DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH

New Zealand Tablet, 8 February 1917, Page 29

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCH URCH

(From our own correspondent.) . 1 -/ : February 5. The Very Rev. Father Price, who left about a year ago on a ; health visit : • to the United Kingdom, - via ’ Eastern ports; Manilla, and America, reached : Sydney on his return voyage last week. He is expected back in Christchurch this week. / .There was Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament in the Cathedral on Sunday last from the 11 o’clock Mass until . Vespers.- There was the customary procession,- followed by Solemn Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, at which his Lordship the Bishop officiated. The ‘garden party,’ which is being promoted by - ‘ the Rev. Father O’Hare and the congregation of the Sacred Heart Church at Addington in aid of the local Catholic school fund, is to be held on Saturday, Feb- . ruary 17, in the church and school grounds, and not at the Metropolitan Trotting Club’s ground as previously - arranged. _ The Marist Brothers’ School, the Sacred Heart Girls’ College, and parochial schools conducted by the Sisters of the Missions were all .re-opened last week for . the new scholastic year, with good attendances. St. Bede’s College is to re-open on next Monday. Pax-tie’s of new students for St. Patrick’s College (Wellington) and - the Sacred Heart College, (Auckland) go north next week from this city. ' The Rev. Mother Max-istella, the newly-appointed Mother Superior of Nazareth House in this city, accompanied by three Sisters of Nazareth (one of whom is returning after accompanying' the previous Mother Superior to England), arrived in Christchurch last j week, and was cordially welcomed by the local com-, munity, profound thankfulness being felt and expressed at the happy termination of a voyage necessarily fraught with eat risks in these troublous times. Ashburton (From our own correspondent.) In addition to pupils’ names already published in the Tablet as passing proficiency examinations, there should armear the names of E. Hanrahan, J. Meekixxg, and F. McCormick. The teachers of the local convent schools are deserving of congratulation for the singular success of their pupils. The annual exhibition of work done by the punils of the convent school was opened for inspection to the public. The display, although not large, was elegant and attractive, and no visitor with a taste for the artistic could fail to be charmed by it. The work in general bore evidence of careful tuition by the Sisters, and of no small degree of ability on the part of the pupils. The exhibits ranged from plain needlework to delicate embroidery and fancy covers for cushions, tables, etc. Oil paintings, water color studies, and brush drawings were ranged about the room, and before each one the spectator might pause with genuine pleasure. The subjects were chiefly drawn from nature, and included several landscapes, which were treated in a style that would have Rone credit to more advanced students of art. Prominent - among the pictures was a figure drawing in sepia. The above exhibition of work was done by the day and board pupils, while an exhibition of cardboard modelling by the kindergarten pupils was also included. It was the intention of the Sisters to have exhibited specimens of wood-carving, but owing to the stands not being ready only one exhibit of chip-carving was shown. The pupils of the convent school, assisted by several friends, gave their annual break-up concert in St. Stephen’s Schoolroom recently (says the Guardian) before- a very large audience. The gathering was arranged in aid of the fund for the relief of Belgian children. The items were of a most enjoyable nature, and particularly those given by the. pupils.. One item, an exhibition of hoop drill-by the junior'girls, calls for special mention, The girls went- through their drill

■: keeping excellent, time, and .the. effect produced was / charming. Another item which . was warmly encored ' was the character song ‘ The Three Little Orphans,’ ? sung by Misses A. Hannigan, Bailey, and C. Laffey. . During the chorus a large number of pennies and other coins were thrown on to the stage. The kindergarten pupils danced a sailor’s hornpipe, which found public - favor, and a repetition of the Ranee had to be .given These pupils also gave a character song, ‘ The Three Little Dairy Maids,’ which was also well received. The - senior girls, attired in appropriate costumes, sang the - chorus song. ‘ The Mountain Horn,’ while senior boys and girls joined in singing the patriotic song ‘ Obedient ■/'/ to the. Call.’ Both these items were warmly applauded. The voices of the senior girls were harmoniously blended in* the singing, of ‘ Somewhere' a Voice'is Calling.’ The •. .’ comic element was introduced in Madame Tussore’s wax-works exhibition, and the audience enjoyed several hearty laughs ; ; at the various. characters represented. Mr. Todd gave several humorous recitations, including his popular number where he impersonated a curate. ■ He was obliged to respond to several encores. Master Meekiug creditably recited The 7 lncident.’ Mrs. Chapman was in good voice, and for her singing of ‘ Ave Maria ’ was encored. • She also received an encore to her selected item. Pianoforte solos were played by Misses Boddiugton and V. Halliday. y A well-balanced ; orchestra, consisting of Mrs. Chapman,. Misses K. and D. Cullen, Beech, Brophy, Terris, Langley, and Master Paul Cullen, played several enjoyable selections. <- The : finale was in the form of a parade of the Allies. Thepunils were dressed in the costumes of the Allies, and the tableau effect was particularly good. The march .of the representatives of the various nations. was accompanied with its own national anthem played by the orchestra. i : The • various accompaniments were played by Misses Fletcher, Halliday, Cullen, and Boddington. ; _ At the close of the performance the Very Rev. Dean O’Donnell, on behalf of the Sisters, thanked the friends who had assisted to make the concert a success. He also thanked St. Stephen’s Church members for having placed the schoolroom at their disposal free of charge. Timaru (From our own correspondent.} February 5. The following pupils of the Convent of the Sacred Heart were successful at the recent examinations: Matriculation, Madeleine O. Hooker (Hawera). Intermediate honors, Margaret Craighead (Waimate) ; Intermediate pass, Veronica Ward (Christchurch). Those presented in the sixth standard obtained ‘proficiency.’ In the commercial course the following results were awarded by the National Commercial College, Sydney: —Shorthand honors Kathleen Wareing, 96; Gertrude Kane, 96; Edith Daly, 93. Book-keeping honors— Bernardine Goulter, 96 ; Edith Daly, 90; Gertrude Kane, 90.. Typewriting (speed), pass—-Kathleen Wareing, Eileen Fitzgerald. The school re-opens on Tuesday next, February 13.