CONVENT OF THE SACRED HEART, TIMARU

New Zealand Tablet, 12 February 1914, Page 49

CONVENT OF THE SACRED HEART, TIMARU

(From an occasional correspondent.) Rev. Mother Stuart, Superior-General of the Society, of the Sacred Heart, left here on Wednesday, January 28, and on the following Friday left Wellington for Sydney by the Maunganui. HtSr eleven days’ stay in 'iunaru was a memorable time. On Thursday, January 5 22, the pupils of the boarding school returned in full numbers, and the joyous welcome reception accorded on the following day to their revered visitor rivalled that which the ex-pupils had tendered the previous week. The reception-room represented a forest of native trees and plants, with clematis hanging in graceful festoons. On the stage was a Maori whare, within which was seen the dusky form of a venerable chief, surrounded by a band of native#, who recounted in prose and Verse the principal traditions of their race -—tlie creation of the world, the birth oL woman, the origin of fire, and the fishing up of our island. The second part of the programme showed the Christian Maori heroically sacrificing his life for the conversion of his enemies. The miisic was Grieg’s ‘ Peer Gynt suite,’ a poi chorus, and several native songs. On Saturday morning took place the annual distribution of prizes, postponed from last December. The youthful orchestra opened the proceedings with a Haydn symphony in miniature, while the seniors rendered Liszt’s ‘Rhapsodic Hongroise’ as a duo on two pianos. The prize list was as follows:—Honors.—The second blue ribbon and second medallion were given to Philomena Ward ; the third ribbon to Alison Corry ; -the fifth to Mary Petre ; the sixth to Doris Tate; next in merit, Frances Darby and Margot Muller. The first green ribbon to May Annetts : the second to Kathleen Craighead : the third to Rita Hatton; the fourth to Lucy Kennedy. The pink ribbon to Claire Simson, Ruth Nottingham, Mary Mahar, Naureen Gawne, Florence Williams, Madeleine McQuilkin, Jessie McKenzie, Madeleine O’Shaughness)', Jean Loughnan, Marie Skinner, Annie Ardagh, Nora Nottingham, May Craighead, Eileen O’Meeghan, Mona Ardagh, Marie O’Callaghan, Dearmar McCormac, Margaret Loughnan, Phyllis MeCormac. General Good Conduct. Philomena Ward; next in merit, Alison Corry. 1 Christian Doctrine.—First division—Philomena "Ward ; next in merit, Alison Corry ; second division Mary Petre: next in merit, Lina Smiley, Madge Craighead ; third division Margaret Mahar; next in merit, Margaret Kirk; fourth division—Ruth Nottingham; next in merit, Nora Nottingham. First Class.—English subjects, Philomena Ward. Second Class. —English subjects, Doris Tate; next in merit, Alison Corry. Third Class.—English subjects, Lina Sunley : next in merit, Mary Petre. Science subjects, Madeleine Hooker : next in merit, Cecilia Wareing. Fourth Class. —English subjects, Nellie Farrell. Science subjects, Nellie Farrell ; next in merit, Margaret Kirk. Fifth Class. Diligence. Constance Walklev : next in merit, Rita Hatton. Geography and arithmetic, Mary McKendry: next in geography, Trixie Findlay. , Reading, Annie Bloxham. ; ‘ y ' Seventh Class.—Geography and arithmetic, Nora Nottingham. ’••Reading, Mary Makar; next in 'merit, Mary Tansey. ■ , . /I ,• -V; \ ■ . . Elementary - Class. Encouragement, . ’ Margaret Loughnan . Needlework division, Frances Darby ; next in merit, Doris Tate. Second division, May Annetts next in merit, Louie Sutherland, Agnes Brosnan. Third division; Margaret Mahar; next in merit, Rita

Hatton, Margaret Kirk. Fourth division, Ruth Nottingham. . '■ ' < , v » vr < V Order. Cecilia Wareing ; next in merit; ;; Alison ? Corry, Agnes Brosnan. - ■/ Domestic Economy. Alison Corry ; next in merit, Philomena Ward. , - ’ French. Third division, Alison Corry; next in merit, Doris Tate. Fourth division, Cecilia Wareing; next in merit, Mary Petre, Madeleine Hooker. Fifth division, Molly Sutherland ; next in merit, May. Lynch. Supplementary division, Rita Hatton. Sixth division, Kathleen Gawne ; next in merit, Mary Mahar. Elementary division, Vida Hicks-Ross. Certificates for good conduct and diligence.— mena Ward, Alison Corry, Mary Petre, Doris Tate, Cecilia Wareing, Madge Craighead, Madeleine Hooker, May Annetts. Certificates for good conduct.—Frances Darby, Margot Muller, Annie Stephenson, Lina Sunlcy, Agnes Brosnan, Lucy Kennedy, Blanche Jones. Certificates for diligence.—Nellie Farrell, Margaret Mahar. On Monday the school held a literary meeting. After the orchestra had rendered Haydn’s ‘ Surprise Symphony,’ the junior classes acted The Star Hunt,’ a Maori fairy tale. A chorus, ‘The snow’ (Elgar), was followed by a .description of curiosa tiki, a greenstone adze, and a child’s canoe ornamented with pawa shells. Many specimens of native birds were shown, and their habits describedkiwi, bell-bird, kakapo, kea, tou-hou, godwit, and feathers of the huia. Of the moa there was a skull, a body, and several-thigh bones, on© over three feet long. As an interlude, a quartette from Beethoven’s ‘ Fifth Symphony ’ was played.’ Essays on the Maoris and on their language were then read by the seniors, while a third, entitled ‘Our Mission,’ summed up the duties of a child of the Sacred Heart in Maoriland. Bracken’s inspiriting ‘ War chant of the Te Rauparaha ’ was recited with much vigor. After the address ,of welcome several sets of vestments were presented. They were the pupils’ own handiwork, and were destined for the Maori missions. The reception room was decorated with curios, mostly lent by kind friends. From the Maoris in Temuk.a came beautiful shoulder mats, among which one of kiwi-feathers was most remarkable. Mr. Cowan, of Timarn, sent a large collection, and spared neither time nor pains to make it worthy of the occasion. The Mother-General took the keenest interest in all, and bore away with her the happiest recollections of her sojourn in Maoriland. - ; Sr.r/ .- •