Kihikihi

New Zealand Tablet, 7 May 1914, Page 26

Kihikihi

(By/ telegraph, from an occasional correspondent.) /-.. ’ • May 4. • The Rev. Father McCarthy, Marist Missioner, left by this morning’s train in company with • the Rev. ■ Father Lynch for Hamilton, en route for Karamu, : where the last mission of the series he has been con- ; ducting for the past few weeks will be held (says, the ; Te Awamutu Post). The parish priest was very, en- ! thusiastic this morning when seen with regard to the ■ success "of the mission '. Over 95-per cent;' of .the Cath- • olics of ’ the parish attended "the mission, : and received ~ i the Sacraments. Converts were received in each of the centres, and, as the pastor said, at Ohaupo on Sunday, he felt that he had now a new parish and a new people. The greatest enthusiasm prevails among- the congregation, many of the parishioners : coming daily- several miles to assist at the various exercises. At Ohaupo, on Sunday, one prominent member ;of the congregation made the suggestion that a worthy appreciation of the mission t would be the building, of a new church for which he put down £IOO. Immediately his' good example was followed by another* offering £SO; ; . So the success of the scheme is assured. The three , missions .were .concluded. on > Sunday last at Pirongia, Ohaupo, -and Te Awamutu by special - ceremonies, after which Rev. .Father, McCarthy touchingly took farewell of the good people of ' these districts: A 1 heavy harvest has been reaped, said the missioner, but it is only the fruit of many weary months and years’ -toil On'-the ; part of the pastor, who seemed to have but bae ! aim ! in life/—that/ of laboring, oblivious of hardship and 4,

personal strain;' for > the spiritual' advancement of 'his beloved people. -v.' 1 ?- ■"""■. "'"'•' "'"-; ' '- r i '■*' ! ; Rev. Father":' Lynch then on his own and the people's behalf, thanked Rev: Father McCarthy * for the unprecedented success" that had followed his mission. That success was far and away , above-anything -he ever dreamed of. He wished the young missioner the success his ability and "zeal predicted for him, and urged the congregation to manifest their gratitude by 'daily prayers for similar results in other missions. > *'. '"v The mission, at I Rangia'ohia was greatly appreciated by the good people of the district, and everything was done for the* assistance and comfort of J ,the priests during their stay there. The mission leaves the happiest of memories in the minds and • hearts c 6f the Catholic people of the whole parish. ' \ -^r r ; Cambridge ....; J ). The new Catholic presbyterya -large ferro-con-crete. building, fitted with every convenience, and erected at a cost of about £9OO-was opened on Sunday morning, April 26, by his Lordship Bishop Cleary, whowas assisted by the Very Rev. Dean Darby:(Hamilton)., and the Very Rev. Father Kehoe (says the Independent). The ceremony began at 11 "o'clock, when a Mum Cantata was celebrated by Very Rev.. Dean Darby. ... The . music of the Mass was beautifully ; rendered by the -Catholic choir from Matamata, under .the leadership of Mr. Donald Pike, Mrs Lundon. being organist. , . .. ...-...: .... ".'-: - - -., • V--.. .. His Lordship the Bishop preached an impressive sermon on The Church,' tracing its history - tbrQUgjb trials and opposition from the beginning, down to.the present day. He was particularly interesting ,in his references to the modern anti-Christian methods ; and utterances of the so-called clever men of the nineteenth and twentieth.centuries. .. .".'.". .- • At the conclusion of the sermon a procession, was formed, and his Lordship, assisted by the clergy, performed the ceremony of blessing the new building, ..,' Rev. Father Murphy, on behalf of and himself, paid a well-merited tribute of. praise esteem to the Bishop for coming to officiate and for his beautiful address. He. also thanked the people for their whole-hearted interest in the temporalities of the Church locally. The offortories amounted to £75, and ) were devoted to the extinction of the debt on the new presbytery. "'•..' In the ' evening Rev. ' Father Kehoe, a visitor from Ireland, preached, and the Bishop gave Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament. ... ■.. ..s**,,-.■*, .<.. This week a number of ladies are arranging- the furnishing," etc., of the • new presbytery, and' Father Murphy takes possession on Saturday, "May-2.: Most of the furnishing of the house is being done gratis by the ladies of the' Congregation. r; ; .. ••,5., ' "It is-noteworthy to state that the cost of the residence has already been largely subscribed to, and with -Sunday's collection of £75, there will only be.a very 'small deficit, -•'■ - .--■-,. - ~.. ".. .;...„ „'"" ■ ." .. Westport; ... The public of Westport (says the Westport News) -.had looked forward with, an eager interest to the staging of ' Beauty and the Beast' in anticipation of seeing something of a decidedly, attractive nature, but were hardly prepared for the admirable performance given -by s. the.;; convent pupils at. the Victoria Theatre. . It L.simply surpassed all expectations. Westport had not realised what an array of talent it possesses in its young folk, when - the talent is rightly directed. S The staging of Beauty and the. Beast'., was a veritable ;■ triumph alike for the performers and for those behind the scenes. Right through the. performance there was . the evidence of excellent tuition by the Sisters / and a • ready response on the part' of the pupils. . ' -rr;. The first section of the programme was taken up .' with the operetta. •"? Miss Alice Castle, as Beauty, hid

* T er y congenial , part., Her acting was good and ,her, soprano voice was heard to excellent advantage in the, songs allotted to her. Miss Nora ; ,Crabb, .i who played; the part p£ the Beast,. made . her : first appearance m Westport, and scored a pronounced success, acting' . singing both being of a very : high order. .. Miss D : Moroney,. iu tho role ; of Reb Ilab, the, - merchant,,, was responsible for some very, fine work-. .; She had an excellent conception of. her part, and played . and sang with a charming grace. ' Misses *Bridie Doyle . and Nora Dojrle, ■ as Pretoria.,and 'Belladonna, were at home in their parts. Their. singing was marked by U.high degree of talent, and their acting and dancing left no room for fault-finding. Miss Eileen O’Brien, as the : Fairy Queen, alsp scored a well-earned success, the role of the old dame in particular being a fine effort on. her part. The array of pretty dresses in the choruses and' tableaux made a beautiful picture, reflecting every credit on the artistic tastes of the Sisters and those assisting them in the staging of the performance. The opening number of the second part was ‘ The hunters,’ an illustrated chorus and dance With 16 performers, and which was very gracefully executed. ‘ The Band/ by the children, was also a fine item, and -won well-earned applause. 'Miss Bridie Doyle gave am artistic 7 interpretation of ‘ Mellisande in the Wood.’ * The Spring Maidens,’ another illustrated chorus, with graceful dancing, was also delightful.. Miss Clarice TaCylof - made quite a ‘hit’ with 'her monologue, ‘Christmas Bells;’ the little dot doing' surprisingly well. ‘Butterflies,’ chorus and dance, was',also gracefully executed, the evolutions being performed in a - very 'heat and intelligent manner. -Miss Castle's song, * Red Rosebud,’ enabled ' that young lady to show her fine voice and artistic conception to advantage. ‘ The Dolls,’ by young ladies, was pleasingly performed and warmly applauded. * The Geishas ’ by older pupils, was a very pleasant reminder of Pollards at the best, the dancing being neat and in every way worthy of professionals. Miss Elsie Ives with her song, ‘Bring me roses,’ brought down the house. She was very ably assisted by a quartet of young girls, this Item being one of the best of the evening. Miss Eily O’Brien, in a skirt dance, wbn unstinted applause. She showed no small degree bf talent. -; Miss Crabb made a fine impression with her song, ‘Peacefully slumber,’ and the final tableau, * Lovely flowers,’ was a fitting ending to a remarkably clever, all-round meritorious performance. •. 1