WANGANUI.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 2, 10 January 1901, Page 5

WANGANUI.

(From our own correspondent.)

December 28.

The devotions in connection with the Feast of Christmas began with Midnight Mass, at which there was an exceptionally large congregation. In keeping with the festive time the sanctuary and altars were decorated with greenery and flowers, while to the left of St. Joseph's altar there was a faithful representation of the crib at Bethlehem. Mass was said by the Very Rev. Dean Kirk, who afterwards thanked his parishioners for their kindness and co-opera-tion during the year, and also all those outside the Church who had come forward, as several had done on this occasion, to assist the ohoir. He then gave a short instruction appropriate to the Feast. With regard to the music, the Herald's report was as follows :— • The mußio — Mozart's 12th Mass — was exceptionally well rendered by a large choir, under the oonductorship of Mr. Holden, assisted by a small, but competent, orchestra, under the leadership of Mr. J. L. Becks, the instrumentalists being Messrs. Hemus, Gilby, and O'Hara (violins), Spackman (violin), Trussell (cornet), and C. Foster (flute). The soloists were Meadamea Pinches, Meehan, Labatt, Ahearn, Miss Dempsey, and Messrs Gellately, Pinches, Allen, Randall, Beasley, and McCullough, who interpreted the beautiful parts with pronounced success. The offertory piece was " Adeste Fidelea " (Novello's). Mrs. Lloyd presided at the organ, and acquitted herself admirably. For the first time, the ohoir used the new gallery situated to the left of the transept, whither the large organ of which we are the fortunate possessors, has been removed. The change is a great improvement, as the position of the new gallery is better suited to the acoustic properties of the ohurch. At the conclusion of the Mass, the members of the choir were invited to the presbytery, and were there entertained by Dean Kirk.