SACRED HEART CONVENT, ISLAND BAY

New Zealand Tablet, 31 December 1914, Page 15

SACRED HEART CONVENT, ISLAND BAY

The weather was all that could be desired on the afternoon of December 15, when the pupils of the Sacred Heart Convent at Island Bay held a fete in aid of the Belgian relief fund (writes our Wellington correspondent). A number of stalls had been arranged about the grounds, which are large and extensive, and attractive goods were displayed to tempt the visitors. A produce stall was : well stocked with vegetables and beautiful flowers, : which had come from all round the country, and there was besides hoipe-made jams and jellies, and some home-made sweets. The old girls of the convent looked after this and also the sweet stall.

Then there was . a stall superintended by the Sisters, where musical books and medals were for sale, a fancy stall, and a toy stall. The girls were busy selling art union tickets for all kinds of things, an Aunt Sally found ready customers, especially from some of the Croydon school boys, who did great execution among all the goods. A fairy pond, whence you might draw a prize, and an art gallery, where you could have a silhouette portrait taken, were other attractions. Tea was served inside, in one of the large classrooms, and during the afternoon a concert was held which drew more sixpences from the willing givers. At half-past 2 her Excellency the Countess of Liverpool arrived and was received by his Grace Coadjutor Archbishop O’Shea, the Mother Superior, Dean Smythe, and Mrs. Burke (president of the Association of St. Mary’s Girls). The, pupils were lined up in two rows, and sang ‘ God save the King ’ as Lady Liverpool arrived, then Mary Rose, the head of the school, read an address to her Excellency, which she afterwards presented to her, together with a beautiful bouquet of roses. Lady Liverpool thanked the girls for their welcome, and expressed her pleasure at coming to the convent, and wished success to the fete. Afterwards she was conducted round and made purchases at all the stalls, •visited and inspected the convent itself, and went over all the grounds, staying until quite a late hour. Mrs. H. D. Bell was also present during the afternoon, and Miss Bell, Mrs., lan Duncan, Mrs. Walter Johnston, Mrs. W. G. Turnbull, Mr. and Mrs. Goring Johnston, Mrs. and Miss Collins, Mrs. Martin Kennedy, Mrs. O’Sullivan, Mrs. Devine, Mrs. Fulton, Mrs. Corrigan, and many others were among, the visitors. The proceeds of the fete will be added to the prize-money (which the girls are donating) and the proceeds of a raffle of a bed-spread. The sum of £125 has been handed in to the Belgian relief fund. The girls are naturally much pleased with the good results of . their efforts.