CATHOLIC CLUBS

New Zealand Tablet, 6 July 1911, Page 1259

CATHOLIC CLUBS

ONEHUNGA. .. (From the club correspondent.) Juno 26. There was a large attendance of members and visitors at ,the mock banquet held in the club room last Wednesday evening. The president (Mr. A. J. Martin) occupied the chair. The programme opened with the president's welcome to the visitors, after which the following toasts were honored: The Pope and King,’ proposed by the president; ‘ Onehunga Catholic Club,’ proposed by Mr. Hall-Skelton., and responded to by Mr. J. E. Dempsey; ‘ Kindred societies, proposed by Mr. J. P. Boland,.and responded to by Mr. E. Dane; ‘lreland, a Nation,’ proposed by Mr. Hall-Skelton; ‘The Press,’ proposed by Mr. D. Williams, and responded to by Mr. J. P. Boland; ‘The Ladies,’ proposed by Mr. Hugh McGehan, _ and responded to by Mr. J. W. Kennedy. During the evening musical items were rendered by Messrs.. Higgins, Bryant, Dane, and Martin. The item of the evening was undoubtedly the fine speech made by Mr. HallSkelton (Auckland) in proposing the toast, ‘ Ireland, a Nation.’ He spoke for forty-five minutes, and dealt with the government of Ireland for 300 yeijjs past. At the conclusion of his speech he was accorded a hearty vote of thanks, which was carried with acclamation. The proceedings were brought to a close by the singing of ‘ God save the King.’ _ On Sunday morning the club members and the members of the H.A.C.B. Society approached the Holy Table in a body, it being the occasion of their quarterly Communion. The Very Rev. Father Mahoney congratulated the members of both societies on their excellent attendance, and wished them every success. CHRISTCHURCH. ; „ (From our club correspondent.) June 29. The usual weekly meeting was dispensed with on Tuesday evening to permit of the club’s representatives going to Lyttelton to engage in a debate with the Lyttelton Literary and Debating Society. The subject was Would the Christchurch-Sumner Canal bo beneficial to North Canterbury?’ the club taking the affirmative. Mr. Sims opened, and laid down a very strong case. Mr. McKeon followed, and treated the matter from a financial standpoint. Mr. J. R. Hayward closed with a fine summing up of, the speeches of the opposition, but owing to having only 16 minutes to speak, he was unable to make use of any of bis matter. This was unfortunate, as it eventually turned out that the judges had previously decided to treat matter as the all important point, consequently, when the result was made known, Lyttelton were placed first, scoring 248 points to the club’s 223. It was pointed out by the Lyttelton judge that as speakers the club’s representatives were particularly brilliant; in fact, lie had no hesitation in stating that they were the finest set of speakers he had ever listened to, and the audience, which, by the way, was large, quite bore out the judge’s remarks. It therefore becomes difficult to understand why our opponents were placed first. However, we can congratulate the winners, who were a very even set of speakers. A further debate has been arranged to take place in the club rooms in about a month's time. The club entertained their lady friends at a ‘ social ’ evening in the club rooms last night, the function being largely attended and thoroughly enjoyed by the largo number present. A capital musical programme was gone through, and all voted it as one of the most enjoyable evenings’ yet given by the club.