HOKITIKA.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXX, Issue 40, 2 October 1902, Page 3

HOKITIKA.

(From an occasional correspondent.)

September 20.

For some time it had been recognised that the school acoommodation had been very inadequate, and furthermore that the building itself was showing signs of decay. Under these oircumatanoe the ■ohool committee decided that instead of repairing and enlarging the old building the better plan would be to ereot a new school which is now completed.

The school, which is still known as St. Mary's, ia a fine building, 80ft long by 26ft wide and lift high. It consists of one long room (60ft) with a raised platform for a stage (20ft). It is the intention of the committee to use it as a concert hall in addition to school purposes, and for that reason it is supplied with two email rooma opening on to the Btage, whioh will answer the purpose of dressing rooms. The cost of the building with necessary fences and preparation ot errounds and other incidentals will be about £600, of which over £400 have already been contributed by the parishioners In order to assist the building fund the committee invited the Greymouth Garrick Club (which was formed in Greymouth by Mr M. Guthrie, the popular choir master, for the purpose of raising funds to pay for the organ in St. Patrick's Church, Greymouth) to stage Dion Boucicault's popular Irish drama, ' The Shaughraun.' Wednesday, 17th inst., the day fixed for the production of the pieoe, proved the best day of the week, and the special train whioh was engaged to convey the Club to and from Hokitika was crowded with members and their friends. Long before the doors opened a large crowd gathered outside the theatre, and when the curtain rose on the first aot the building was taxed to its utmost, and those dilatory persons, who left it till the very last moment, found their money had to be refused at the door. The fame whioh preceded the Garrick Club was well sustained and though laboring under the disadvantage of playing on a stage which is very much smaller than that at Greymouth, all of the performers acted their parts well, and the large audience went home highly satisfied with the performance. It would be invidious to attempt to praise the acting of individual members amongst such a well balanoed oompany but the general opinion seems that Moya (Miss Egden), and Con (Mr Oaoar Egden) deserve special mention. The other characters were well sustained by Misses Jessie Matheson, R. and H. Beresford, and Fogarty, and Messrs. F. W. Shallorass, J. Stenhouse, T. A. Ryan, M. J. Fogarty, A. Smith, J, MoGrath, J. Discaciati, W. Meara, and W. O'Reilly.

During the evening Mr W. B. Cadzow, of Greymouth, sang, with telling effect, ' The wearing of the green,' and had to respond to an uproarious encore. He also sang, by special request, ' The low back car,' and the large audience were not satisfied until he bowed' bis acknowledgments. Mrs Cadzow presided at the piano during the evening, and her taste and skilful rendering of well-known Irish Airs gained for her the unstinted appreciation of the audience.

During their stay in Hokitika the members of the Club were the guests of the local committee and Mr J. D. Lynch at the Empire Hotel. The net proceeds of the entertainment realised £40, which is an acceptable addition to the fund. In connection with the same fund a fancy fair and sale of work and art union will be held in the new building on the loth of October. The Sisters of St. Columbkille's Convent and the ladies of the parish are now making active preparation for the fair.