Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, 12 November 1914, Page 25

Diocesan News

ARCHDIOCESE OP WELLINGTON (From our own correspondent.) November 7. Mr. William Perry, of the legal firm of Fitzgibbon and Perry, headed the poll at a bye-election for the vacancy of councillor in the Eastbourne Borough Council. The Yen. Archdeacon Devoy, S.M., received a cablegram yesterday intimating that the Very Rev. Dean Regnault, S.M., the Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy, S.M., 8.A., and the Very Rev. Dean Holley were returning to New Zealand via New York. St. Patrick’s branch of the Hibernian Society met last Monday evening under the presidency of Bro. Jer. O’Brien, P.P., P.P. Bro. Very Rev. Father O’Connell, S.M., being also present. After the routine business the. members of the ladies’ branch visited the meeting, and a most pleasant evening was spent. The retreat for the Catholic men of Wellington commenced at St. Mary of the Angels’ on last Tuesday evening under the conductorship of the Rev. Father* Thos. McCarthy, S.M., the well-known Marist Missioned The exercises, which are being well attended, begin with Mass at 6 a.m. and instruction, and conclude in the evening with Rosary, sermon, and Benediction. The mission conducted by the Rev. Father McCarthy at St. Anthony’s, Brooklyn, was concluded on Sunday evening, and was most successful. There were excellent attendances at all the exercises, and the residents are deeply grateful to the good missioner and highly appreciate the action of their popular parish priest, the Very Rev. Father O’Connell, S.M., in placing such facilities at their disposal for their spiritual advancement. ' , v A very successful meeting in connection with St. Joseph’s parish bazaar was held on last Tuesday evening at the presbytery, Patterson street. The Rev. Father Hurley, Adm., presided. It was decided to open the bazaar on November 25 in the Skating Rink. The various committees and stallholders gave very good reports, and notwithstanding the depression caused by

the war a very successful result is anticipated. 1 The profits will be devoted towards liquidating the debt incurred in renovating St. Joseph’s Church, Buckle street. 1 There was a large attendance of ladies and gentlemen at St. Patrick’s Hail on last Thursday evening to make arrangements for the-annual Catholic picnic for the Education Fund on Boxing Day. Mr. T. J. Davis presided, and it was decided to hold the picnic this year at Municipal Park, Seatoun, which is an ideal spot with every convenience for holding a picnic on a large scale. A steamer will be chartered for the day to transport picnickers from the city to Seatoun, and those who do not care to travel by sea can utilise the tram cars, which the committee will also charter. It was decided to convey the school children free and cater for them. Attractive sports programmes for adults and children are being arranged, as well as fascinating sideshows; and it is confidently anticipated that, given fine weather, this year’s picnic will easily eclipse all previous attempts. The annual entertainment of the Marist Brothers’ Thorndon School was held in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall last Wednesday night. The hall was packed, and as the proceeds are to be devoted to the relief of distress caused by the war, a considerable addition will be made to this fund. The entertainment proved a great success. Among the items specially singled out for applause was Master Fergus Reeves’s recitation, How O’Docherty swam the Channel,’ which was twice encored. The song, ‘ The orphan’s appeal, by Masters Cyril Simpson, Stewart Emerson, , and Tom George, brought forth a regular shower of coins, the performers being literally pelted with money. ’The class recitation, ‘ Charge of the Light Brigade,’ was a spirited rendering of Tennyson’s poem ; while the Maze Drill, by the pupils, was a grand spectacular flag display, with limelight effects by Mr. A. Whitelaw, the boys looking exceedingly neat in their uniforms of white ’varsity suits with green sashes around their waists and white shoes. Master Ben O’Brien sang ‘ Those songs my mother used to sing ’ and played a violin solo, ‘ Obertas,’ both being warmly appreciated. The overtures, ‘ Dance of the skylarks,’ and ‘ Silvery waves,’ by Masters James Garrett and Frank Hally, were loudly applauded. Master George Lacey gave a spirited rendering of ‘ Bingen on the Rhine,’ and Master Harold Trehey’s solo, ‘ She is far from the land,’ was feelingly sung. In physical drill, the squad trained by Mr. J. A. Duffy showed considerable proficiency, and the part songs by the senior and junior pupils were a feature of the entertainment, the accompanists being Master Frank Hally and James Garrett. The farce, ‘ Pat Molloy, a Literary Genius,’ was duly applauded, the characters being sustained by Masters Leo O’Connell, Fergus Reeves, Ben. O’Brien, Clarence Poppleton, and Cecil Finucane. The Allies’ patriotic songs, ‘Rule Britannia,’ ‘ La Marseillaise,’ and the ‘ Russian Hymn,’ evoked loud plaudits from the -audience. Great credit is due the Rev. Brother Louis, the Superior, and his two hardworking assistants for., the magnificent training they have imparted to the boys. *The,Rev. Father Hickson, who was received with deafening applause, apologised for the absence of the Rev. Father Tymons, S.M., Adm., and on behalf of Brother Louis and his staff thanked the audience for their attendance and encouragement. Father Hickson at the same time complimented the Brothers on the excellent training which they had imparted to • the boys, as evidenced by the splendid programme of musical and elocutionary items and spectacular displays they one and all enjoyed and appreciated that evening.' The Brothers’ School has only been established three years, yet in twelve months of that short, space of time it has already earned distinction which many schools of longer establishment might very ,well envy, as the following will disclose—3 scholarships at St. Patrick’s College, December, 1913; 2 junior free places (Junior National Scholarship Examination), December, 1913 ; 17. proficiencies in Standard YI., "December, 1913; the winning of the ‘ Duthie ’ Cup, Wellington Schools’ ■ Swimming ' Championship (Relay ■ Race), -1914; the winning of the

Thistle ’ Cup, Wellington Schools’ Soccer Championship, 1914 the winning of a set of silver medals, Wellington Schools’ Five-a-side Tournament (senior grade);