DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXIII, Issue 12, 23 March 1905, Page 4

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) March 20. Members of the St. Patrick's branch of the H.A.C.B. Society approached the Holy Table in a body at the seven o'clock Mass in the Cathedral on Sunday in honor of the foasit o f St. Patiick. The Catholic residents of Sumner, the number having been considerably augmented of late, met recently to discuss matters appertaining to the interest of the Church and the increasing congregation, Mr. J. R. Hunt presiding. Christian doctrine clashes have been jiauigu--ratod there in the interests of the children under the direction of Miss Fit/gerald. The Rev. Father O'Connell returned last week from a holiday tioux in the North Island, lie s,pent a week with the Very Rev Dean Foley at Rolorua. The Dean • has much improved in health, and the resident medical attendant at the Saniloiium is of opinion that a continuation of the treatment, extending o\er another month oi so, will eftcct a permanent cure. His Lordship the Bishop preached in the Cathedral at Vespers on Sunday (the feast of the Patronage of St. Joseph) an imptesshe discourse on the subject of the day's festival, and afterwards, attended by the Very Rev. Vicar-General and Re:. Father O'Connell, officiated at Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. The following candidates educated by the Sisters of the Misfeion at the Sacred Heart High School were successful at the theory of music examination held on December 3 in connection witJi Trinity College, London :■ — Senior di\ i- ion — Chailotte Mary Barker, 80 (honors). Intermediate division— Mabel Annie Yemm, 90 (honors') ; Am ie Rioidan, 78 ; Bridget Rior'dan, 71. Junior Division— Jaret Clark McLaicn, 92 (honois) ; Mary W'lldey, 88 (honois) ; Clara Sparks, 78 ; Dorothy Aniyes, 77 , Eva McCarthy, 70 ; lAvvic Burland, 69 , Agnes Donnell, (if) ; Eileen Murphy, 60 , Vera Barker, 69. Preparatoiy 'di\ ision— lleni ietta Buchanan, 8!J ; Mary Ooajkley, 83 , Eveline Derrett, 81. The St. Patrick's Day entertainment, promoted in the interests of Na7<a p reth House, was a most unqualified s-uccess. Before the hour for commencing the programme scarcely a sent in the great Canterbbry Hall was obtainable, and the many late comers Avere perforce to be content with standing room. The various sub-committees guided by the exeouthe committee had done their work well, all the preliminary details being so carefully attended to that nothing appealed wanting to ensure satisfactory results. Those of the general committee, who were entrusted with the musical arrangements, a re deserving of every commendation for the really excellent piogramme submitted. Every item was of a strictly national character, and selected with infinite care. His Lordship the Bishop was present, and alsio a number of the local and neighboring clergy. During an interval in the proceedings his Lordship, in the name of the Sisters of Nazareth, thanked those ladies and gentlemen who had gratuit-

ously .given their services to help the noble institution which was now an accomplished fact in their midst. The great work of the Sisters of Nazareth Had already been begun in Christchlurch, and so much good had alrca'dy been done that the premises secured were all too small. The Sisters had informed him that day that the applications for admissuon were so many that they did not know where to lodge them. This was a fault on the wrong side, but it, helped to show the nn 1"^1 "^ cessity of the woik for which the concerts had been established three years ago He thanked tlic artists and the committee and e\ eryone who had assisted in making the concert a success in his own name and in that of the Sisters. In conclusion, the Bishop stated that the Sisters would always be glad to recene any of the public who cared to \isit the Home. The following was Mio progiamme : — Overture, ' Gems of Ireland," Mr. 11. Rossiter's Orchestral Band ; song, ' Eily Mavo-jrrpen,' Mr Charles Read ; song, ' Off to Philadelphia,' Mr. A. Millar ; song, ' Come back to Erin,' Mrs. Gower-Burns , \iolin solo, Ilerr Ileinriah Kahn ; song, ' Erin my country,' Miss Laura Treleavon ; recitation, ' Shamus O'Brien,' Mr. Winter Hall ; national dance, Miss Alice Saunders ; mandolin and guitar quartette, Mrs. Wright, Miss R. Francis, Messrs. Shophar"d and Wright ; song, ' Kathleen Mavourneen,' Mrs. GowerBurns ; ballad, ' liish folk song,' Mr R. Vincent ; song, 1 The dear little shamrodk,' Miss Laura Treleaven ; song, ' The Irish emigrant,' Mr. A. Medhurst ; vocal quartette, Messrs. Cookson, Vincent, 11. Hofobs, and A. Millar ; scng, ' The little Irish girl,' Mr. W. Densem. Miss Katie Young and Mr. R. A. Home were accompanists, and Mr. 11. Rossiter musical director. Recalls were almost universal, Mrs. Gower-Burns especially quite captivating the audience. Her artistically trained ■\oice and charm in c: rendition of those sweetest of Irish songs were indeed a treat to listen to, and one not often afforded at local concerts.