NAZARETH HOUSE, CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 14 December 1911, Page 2526

NAZARETH HOUSE, CHRISTCHURCH

VISIT OF HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR His Excellency the Governor, Lord Islington, accompanied by Captain Shannon, A.D.C. (writes our Christchurch correspondent), visited Nazareth House on last Saturday morning. He was met on arrival by his Lordship the Bishop, the Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., and members of the community. Meeting first the old men, who accorded him a hearty welcome, his Excellency spoke to them in cheerful terms. He next met the little orphan children, who received him by singing the National Anthem,, followed by a song of welcome. Little Kitty O’Shea, in clear and perfect tones, recited the following address to Lord Islington: ‘ May it please your Excellency, in the name of the Sisters and aged people, we, the Children of Nazareth House, fail to express in words the mingled feelings of gratitude and joy, with which we hail your Excellency’s visit to our midst. Since the first intimation of that pleasure, we have been eagerly looking forward to this happy day, and now that our hopes are realised, and we enjoy the privilege of meeting your Excellency, our happiness is complete. We would gladly thank your Excellency in the most fitting manner possible, but as our best efforts to do so fall so far short, of expressing our gratitude, we ask your Excellency to accept as a small token of the respect with which we welcome you to-day this bouquet of flowers. Happy should we be if we could offer your Excellency a gift more valuable, but though these flowers may lose their bloom and fragrance, be assured the respectful affection with which they are given', together with the pleasing' remembrance of this event will remain unchanged. In conclusion, we fervently pray God to bless and prosper your Excellency, to grant you in fullest measure strength, health, and length of days, and to enrich you while life lasts with every happiness. 1 We have the honor to be, your Excellency’s most obedient and respectful Children of Nazareth.’ In graciously accepting the address his Excellency said the delivery of the text by the little girl was the best thing he had ever listened to. He had visited schools, and many at that, but nowhere had he experienced such a surprising example of native talent and brilliant teaching. The feat was all the more remarkable as his visit was a hurriedly arranged one, and but a few hours were available to make preparations. The address was, therefore, written, beautifully illuminated, and the text committed to memory practically in the course of one day. His Excellency, who was evidently greatly delighted, expressed his deep appreciation of all that had been done in his honor. He urged the children from the oldest to the youngest to do their utmost to respond to the very excellent training they were receiving at the hands of the devoted Sisters. A bouquet was presented to the Governor for Lady Islington, who was unable to be present, and little Mary O’Shea, a sister of the previous performer, recited ‘ The curfew ’ most perfectly, and was highly complimented by his Excellency. After his Lordship the Bishop had spoken in terms of welcome and appreciation of the Governor’s visit, his Excellency spoke of his acquaintance with the mother house of the Order of the Sisters of Nazareth at Hammersmith, London, one of the greatest works of Cardinal Wiseman, a great power of the Church. He congratulated New Zealand on the establishment of a branch of the famous Order. After meeting the old women, 'his Excellency inspected the whole institution, expressing himself as charmed with all he had seen, but greatly pained when told that heavy rates and taxes were exacted from the institution, although wholly and entirely supported by charity and doj,ng such a noble work for humanity. Before taking his departure his Excellency gave the children a holiday to be remembered as the Governor’s day. ; -v.