WAIHI

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 19, 13 May 1909, Page 743

WAIHI

(From our own correspondent.) May 3. Last night, at St. Joseph's Church, after Rosary, throe statues were unveiled — viz., the Sacred Heart < f Jesus, 'the Blessed Virgin, and St. Joseph. The Very Rev. Dean Hatfkett, of Paeroa, preached an eloquent serinoii. For the past year the local branch of the H.A.C.B. Society has been practically ab a standstill, but now the officers are making great efforts to get new members. The balance sheet for last quarter showed that the funds had increased by over £14. So as to make the meetings attractive a syllabus of after-meeting entertainments has been arranged. The annual entertainment by the pupils of the Waihi Convent School was given last Friday evening at the Academy Theatre. The programme submitted was an excellent one, each item being enthusiastically received. Pianoforte selections were played by Mrs. Barber and Mfsses McAnulty and O'Donnell. The choruses by the girl pupils, ' Starlight on the sea ' and ' Pansy faces,' wero given in a very ple'asyjg manner. Miss D. Hatton, in a descriptive ballad, was a great success. She was loudly applauded, and had to respond to an encore. The Kazoo Band next marched out in all the glory-mf red and yellow uniform, and occupied the boards ' with distinct success. This was a -most interesting item, and though the instruments used were evidently of a primitive nature, the effect was really good, and there was certainly no discord. The action song, 'Flower girls' and 'Hark, 'tis fairy - music ' (the latter a quartet, by the pupils) were both nicely rendered. ' Blue Bells,' by the junior pupils, proved the gem of the evening. The boys followed with an action song, and this also proved a most acceptable item. Master Walter Ford took the drummer boy's part, including th« solo, with marked success. ' The queen's garland,' the next item, was a pretty musical sketch introducing the song and chorus ' Roses,' Miss McAnulty taking the queen's part. The costumes and floral decorations were presented with nice effect. Miss M. Kelly sang a descriptive song in a meritorious manner, assisted by three or four little tots as playmates, and was loudly applauded. A recitation by Miss M. O'Donnell, and tent drill by the pupils, were well received. The chorus and tableau, 'Erin,' was another pleasing contribution, Miss McAnulty taking the part of Erin. A skirt dance by the girl pupils was gracefully executed, and the effect was most pleasing.

The Very Rev. Father Brodie returned thanks to -all who assisted in making the function a success. He congratulated the children and their teachers, and he trusted that the efforts of the Sisters would be marked every year by the same success, and that when the children graduated to the great stage of life, they would prove a credit to their teachers, to their parents, and to themselves. A dramatic sketch entitled ' Dottie's Dream"' concluded the programme. The principal role was nice]y sustained by little Miss Doris Hatton, avlio showed exceptional ability in this part, her acting and enunciation being equally good. The other girls also did excellent work. The local paper says : ' The Sisters are to be congratulated for the very fine programme which they presented, and which, must have cost them many hours of careful training, and hard work. The children are also to be. commended for the wholehearted manner in which they entered into the work, and the efficiency with which they surmounted all difficulties.'