DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 30 May 1912, Page 36

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

(From our own correspondent.) May 27, At the Competitions held last week the first prize in essay writing on the ' Natural Resources of New Zealand,' open to competitors from any part of the Dominion under 15 years, was awarded to Master Linus Ryan, of the Marist Brothers' School, son of Sergeant Ryan, of Lyttelton. The Rev. Father Holbrook, Adm., St. Patrick's Cathedral, Auckland, who had been accompanying the Marist Brothers' Old Boys' Concert Company on its tour of Westland, arrived in Christchurch on Monday evening, and went North by Tuesday night's ferry steamer. During his brief stay as guest of the Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., he motored to Burnham on a visit of inspection to the Industrial School, being interested in these institutions as manager of St. Joseph's Orphanage and Industrial School at Takapuna. Through the inability of the Christchurch public to discover the Mysterious Mr. J arisen in half an hour in Cathedral Square one evening last week, Nazareth House benefited to the extent of £5. In a letter to the Rev. Mother, Mr. Talbot (manager for Mr. Jansen) wrote to the effect that considering Nazareth House to be the most deserving charity, it gave his firm much pleasure to contribute in the manner stated. During the season Mr. Jansen invited the children of Nazareth House (among others) to an afternoon performance. . On Sunday last, the Feast of Pentecost, there was Solemn Pontifical Mass in the Cathedral at 11 o'clock. His Lordship the Bishop was celebrant, Rev. Father Graham, S.M., M.A., assistant priest, the Rev. Fathers Quinn, S.M., and O'Boyle, deacons of honor at the throne, the Rev. Dr.-Kennedy, deacon of the Mass, Rev. Father Hanrahan subdeacon, and Very Rev. Father Price, Adm., master of ceremonies. His Lordship the Bishop addressed the congregation, and imparted the Papal blessing. The music was Turner's Mass of St. Cecilia, finely rendered by the choir, Mr.

A. W. Bunz being organist. The high altar and sanctuary were chastely adorned. In the evening there were Solemn "Pontifical Vespers and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. His Lordship the Bishop imparted the episcopal blessing, and preached on the subject of the day's festival. At the recent competitive term examination held in connection, with the schools of the Sisters of Notre Dame des Missions, Lower High street, the following pupils were successful in securing the first place in their respective classes: —Sacred Heart High School—Matriculation Class: Monica Page. Civil Service ClassLizzie Gill. Sub-Civil Service Class: Nora Bowler Standard VI. : Kathleen Haydon. Standard V. : Myra Jenyns (Woolston). Standard IV.: Stenny Chisnell (High School). Standard III.: May Fluerty (St Joseph's) and Bertie Gray (Woolston) equal. Standard II.: Mary Cassin (Addington). Standard I.: Kitty Wilson (High School). Primer 111. : Eunice James (St. Joseph's). The following pupils of the Sacred Heart High School secured honor certificates (80 per cent, m two subjects):—Maria Banfield, Ellen Hourigan, Kathleen Haydon, Cissia McElroy. The following obtain credit certificates (60 per cent, in four subjects) • I\ora Bowler, Mary Squires, Gertie Baker, Kathleen Hannan, Isabel Hucks, Kathleen Haydon, Maggie Murphy Eily Murphy, Joan Poff, Maggie O'Connell and Verda Wilson. The Competitions provided the principal attraction last week, and among the contestants a fair proportion were drawn from Catholic sources. In music some of the most successful competitors owe their training to our convent schools, notably to the Sisters of Mercy Among the competitors were Messrs. E. L McKeon P. McNamara, F. McDonald, and J. P. Laurenson! members of the Christchurch CatlmKo Club In the oratorical competitions Messrs. F. McDonald, P. McNamara, and J P. Laurenson entered, as did also 7™ • . J?' ? orodale of the Auckland Catholic Club Marist Brothers' Old Boys' Association). The judge heard Mr. Laurenson and Mr. J. C. Bell (Lower Hutt} a second time before deciding on a recall, when Mr Laurenson was beaten for third place by Mr Bell' In the recall Mr. McDonald was placed third. His subject was Lord Chatham on the American War.' Messrs P. McNamara and F. J. McDonald entered for the champion recitation, but neither succeeded in being placed among the winners. Concerning Mr. McNamara the judge remarked that he did not have a very good conception of the selection and missed a number of • the best points. Mr. McDonald, he said, recited well, and with excellent expression, but his chances were spoilt by mistakes in diction. The recalls included ' Mr 11. C. Borodale, and in the W he was placed first, beating Mr. Byron Brown and Mr. J. C. Bell In the Shakesperean recitation, Mr. F McDonald secured.third place, and with Mrs.. Allan second place m the Shakesperean dialogue. In the impromptu speech Messrs. E. L. McKeon and Brown were awarded an equal number of points, but as the latter had scored more points in humor he was declared the winner, Mr McKeon securing second place. In -the impromptu debate (lady and gentleman), Mr. McKeon and Miss Mazengarb were placed first. The members of the club are very pleased at the success of its representativesMessrs. McKeon and McDonald, and the noticeable improvement shown by Mr, Laurenson. In 'Her Husband s Journal ' a sketch with some clever lines, Mr. Frank McDonald and- Mrs. Arthur Allan provided con- " SS v m T™? *• The pair played splendidly, Mr. McDonald's facial expression being particularly good. The final entry in tbe-comedietta was staged by Miss Zoe Bartley and Mr. H. C. Borodale Auckland It was a scene from 'The Hunchback,' and the performance was an admirable one, Miss Bartley in particular doing excellent work. -The award was- -Miss Bartley and Mr. H. C. Borodale ; (Auckland 145 Mrs Allan and Mr. F. McDonald (Christchm^h), 140'