ST. PATRICK'S COLLEGE, WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, 30 August 1906, Page 19

ST. PATRICK'S COLLEGE, WELLINGTON

SILVER JUBILEE OF FATHER HILLS, S.M.

(From an occasional correspondent.) c m°" Ty**** 7 . of last week Rev. Father Hills, •' Vice-rector of St. Patrick's College, celebrated d hS'^i? his. ordination to the priesthood In. ÜBl Father Hills was ordained in St. Mary s, Duiulalk, by Archbishop McG-etti;gan. After morning school on Tuesday, Master Francis O Connor, as senior monitoi, in^a few well-chosen words w^hed Father Hills many happy returns of his ordination day, and expressed the hope that he or° U St P^riS? ny ii years i° continue ' within the walls .t hn£» S ' P he + u good . worlc ne was at Present doF?the mf\ iit°h thC v, St 11 U ' denlS he then Presented f-atnei mils with a handsome souvenir of the occaoX\j 1 1 • Father Hills said that he had been quite taken >by surprise and thanked the boys for their valuable preItovs in°Frt c thirty 'years he had been among tKo m, 1 \ n ( Ireland - and in New Zealand, and the boys of the last-mentioned country were as good in -every way as those of the older lands. He wished in* y M « ver y. happiness and prayed that God's blessing would ha with them in their various walks'of life closf' HS bl ° Ught the Sphering to a During the day all the clergy of the city and ihw f as f mbled in the college to wish every good 1 iw PPcP i eU 'i ]Ull^ Taa In .the afternoL at the Wellington College ground, St. Patrick's College second team met and defeated Wellington College in a matcb for the fifth-class championship. The St PatS r"! C « S ? ? Zft'- Wh ° , show v ed & ootl combined play, gave a I", and ther easjly de[eaile:d th \' r & nenls by 16 points to nil. Tries were scored by Culc; nn n vSing a 7ne O1 'ca a cL d J^ "^ C ™*>™ In tjie evening the ' old boys ' of the college enprtained the present students at a social gathering at the collqg-e. About 50 'old boys' were present, and a voiy cnioyable evening was spent. At half-past eight a musical programme was commenced , n the Study Hall and past !nd present joS in the evening's amusement. Songs and o^ther musical items were contributed by Father Hills, Messrs. S Hicksoji, Sullivan, Ual&h, and Kelly, and. Mr W E Hutler amused all present wilh his humorous anecdotes. Mr. J. * inlay contributed some^ery clever recitations which were much appreciated. The present students weie repiesented on the programme by Masters Miller IJ. Ryan, Geancy, and Seymour, while the college orclit-stra contributed several well played and very pleasing items. The ' old boys ' were fortunate in having the services of Mr. Watkins, Mus. Bach., as accompanist all through the concert. At the conclusion of the programme the Rector addressed the- gathering, and said that the re-union had been trans erred from a former date, in order that the io p ?, 7S TT C ?i Uld jO .\ n the P lesent boys in doing honor to Father Hills on the occasion of his silver iuMlee ue told of his long acquaintance with Father Hills' datiua liack to their college days, and of many reminiscences of bygone times. As this was the halfyearly meeting of the Old Boys' Association he was happy to congratulate them on the large increase of active members since last general meeting, and on the extremely satisfactory state of their finances— a condition of aflaiis which augured well for t-heir future development. Mr. A. H. Casey, on behalf of the Old Boys' Association, congratulated Father Hills on the anniversary which they were celeb-rating on tha,t evening. He said that many there present had teen under Father Hills in their college days, and one and all spoke highly of the sterling qualities which had endeared Mm to each In conclusion he wished Father Hills many years of health and happiness to do good work in the vineyard of the Lord. ' Father Hills in reply thanlced the c old boys ' for the kindi things they had said about him, and wished them every success in life. Games were then indulged in by young- and old and after supper had been served and done justice to cheers for the Rector, the staff, the ' old boys ', and the present boys, 'brought a most enjoyaible evening to a conclusion. Throughout the Say Fatlier Hills received many telegrams and messages of congratulation from all parts of the Colony.