Dannevirke

New Zealand Tablet, 16 February 1911, Page 299

Dannevirke

A grand fancy carnival in aid of the Catholic church and school fund was inaugurated in the Drill Hall, Dannevirke, on Friday evening, February 3 (says the local Advocate). There was a very large attendance of the public. Every available point of vantage was taken up during the progress of Signor Borzoni's fancy dances, all of which were vociferously applauded. The various stalls and tea kiosk were well patronised, and the attendants reported excellent business. In introducing the Mayor (Mr. E. A. Ransom) to perform the opening ceremony, the Rev. Father Cahill said he was a man of great energy and ability, and had done a good deal towards the advancement of the town. Mr. Ransom was closely identified with the progress of Dannevirke, having been a resident here since a boy. He then called upon Mr. Ransom to perform the opening ceremony. Mr. Ransom, in his opening remarks, said he was asked by the committee to open the festival, as his Excellency the Governor (Lord Islington) was unable to be present. The Catholics of this community had shown great enterprise and foresight. He remembered the first church sixteen years ago, at Mangatero, which was removed by traction engine eleven years ago to its present site. He mentioned the following properties belonging to the Catholics:—Church and land, £1050; section in . Allardice street, £300; new presbytery, £950; convent school, £1650; total, £3950. There was a debt of £BSO, which they hoped to liquidate through the aid of the bazaar. The contributions to the building fund have been most liberal, one parishioner alone donating £650 towards the additions to the convent school. The Rev. Father Cahill had donated £IOO, with the promise of another £IOO towards the cost of the new convent. Other very encouraging promises of help had been received, totalling in all about £7OO. The convent building and the presbytery adjoining would cost about £4OOO, but the Sisters of the Missions had undertaken that financial responsibility. This building was an evidence of the confidence shown in the stability of Dannevirke, and a very fine addition to the public buildings of the town, thus helping to justify Archbishop Redwood's remark that the progress of the parish was the greatest in the archdiocese of Wellington. He wished to congratulate the committee on its venture, and hoped that all had come to the bazaar with full pockets. A special feature of the carnival would be Signor Borzoni's company of dancers.

In closing his address, Mr. Ransom wished _ the committee every success, and then declared the carnival duly open for business. ■

The Rev. Father Cahill, in responding, thanked Mr. Ransom for his remarks, and said that the Catholics were working for the good of the people. The spectacular drama, ' The Birth of the Empire,' was publicly enacted for the first time in Dannevirke last evening, before a large and enthusiastic gathering or' people, who had been attracted to the Drill Hall by the Catholic festival, of which the drama forms an important feature. The conception is novel to the people of these parts, but it is safe to say that the impression made was one of complete gratification, and Signor Borzoni and his pupils were the subject of much favorable comment and the recipients of many hearty congratulations.