NEW ZEALAND: GENERAL

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 42, 15 October 1903, Page 19

NEW ZEALAND: GENERAL

The October number of the • Triad ' is well up to the literary standard which is a prominent feature of that popular monthly. Every industry nowadays has a journal devoted to us interests, but none of them is as well served as poultry farming, for which the ' Australian Hen ' caters Every issue contains a large amount of information that cannot fail to be useful to both amateur ar»d professional poultry-keepers. With regard to the interview with Mr. G. J. Sellars, in which the question of the amalgamation of Friendly Societies was dealt with, published in the ' Press ' of August 25, Mr. Sellars wishes it made clear (says the Christchurch • Press,' of September 15). that the views expressed therein are his own individual opinions, and Had, in no way, any connection with the Society to which he belongs. The current issue of the • Catholic Magazine ' the organ of the Federated Catholic Societies of New Zeaiand, is really a very creditable number. The illustrations, which include photographs of the late and present Pope, oijhte Lordship, Bishop Verdon, and ' St. yJoseph's Cathedral, are admirably reproduced, whilst the letterpress is excellent. The articles are well written, crisp, arad higjhly interesting, whilst the news items and society happenings are tersely recorded. The magazine is a credit to all concerned, and deserves to be generously supported. In connection with the Emmet centenary celebrations in Melbourne there was issued a little booklet dealing with the life and times of that patriotic Irishman. The writer, Mr. T. E. Healy, has a clear and forcible style, and although Iris space was limited, he managed to throw a good deal of light on the events of a period of Irish hi6tory when National life was at a very low ebb. Mr. Healy is a great admirer of Emmet and his ideals, and contends that ' tohere is not in all history any loftier example of pure self-sacrifice and fearless zeal for the liberation of his country than this young Irish chief displayed.' We are indebted for our copy of the work to the publisher, Mr. W. P. Linehan, Melbourne. At the annual meeting of the Ashbuxton Catholic Literary Society, Mr. A. Muller occupied the chafer, and there was a large attendance. The report and balance sheet, which were both of a satisfactory nature, were read and adopted. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year :— President, Mr. J. Turton ; vice-presi-dent, Mr. J. Moriarty ; treasurer, Mr. J. Moison ; secletary, Mr. T. Adams ; librarian, Mr. T. Stephens ; auditors, Messrs. H. P. Madden and F..K. Cooper. The following council was appointed : Messrs. L. Hanrahan, D. McDonnell, F. Healy, T. O'Carroll, and P. Wilson. Votes of thanks were passed to the outgoing officers. A special vote of thanks was accorded to Mr. T. M. Brophy (the secretary) for past services. The following pupils of the Convent school, Gisborne, passed the theoretical examination of Trinity College, London, held last June .—Senior honors— Mary Adela Roche, 83. Intermediate honors— Amy Solvander, 94 ; Katie Currie, 80. Intermediate pass— Dora Booth, 64 ; Lullie Power, 64. Junior honors— Mary Agnew, 97 ; Pearl Maynard, 92. Preparatory grade — Hilda Howarth, 76 ; Ethel Howarth, 76"; Norma Wyllie, 67. Mr. Charles Edwards, examiner for Trinity College, conducted the practical examination in music at the convent on Wednesday, September 23, when the following p,upils' passed most successively : — Senior division pianoforte, Florence Somervell, Victoria Bridges, and Katie Currie. Intermediate division, solo singing, Eileen Law. Intermediate division, violin, Dora Bootih. Intermediate division, pianoforte, Amy SoLvander and Linda Nicholson. Junior division, pianoforte, Kathleen Martin (honors). Our Waihi correspondent writes :— lt is with sincere regret I have to record the death af Mr. Nicholas Toomey, at the early age of 25 years, which took place at the Waihi Hospital on October 2. He passed away peaceful ly fortified by the rites 'of the Church. Deceased had been suffering from a lung and throat complaint for the past two years, and had been an inmate of the local hospital since it opened, and bore his illness with Christian fortitude. Deceased was a good practical Catholic, and always ready to assist in any charitable wprk. The funeral took place on Sunday, and though the (fay was; very wet, large numbers paid tsheir fLast tribute*, 'of respect. Four members of the local lodge of Druidf, of which deceased was a member, acted as pall bearer,"OAt the service in the church the Very Rev. Father Brodie made feeling reference to the many excellent qualities pt deceased, and extolled him as an example for the other young men of the parish. — R.I. P.

At the Academy of Music, Gisborne, a most successful concert was given recently by the pupils of St Mary's Convent. There was a large attendance. The The programme opened with a chorus by the pupils entitled 'Come birdie, come,' which was given in excellent style. The pianoforte duet, ' Prince Imperial ' playey by Misses Barry, Wyllie, K. Martin, and M Martin was a splendid item, the young ladies being heartily applauded The violin selection played by Misses L Power and D. Bootn was a pleasing number as also was the sung by a number of the junior pupils. Misses MartM, Maynaxd, and Nicholson (2) contributed a pianoforte duet, and Miss L. Power created a favorable impression with a violin solo, ' Carnival de Venice ' The second part of the programme opened with a pianoforte duet by Misses Liddell, Somervell, Currie, and Solvander, and was of special merit. A capital item was the recitation, ' The spider and the fly,' given by Miss D. Martin, who has promise of becoming a clever elocutionist. Miss D. Booth was deserving of much praise for her violin solo, ' American airs,' and Miss E. Law gave a charming rendering of • The carnival,' for which she received rounds of applause. Other excellent items were pianoforte solo, ' Chopin's Nocturne, op. 62,' by Miss Lididell, and ' The fisherman's hornpipe,' by the pupils. Intermingled in the programme was a cantata of three scenes, entitled * Too bad,' and the acting of the young people (says the local paper) elicited much applause. The characters were represented by the following : Misses L. Power, E. Law, N. Martin, P. Maynard, and K. Martin. An appropriate chorus by the pupils, entitled ' Good night,' closed a most successful concert, and the Sisters of St. Mary's Convent are to be congratulated upon the result. At a general meeting of the Otago Agricultural and General Laborers' Union on Saturday, Mr. Vernon (vicepresident) presented Mr. J. A. Scott (president) with a handsomely-framed illuminated address, expressive of the feelings of the Union, and with a very serviceable travelling rug. Mr. Vernon, in making the presentation, made eulogistic reference to the very valuable services their president had rendered in the formation and carrying on of the Union since its inception, and stated that the success ''of their Union was largely due to the services rendered by Mr. Scott as president. Mr. Scott said that when he came to the meeting he had no idea that such a surprise would be sprung upon him. He assured them that he felt really proud of their beautiful gifts. As a Union they had always been a particularly happy family. From their formation until the present time they had never at any of their meetings had the slightest trace of unpleasantness or discord of any kind Their kind gifts would serve as a memento therefore of their pleasant gatherings, of their friendly intercourse, said of the mutual confidence and respect which that Intercourse had developed amongst them.