DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 4 November 1909, Page 1734

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From Our Own Correspondent.) m. .11 ,- November 1. lhere will be First Communion of the children in the Cathedral on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, and confirmation will be administered on a day to be set apart shortly afterwards. -* The boys of the Marist' Brothers' School excel not only hi football, but in other branches of athletics. The School cricket team won the first primary schools' match of the season on Saturday, when they defeated the Elmwobd School by an innings and 40 runs. Mr. Patrick O'Shea, not yet twenty years of age, one of the old boys of the Marist Brothers' School, and captain ,of the Old Boys' Football Club, proved his stamina on baturday by winning the road race— Timaru to Christchurch (1U miles) — against competitors from' all parts' of the .Dominion. Besides battling against strong winds the whole' way, sustaining a couple of rather bad falls, and seriously buckling his wheel, he rode a , fine race, and did not appearunduly fatigued on arrival. His club mates and the old boys generally are naturally much elated at the success achieved. His Lordship the Bishop visited the Cathedral ', Conference of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul at the ordinary weekly meeting on last Wednesday evening, and- installed Bro. G. C. Hayward as president. His Lordship spoke encouragingly of the efforts made by the Society to cope with its ■essential works. A great deal of good was "accomplished in the community by the Society, and with the increased membership he wished to see, future results would prove equally hopeful. The Bishop spoke also of visits he" had paid: and of general meetings at which he had presided in Ireland England, Belgium, etc., where the Society was led by r andlarge'ly composed of, the leading Catholic laymen, even .the nobility deeming it a special privilege to be associated with the organisation. - . . *" In his report of the recent inspection ', of ~ the- Cathedral Parish Girls' School, in, charge of the Sisters of the Missions, the inspector under the -North Canterbury Board of Education (Mr. W. Brock) says:— 'This school, which on the present, occasion was inspected by itself, and not in conjunction with the pupils of the primary, division- of the Sacred Heart Convent School, marked a distinctly satisfactory appearance. The pupils show a. keen interest,, are under good control, and give a pleasing impression of industry. The programmes are sufficiently substantial in quantity to make due provision for a liberal compliance with requirements. A

good rate of progress has been maintained, the year's work "being practically covered. The responses were generally creditable, written papers being models of neatness. Singing is of exceptional merit, and sewing and physical- instruction decidedly good..' Mr. Thomas Hughes, Education B.oard Inspector, who examined St. Ann 's Catholic School, Woolston, reports as follows: — 'In the schemes of work submitted, a provision is made for instruction as required by the Educational Syllabus, and much commendable work in the essential subjects is r presented at this examination. The discipline and tone are creditable, and a fine spirit of work prevails throughout the school. In'_general, the. results show that pro- " motions from class to class have been judiciously made. A pleasing feature, and one that postulates capable, teaching, is the general response shown by the pupils in oral examinations in the various subjects. ' After describing in detail tlie work of the. scho,ol in generally complimentary terms the report concludes: — 'The preparatory classes are receiving a satisfactory training- in the work prescribed. As a whole the results showed that the' pupils are doing useful and suitable work. The "school is taught by the Sisters of the Mission. ' The iSacred Heart School at "Addington was examined by Mr. E. K. Mulgan, and St. Agnes' School at Halswell by Mr. W. Brock (Education Board Inspectors). Both schools are in charge of the Sisters of the Missions, but space will not.permit of the comprehensive reports regarding them being given. Reporting on his examination of the primary division of the Sacred Heart Convent High School (Sisters of the Missions), Mr. W. Brock, the inspector, writes: — 'This school - ' presents a substantial amount of work in an advanced stage of preparation, the major portion of the year's programme having been covered. The pupils are exceedingly attentive, anxious to display their knowledge, and generally exhibit a close acquaintance with the matter under review. Papers are commendably neat, and answers in oral tests were on the whole fairly well distributed, giving - evidence_of painstaking instruction. Prominent features of the results are, good singing, strong drawing, and excellent needlework.' /-Referring in detail to the work of the various standards the;-inspec-tors' remarks are equally complimentary, and whilst congratulating the teachers on the excellent results, he says 'that the work has been well drawn up and carriecpout on sound lines. ' The Opera House was filled in every part on last Thursday evening at a musical and dramatic entertainment given by the past and present pupils of the Sisters of the Missions, in aid of the fund for renovating the parochial schools of the. Cathedral. The event was under the patronage .of his Lordship the Bishop, who, together with several of the clergy, ■vra^ present. The arrangements were, as usual, excellently supervised by the secretary, Mr. E. O'Connor. The first part of the programme consisted of vocal and instrumental items, and the second of a very pretty little play, and all through the items were wonderfully, bright and attractive. Misses M. O'Connor and L. Barker played a piano duet, and a violin solo by Miss W. BriSE was givjsn with spirit. One of the. most effective items was a pretty ballad, "In Sweet Killarney,' which was sung- by a number of little Convent pupils, and was clearly and neatly rendered. The children earned a hearty encore.. Later on they went through some drill exercises with clubs, the performance being given with a care and precision -that -spoke volumes for their tutors.' A dialogue, 'Throwing Stones, r by the pupils, was another popular item, the girl who impersonated a boy in the story being especially good. Miss C. Wildey sang 'O Divine Redeemer' very well, and was encored. A trio for harp, piano, and harmonium, the 'Miserere' scene from 'H Trovatore, ' was excellently given by Misses L. Barker, M. O'Connor, and Doris Amyes. The quartet, 'Aye Maria' (Gounod), was played by Misses Brick (violin), Barker (piano), K. O'Connor (harmonium), and Miss O'Connor, who took the solo most effectively. Misses Brick and Vera Erck played a nice 'violin duet, and a vocal trio 'Oft in the Stilly Night,' was harmoniously rendered by Misses M. O'Connor, W. Brick, and C. Coakley. An instrumental selection by a small orchestra of young ladies was cleverly given, and the short play, 'Yvonne,' was then presented. The characters were all taken by young ladies, and the piece went with a brightness that was effective in always making it interesting. The scenery was pretty and the dressing was good. Miss Fanning as a fisherwoman and' Miss Mclntyre as her daughter acted with a good deal of confidence, and Miss Gardner~as a wealthy lady was also good. Misses A. Foley, R. Buchanan, N. Corliss, K. Redmond, C. ■ McKendry, A. McGill, M. Horan, and .others took the remaining characters well, and the piece was heartily applauded". The Rev. Mother of Nazareth House acknowledges with sincere thanks the receipt of additional subscriptions- amount% ing to about £60 towards the erection of the new building.' As recently stated in the 'Press,' the erection of the new block at The Grove, for the Nazareth House, the cost of which ' will be over £21,000, is proceeding rapidly. The foundation stone was laid by his Excellency the Governor, Lord Plunket, on January 17 of this year, and already the roof is on and partially slated. The work, under the able .superin-tendence-of Mr. O'Connell, clerk of works, has been pushed on -with commendable rapidity. 1 - The- first floor, which will be used for dormitories, is pearly; finished, the plastering

being just upon completod. On the ground floor the plastering of the lengthy corridor, over, 100 ft, and- the spacious schoolrooms are in a very forward state. The erection of the tower has been completed, and already the building is beginning to loom up" large, in the. landscape. The' kitchen block- is practically — with the exception of the inside "nttings — finished, as is also the children's refectory. ". \ The other portions of the building .are in. a forward state,' and Mr. O'Connell is sanguine that the whole' work will- be completed early in the year. The building is an - exceedingly substantial one, being of brick and-stone]" The acquisition- of the Grove property for the building, with, the commodious^private house thereon, has enabled the Sisters to relieve the great congestion w.hich prevailed at the Ferry Road" House. The whole of the house at the Grove has been devoted to the" old women in the House. The drawing-room and large diningroom have been utilised as dormitories, in order to comfortably accommodate the aged inmates, and they have now exceedingly comfortable quarters. j : Their removal from the Ferry Road House has enabled much-needed room to be given to the very large number of children — about 70 — in the Home. The new quarters ar # c .also much more pleasant for the old women, as. there is a large garden with plenty of alcoves, etc., where they can sit in the sunshine. It is not so generally known as it. ought to be that though managed and supported by # Catholic organisation, the work of Nazareth House is purely unsectarian. There "are several inmates who are non-Catholics, and recently one of these, who was ill and subsequently died, was attended throughout her illness by a Church of England clergyman. When the new work is completed, all the inmates now at Ferry Road House, comprising children and old men, will be removed to the Grove;