DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 41, 11 October 1900, Page 18

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own correspondent). October 8. About forty members were in attendance at the last meeting of the Christohurch Catholic Club, when % very pleasant social evening was spent. Mr E. O'Connor, vice-president, occupied the His Lordship the Right Rev. Dr. Grimes returned from Sydney on Saturday last, and presided at an important meeting of the trm^r onmrniftpp j n t V r rp«bvtery on Sunday afternoon, when a great deal of business was transacted. &*. Mary's Catholic Hub m"t on Tuesday pypnine-'lait with a good attendance of members, when an interesting and well-sustained detune took place on the relative merits of national and international no" 8 ' Mr> A - Sulith - vice-president, occupied the chair. On Sunday last (Rosary Sunday) the annual collection in aid ot the diocesan charities was made at all the services, the proceeds, *| on former occasions, to be devoted to the requirements of Mount M agdala Asylum. It being the first Sunday in the month there w aa Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from Hitfh Mass until a fter Vespers, with the usual procession. His Lordship the Bishop preached to a crowded congregation. The children of the Pro-Cathedral parish in considerable numbers made their First Communion on Sunday. His Lordship the Bishop, who was celebrant, addressed them on the nature and purport of this, the great event in their young lives. The girls were attired in white with wreaths and veils, and the boys wore white sashes. Their behaviour was most edifying, betokening the careful training they had received from their devoted teaohers. After Mass the children were marched to St. Aloysius 1 Hall, where the ladies of the congregation had made elaborate preparations for their breakfast, and subsequent entertainment. At three o'clock in the afternoon they assembled in the church, and again in the evening to take part in the procession. Signor Borzoni ha» now in hand the instruction of the young ladies who are to take part in his great spectacle, entitled ' England s c *ll to her Empire,' to be produced in connection with the carnival opening on November 2. The erection of the buildings for the purposes of the carnival is nearing completion. The rehearsals, etc., are meanwhile being held in St. Aloysius' Hall. At a meeting of ladies and members of the committee, held on Monday evening last, it was decided that there should be ten Btalla, these being named and allotted by ballot as follows : — ' Canada,' Children of Mary. 'England,' Mrs O'Connor; 'Egypt,' Mrs Ivess ; ' New Zealand ' (North Canterbury), Lady Clifford and Mrs Lance ; ' Scotland,' Mrs Stratz ; ' South Africa ' (St. Mary's), Mrs G Harper ; 'Australia, 1 Misses White; 'Ireland' (Convent stall), Miss Keily ; ' West Indies,' Mesdumes Mahar and O'Reilly ; ' India,' South Canterbury ladies. In his report of St. Mary'a parish schools, conducted by the Sisters of Mercy, the examiner writes as follows : — ' The school has passed a very satisfactory examination, especially in the upper fltai dards. On comparing the work with that of last year. I find a very great improvement has been made in some of the subjects.' After summarising the various test subjects, he goes on to say : 'The singing and drill are satisfactory, and the needlework, as far I can jud n 'e. is goo 5. The general behatiour of the children during the examination was all that could be desired.' Taking tho various standards we find the results as follow — In Standard VI., nine pupils were presented and all passed : in Standard V., l."> passed out of 17 , in Stan. lard IV.. 2.". pa^ed out of 28; in Standard 111., 26 passed out of 2',) ; in Standard 11., 25 passed out of 2S ; in Standard 1., 17 passed out of 20. Taking the grand total of 131 pupils presented there were only 1 I failur. s. The examiner. Mr J. Baldwin, headmaster of the Sydenham Schooldays in conclusion • 'Taking into consideration the fact that, the school has been opened only about nine months since the last examination, the staff is to be congratulated on the very satisfa;tory work done during the year and the great improvement shown in some of the subjects.'