ST. COLUMBA’S CONVENT, RIVERTON

New Zealand Tablet, 23 December 1915, Page 19

ST. COLUMBA’S CONVENT, RIVERTON

(From an occasional correspondent.) A large and appreciative audience assembled in More’s Hall, Riverton, on Friday evening, December 10, the occasion being the annual entertainment given by the pupils, of St. Columba’s Convent. This is recognised as the concert of the year in the western , district of Southland, and parents and friends travel many miles to attend, for, although but a little time established, the influence of St. Columba’s Convent and the good Sisters reaches the homes of the bush settlers on the edge of the vast primeval forest of the west of Southland, to the Catholic home within sight and sound of the great Southern Ocean, and to the prosperous farms on the broad and fertile plains stretching away to the Takatimos. This last effort of the pupils of the Sisters of Mercy shows to what a pitch of efficiency children can be brought, when the training is in the hands of skilful and devoted teachers. The programme was as follows:— * Welcome,’ pupils; pianoforte trip,, Misses M. Woolf, S. McKay, and I. Cloughley; sailor’s hornpipe, Master W. Batt; chorus, pupils ; Bellenden gavotte, Misses O. Cleghorn,; P. Burke, A. Fahey, P. Cleghorn, E. Ward, K. O’Brien, E. Leary, and N. Leary; Irish jig, Master W. Batt; song, ‘ The Swiss toy girls,’ Misses M. Deegan, C. Ward, D. Deegan, and K. Forde; Lancashire clog dance, Master W. Batt; song, ‘ The spelling bee,’ Miss Kathleen Forde and Master Ted Beadle ; floral dance, pupils; pianoforte duet, Misses M. and O. Stevens; patriotic chorus, pupils; pianoforte solo. Miss M. Woolf. The second part of the programme consisted of a drama in three acts, entitled ‘ Clara’s Scheme,’ in which the following took part: Misses Sara Mooney, Vera Rawlins, M. Fahey, R. Mooney, A. Deegan, Maggie Batt, Teresa O’Donnell, and Lily Fahey. The performers, without exception, did remarkably well, and a fine performance evoked enthusiastic appreciation.. At a suitable interval, Rev. Father Murphy thanked the audience for their hearty support, and for the warm support accorded the convent sine© its inception. . In referring to the good work done by the Sisters, Father Murphy’s remarks were received with enthusiastic applause, for the labors of the nuns, and the results already achieved by them are indeed remarkable, and the Catholics of Riverton have every reason to be proud of the fine educational facilities in their midst. The singing of the National Anthem brought a very successful entertainment to a close.