WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 12, 25 March 1909, Page 454

WELLINGTON

The Hibernians of Wellington (says the Dominion) celebrated St. Patrick's Day in a manner befitting the occasion. It has been the custom to observe the day by holding an annual monster picnic in Father Lane's picturesque grounds at the Lower Hutt, and the outing this year was a great success, due in no small degree to the • united efforts of committees representing the Hibernian ■ Society and the Wellington Catholic Club, the presiding genius being Mr. P. D. Hoskins, general secretary of the joint committee. It was in a large measure an outing for the children, and although the day dawned somewhat threateningly, there was little rain to 'hurt anyone, and the various sports and other attractions organised for the occasion were carried out with complete success. The youngsters attended early Mass at the varioiis churches, ' and were then mustered in procession to the railway station, where they were entrained for the picnic ground. The prin- / cipal procession was that which marched from. St. Mary of the Angels', Boulcott street, about 500 children and a detachment from the Hibernian Society, in the regalia of their order, being present. The juvenile detachment from St. Anne's, Newtown, numbered about 200, who were taken l>y car to the station. With the Hutt children added, there must have been well on 1300 children all told. The St. Anne's School children- gave a display of club-swinging, and among the numerous dances given were Irish jigs by Misses Amelia Fama, Moana Butler, and Lizzie Coleman. During the day Archdeacon Devoy and the Rev. Fathers " Hickson, Yenning, Herring, Macdonald, and Lane, and Mr. T. M. Wilford, M.P., were present. The Town Hall was taxed to its utmost capacity last evening, when the St. Patrick's Day celebrations were brought to an appropriate termination by an excellent concert. There were no fewer than twenty-two items, but as the management committee had had the good sense to intimate that no encores would be allowed, the entertainment, although somewhat protracted, did not tire the audience. His Excellency the Governor (Lord Plunket), Captain Shannon, A.D.C., Lady Ward, and Miss Eileen Ward, his Grace Archbishop Eedwood, S.M., his Worship tlie Mayor (Hon. T. W. Hislop), and Dr. Cahill, were among those present. The excellence of the programme was considerably enhanced by the inclusion of several items by the Canadian Kilties Band. Mrs. Amy Hyde - Woodward sang very sweetly 'An Irish lullaby ' (Needham) and ' The shamrock.' Miss H. Lorraine Tansley, despite the fact that she had but just recovered from a severe cold, was in very good voice, and her item — ' Kathleen Mavourneen ' — was pleasingly and artistically interpreted, the singer being recalled to bow her acknowledgments. Miss Ruby M'Donald (violinist) played an arrangement by Vienxtemps of the Irish national air, ' St. Patrick's Day,' and her own arrangement of the favorite air, ' Kathleen Mavourneen.' Miss May Driscoll's singing of 'The wearing of the green' was much appreciated, the singer being recalled to repeat part of her song. Two excellent items were 'For the green' (Hermann, Lohr) and ' The little Gal way cloak ' (also by Lohr), sung by Mr. Ernest Parkes, who was given a most cordial reception, and warmly applauded. Mr. J. Finlay, at very short ! notice, and at the special request of his Excellency the ' Governor, recited, with excellent effect, ' Shamus O'Brien.' Misses Maisie and Peggy and Master St. Leger Reeves gave two really good exhibitions, in costume, of national dane- ! ing ; the Clan Johnstone troupe of dancers also contributed an Irish jig. The cornet solo by Mr. Alfred Cook (conductor of the band) was a very fine item. Other items were given by Master James McCarthy (recitation), Master Rupert Christie (song), and the pupils of the Marist Brothers' School (patriotic choruses). - "

The accompaniments were played by Miss Amy Remington, Miss. Henderson, and Miss Una Simon.