick were held in the Church of St. John the Baptist last Sunday. High Mass was sung by the Rev. Father Kehoe. He also gave a short discourse on the initiation and the spread of the art of painting, and the part the Church took in regard to it, and mentioned the fine fresco paintings which adorned the sanctuary, and hoped that the generous artist would meet with the support which he richly deserved. The choir, under the baton of Miss Annie Lorrigan, rendered very ably Weber's Mass in G. The soloists were Miss Coleta Lorrigan, Mrs. Blakey, Messrs. Beash and Mulvaney, all of whom performed their allotted parts well. As an Offertory piece Miss Annie Lorrigan rendered the 'Inflammatus' most artistically. This choir has made rapid strides of late and reflects credit upon their talented leader. Father Kehoe at Vespers preached an eloquent panegyric on St. Patrick.

The Rev. Mother and one of the Sisters of the Convent, Gisborne, returned last month from Sydney much improved in health. During their stay at the New South Wales capital they received kind hospitality from houses of the Order and from the Sisters of Charity. While in Sydney the Rev. Mother visited Cardinal Moran. who received her and her companion most cordially on each visit, and the day before they left for New Zealand his Eminence sent Rev. Mother a set of rich vestments, composed of the finest cloth of Bilver wrought in gold, into which is introduced an abundance of small pearls, which make the whole a splendid specimen of embroidery and a perfect work of art. Thia extreme generosity and kindness on the part of Cardinal Moran is not surprising when one considers that Rev. Mother Xavier was one of those Sisters of Mercy who had the honour of travelling out from home with his Eminence 15 years ago.

The Convent High School, Gisborne, opened with an increased attendance this year, there beiDg 46 pupils present. This is most gratifying, considering that when the Sisters came to Gisborne a little over five years ago their High School pupils consisted of a dozen girle. The teaching staff of the community has also been increased, three young ladies from Sydney having entered the novitiate on the Feast of the Purification.

The national festival was celebrated here this year in a manner worthy of the sons and daughters of Erin. So earnest and enthusiastic were the participants that it called forth from the editorial columns of our morning and evening papers high encomiums upon the patriotism and deep-rooted national sentiment displayed by Irishmen the world over on St. Patrick's Day. For days before the seventeenth one could not fail to be struck with the quantity of green, in ribbon and rosette form, displayed for sale in the windows of our leading drapery establishments, and from the amount worn on the day the stocks of green must have been considerably diminished. The festivities were inaugurated by a grand national ,conoert in the Opera House, which was filed by a large and enthusiastic audience. The first item on the programme was an overture, Gems of Ireland,' by the Druids Orchestra, followed by a chorus by the pupils of St. Patrick's Convent schools. The children were attired in white, with green sashes, and the effect was very striking. •Killarney' was nicely given by Miss Jenkinson, and ' Rory, darling ' by Mr T. St. Lawrence Toner. The next item was ' The last rose of summer,' by Miss Annie Lorrigan, who in response to an encore sang ' Terence's farewell.' Mr G. M. Reid sang ' The Minstrel Boy,' and as an encore piece ' Norah the pride of Kildare.' The first part of the programme was concluded by the Rev. Father Hills, S.M., of St. Patrick's College, Wellington, who sang with fine expression Davis's well-known ballad ' A nation once again.' To a unanimous recall the reverend visitor gave another stirring Irish

ballad. The second part consisted of items by the orchestra, songa by Misses Coleta and Annie Lorrigan, N. McGuire, Messrs G. M. Reid, T. St. Lawrence Toner, A. Dobbs, and the Very Rev. OrEgan, and a mandoline solo by Mr Charles McFarlane. Miss Ada Yates acted as accompanist, assisted by Misses McGuire and Quin and the Rev. Father Kehoe.

St. Patrick's morning was ushered in with bright sunshine, tempered by a cooling south-westerly breeze. It was just an ideal day for a St. Patrick's celebration. Masses were celebrated at all the Catholic churches, At the Cathedral, Rev. Father Hills sang High Mass, Rev. Father buckley being deacon, Eev. Father Hennessey sub-deacon, and the Rev. Father Purton master of ceremonies. The Very Rev. Dean U Reilly also assisted. The Hibernian Society and the children of St. Patrick's parish attended. At the conclusion of the Mass, the sounds of Irish music heralded the approach of St. Benedict's children, followed by the Ponsonby and Parnell contingent^. All were soon got into line. The procession was headed by the Hibernian Society and juvenile Hibernians with their banners. Then came the orphan children from St. Mary's, Ponsonby, the Ponsonby children. St. Patrick's, amongst whom were 60 boys from the Orphanage at Lake Takapuna, under the charge of Mr. Colgan. Then came the Parnell children and St. Benedict's. Fully l,:.00 children took part, and dressed in white with green predominating and banners and bannerettes waving, the sight was a very pretty one. P.D.P. Bros. J. Patterson and E. Noonan were marshals. Along the route from the Cathedral to the Domain crowds of people lined the side-walks. ' An object lesson for all of us,' exclaimed a gentleman near the Public Library as he gazed upon the lengthly procession. 'True for you,' rejoined an Irish Catholic standing near, ' this is the multitude which has been so long denied State school inspection.' On arriving in the Domain each parish section made for its own quarters, where the Christian Doctrine members provided the little ones with abundant refreshments, after which all kinds of sports, including races and swings, were indulged in. Handsome and numerous prizes were handed round. The sports, conducted by the Hibernian Society, were successfully carried throngh. There were present on the ground Very Rev. Dean O'Reilly, Very Rev. Dr. Egan, Rev. Fathers Kehoe, Buckley, Darby, Hennessey, Purton, Smiers, and Hon. T. Thompson, Hon. W. Jennings, Mr. George Fowlds, M.H.R., Dr. Darby, and many others. At the conclusion of the festivities the procession reformed and marched back to town. So ended St. Patrick's Day celebration of 11)00, which compared favourably with former celebrations.

At Panmure on Friday evenirjg a most enjoyable concert was given. Songs, recitations, and Irish instrumental selections were contributed by a number of ladies and gentlemen, local and from town. The Rev. Father Patterson also contributed to the evening's pleasure and entertainment. Saturday was also a gala day at the township. All kinds of sports were indulged in, and prizes were distributed. The Rev. Father Patterson did all in his power to make the celebration agreeable, so as to merit the good wishes of all on St. Patrick's Day.