DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 21, 26 May 1904, Page 19

DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN

His Lordship the Bishqp left Te Aroha at the beginning of the present week and is now in Rotorua.

On Tuesday evening the assistants in the Home Rule stall in the recent and highly-successful Cailin Ban Fete entertained their principal, Miss Sta'unton, to a social evening in St. Joseph's Hair. The function was a very pleasajit and successful one. Vocal items were rendered by the Misses Davis, Brady, Bryant, K.llanmgan, and Staimton, and Messrs. T. Hussey and II Miles. The accompaniments were played by Miss Poppelwell. During the evening a presentation, consisting of a very handsome travelling writing case, was made to Miss Staunton by Father Murphy, on behalf of the assistants. Mr. H. Miles returned thanks on behalf of Miss Staunton in a happy vein.

The weekly meeting of St. Joseph's Men's Club on Friday evening took the form of a smoke concert There were 42 memibers present, and the Rev. Father Murphy, Adm , occupied the chair. Rev Brother Brady was also present. A very pleasant evening was spent, and the Club has good reason to be proud of the talent it contains and with the manner in which the various contributors to the evening's amusement acquitted themselves Instrumental solos were given by 'Messrs Deehan, Whelan , songs by Messrs. T Hughes, T Ilussey, and recitations by Messrs. Hill amd Beard, whilst Mr L. Stokes ably acted as accompanist. This gentleman also added some first-class gramaphone selections to the progianime. Brother Brady also favored the members wit.h a humorous story, which was greatly enjoyed Prior to the meeiing Brother Brady, who has kindly undertaken to conduct an elocution class in connection with the Club, Rave an outline of the obiect of s>uch a class, as regards the art of speaking, reading-, and reciting. Nine more new members were elected, bunging the total for the season to 37.

'I he formal opening of the session of St. Mary's Literary and Social Club, Mnlton, took place on Monday night, when there was an excellent attendance, about sixty memb ers being present The president (Very Rev Father O'Neill) delivered an inaugural address on the general benefits of literary and debating societies, and treated the subject in a characteristically humorous, pointed, and practical way. His illustrations from the careers of famou? Irishmen such as Thomas Sexton, Tim Healy, and Michael Davitt, and of colonial statesmen such as the Premier and Sir Joseph Ward, were paiticulaily interesting and telling, and the address was listened to throughout with t;he most marked attention and appreciation. Mr. Scott, in moving a hearty vote of thanks to the lecturer, emphasised the incalculable benefit, to be derived from continual practice in sipeakins, and declared that that was the one and only remedy for nervousness, self-consciousness, and the other disabilities that made public speaking so difficult to the beginner. The vote of thanks- to Father O'Neill was carried with acclamation. A capital musical programme was then rendered, to which the fo, 1 lowing contributed : Miss Scanlan and Mrs. Nolan, and Messrs. J. A. Scott, T. Leaven, W. Kirhy, and P. Hy-nes. At an interval in the proceedings refreshments were handed round, and the ladies' efforts in this direction were very cordially appreciated.