ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 9, 28 February 1901, Page 6

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON.

(From our own correspondent.) February 23. Very Rev. Father bmyth returned to Hastings on Monday last. St. Mary of the Angels' choir and the children attending the Convent High School held their annual picnics this week. The annual meeting of the Convent Ex-pupils' Association will be held on Monday evening next at St. Mary's Convent. Perfect weather wan enjoyed by the ex-pupils of St. Mary's Convent on the occasion of their annual outing held on Saturday last. The picnickers journeyed to Porirua by train and were from there conveyed by coach to 1 itahi Bay, where the sea-side residence of the Duns was placed at their disposal by the Mother-Superior. During the d.>y the party visited a Maori meeting hoase which is in course of erection, and were greatly interested in the carving of the nativen who were busily engaged thprein. The party returned to town by the 5.30 train after spending a very enjoyable day. The meeting of ladies convened by Rev. Father O'Shea, and held on Thursday afternoon to discuss the question of holding a bazaar this year, was well attended by representatives from Newtown and Te Aro parishes. Father O'Shea explained the necessity for the raising of funds to liquidate the heavy debt on the convent and ground at Newtown. and suggested that a bazaar was the best means of attaining that object. It was decided, after some diecusBion, that a bazaar should be held, the date to bo fixed at a later meeting. The allotting of the stalls was then proceeded with, the ladies of Newtown and St. Mary's Convent ex- Pupils' Association, each undertaking the furnishing and management of a stall. The " tea kiosk " will be in charge of Miss O'Connor. The two remaining stalls are to be allotted at a future meeting. Mr. T. Davis •was appointed secretary, and Mr. L. Dwan assistant secretary. The half-yearly meeting of the Marist School Old Boys" Association was held last Tuesday evening. The Rev. Father O'Shea, S.M , presided. The report of the secretary sketched the progress made by the Association during the past six months and complimented the members on the success that had attended thvir efforts in Ihe direction of literary improvement and co( ial amusement. The report of the treasurer disclosed a sound financial position. The election of officers for theensuing six months resulte I as follows : — Patron, Archbishop Redwood ; president, Rev. Father O'Shea ; vicepresidents, Very Rev Father Lewis. V.G.. and Key. Fathers Gogtran, Holly, Moloney, Ainsworth. Dra. Mm-kin and Grace, Mii-ri. J. J. Devine, M. Kennedy, O. M'Ardl. 1 , Lk iiteriani"-('uloiH'l Co'lius. J. Kays. J. P. Kelly, W. Missen and Hon. .1. U. Ward : hon. t-ecrttjry, Mr. H. M'Keowen ; assistant secretary, Mr. P. J. M'Govern : hon. treasurer, Mr. F. McDonald ; librarian. Mr. T. Lawlor : auditors, Messrs. J. Weybourne and J E. Gamble , chairman of debating society, Mr. .1. Kays ; general committee. Me.'srs. C. Gamble E. Fitzgibbon, H. C. Allan, E. J. Leydon, L. Reichel, A. S. Henderson, E. Gibbs, B. A. Guise, the secretary and a'-Bistant secretary to act ?■>• oflicio. Votes of thanks were patted to the outgoing committee, to the chairman, to the Press and donors of trophies. A motion by Mr. McKeowen that Catholic young men who were not Mari.st Old Boys should be permitted to hold office was discut-sed for nearly three hours and finally carried. The Rev. Father O'Shea and Mr. JKays, judges of the ' Original E-says ', announced that the first prize was won by Mr. E. Fitzgibbon, the second by Mr. C. Gamble, and the third by Mr. McKeowen. The prizes arc to be presented next Thursday week at a meeting of the Literary Society. At the meeting complimentary references were made by members concerning the assiduity and capability of the hon. sec. Mr. McKeowen, assistant secretary, Mr. McGovern, and hon. treasurer, Mr. McDonald, all of whom were re-elected 'I he meeting to discuss the advisability of the Association publishing a journal in connection with the Literary Society will be held shortly, when the report of the sub-committee Appointed will be presented.