TIMARU.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIV, Issue 2, 10 January 1901, Page 6

TIMARU.

CFrom our own correspondent.)

January 7.

The New Year and century were ushered in very quietly in Timaru. With the exception of a few rookets and colored lights from the shipping and a well-sustained discharge of Chinese crackers from juveniles who should have been in bed, there was little display throughout the town to mark the death of the old year and century and birth of the new. There was a large congregation at the Church of the Saored Heart, when the Rev. Father Tubman celebrated High Mass at midnight. The choir Bang La Hache's Mass, Miss Nellie Egan presiding at the organ. On New Year's Day Timaru was en fete. The South Canterbury Caledonian Society held their annual sports meeting at their grounds, Potiti Point, over 4000 people being present. The different items on the programme came off very successfully, with the exception of the Irish dancing. It is to be regretted that every year there is a screw loose in the management as far as this item is ooncerned. On New Year's Day the jig was the only item of Irish dance on the programme, and yet it was not competed for until the end of the day, when fully three-quarters of the attendance had left the ground. To use a Bporting expression, there is too much 'scratch' business about the Irish dancing at these gatherings — scratch dancers, scratch costumes, scratch music, scratch spectators, scratch management, scratch everything. It is high time that those who have a say in the management and who take, or should take, an interest in Irish dancing at these sports should see that at least the events are competed for before the gathering breaks up. On the second day there was an improvement, yet one of the nicest exhibitions of Irish dancing at the meeting — a four-hand-reel—came off when almost everyone had left the ground. If the St Patrick's Day Sports Association put only the Scotch reel on their day's programme and had it competed for when the meeting was breaking up, I do not think the management would be complimented over the transaction. The judging, viewed from a daDcing point of view, met with general approval. However, allowing competitors to go on the platform ' anyhow ' as far as costume is concerned, surely needs remedying. The practice of pulling off the coat is not at all fascinating. These preliminaries are not at all necessary, and should be put down by the judges. One competitor was dressed in a very becoming costume — swallow-tail coat, fancy vest, corduroy knee-breeches fastened with ribbons, grey stockings and shoes, but his dancing was of such a nondescript character that his name did not appear amongst the winners. His dress, however, might be copied with advantage. It is a pity that Irish dancing is not placed on a better basis, some regulation costume decided upon, and more consideration given to style and carriage. The Rev. Father Tubman is at present on a visit to the Southern Lakes. The Rev. Father Regnault (Waimate) celebrated High Mass and preached on Sunday last and also officiated at Vespers. Being the first Sunday in the month the Blessed Sacrament was exposed for adoration during the afternoon and in the evening was carried in procession around the church grounds, the various sodalities (the Children of Mary, Altar Society, Aloysians and Hibernians), the school children, congregation and choir bearing banners and lighted candles, taking part under the direotion of the Rev. Father Aubry. The Rev. Dr. Kennedy, of Meanee Seminary, is at present staying in Waimate. Madam Ryan of the Convent of the Sacred Heart left during the week for Sydney. General regret is felt at her departureMadam Ryan being associated with the Convent almost since its establishment here. Madam Ryan has left many proofs of her skill as an artist amongst them being the beautiful banner of the Hibernian Society which was so much admired at the centenary procession recently held in Christchurch as to be pronounoed the best banner in the procession. Miss Maggie Yenning accompanied Madam Ryan and leaves here with the intention of joining the religious of that Order in Sydney. Messrs. Walsb, MoGrath and C. Yenning, students at St. Patrick's College and Meanee are at present visiting Timaru.