Invercargill

New Zealand Tablet, 14 December 1911, Page 2526

Invercargill

(From our own correspondent.) December 11. The annual distribution of prizes to the pupils of the convent schools takes place on Wednesday, morning. The annual meeting of the Irish Athletic Society will take place to-night. The following report will be submitted; — presenting the 26th annual report and balance sheet, your directors regret that owing to adverse weather conditions the attendance at the annual sports was not so large as was expected. The Society is very unfortunate in having had bad weather for the last two sports meetings, but we trust that 1912 will provide us with a fine day. Once again the Society has enhanced its reputation with the public by providing an exciting day’s sport, and also by the promptness with which events were got off up to the advertised time. As usual, the Sheffield was the star attraction, thirty runners taking part in this event, and almost every heat provided a race in itself. Large fields and close finishes were the order of the day in all the running events. The amateur events were fairly well patronised, but there is reason to believe that if trophies instead of medals were given for these events, there would be a substantial increase in the number of amateurs competing. The dancing attracted larger entries than in previous years, and the schools’ relay race has now become one of the star attractions of our programme. During the past year the society has lost the services of some useful directors, viz., Mr. H. Crawford and Mr. J. A. Sheridan, and we wish to place on record our appreciation of their services. We have also suffered a loss through Mr. J. S. Murphy having left this district. Mr. Murphy has acted as sole judge of the Sheffield Handicap for years, and has always given the utmost ’ satisfaction both to the competitors and the public, and we regret very much his having had to sever his connection with the society, and we wish him every success in his new sphere of life. Referring to the balance sheet, it will be noticed that, though the weather was unfavorable, we have netted a profit of £sl 3s 2d over the meeting. We started the year with a credit balance of £27 5s 6d, and this has now been increased to £7B 8s Bd, a most satisfactory result, and one that has been brought about a good deal through the efforts of the directors. In conclusion, we must place on record our appreciation of the services rendered by the Hibernian Band and also the Southland Pipe Band, both of which turned out voluntarily to give us a helping hand. (From an occasional correspondent.) On Friday evening, Mr. IT. S. Searle, the popular conductor of St. Mary’s choir, was the recipient of a handsome baton, the gift of the members. Very Rev. Dean Burke, in making the presentation, eulogised Mr. Searle’s efforts in connection with the choir, and congratulated him on the able and painstaking manner in which he carries out his duties. Mr. Searle suitably replied.