Wanganui

New Zealand Tablet, 3 April 1919, Page 43

Wanganui

(From our own correspondent.) March 21. Sergt. W. J. Quirk, son. of Mr. and Mrs. Quirk, Bell Street, has been awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. Lance-Corp. W. Roche, eldest son of Mrs. Roche, Keith Street, is home again safely, having come back at last week-end on the Hororata. The annual Communion of the members of the local branch of the H.A.C.B. Society was held on Sunday, March 16, when the members approached the Holy Table in a body. They were present again in regalia at night, when the chaplain, Father O’Connell, preached on the life of St. Patrick. The fortnightly meeting was held on the same date, three new members being initiated. Many more are to come in later, and no parent or young man can do better than join a benefit society. Why not their own ? The charges are as low as those of any other friendly society. Accounts amounting to .£l9, and £9 13s 4d sick pay, were passed for payment. Bro. A. McWilliams, P.P., has been elected chairman of the local board of management of the U.F.S. Dispensary. The 'Roll of Honor in connection with the members of this branch who served in the war is now being • prepared and will be unveiled shortly, at a big re-union when the boys are home again.

The annual St. Patrick’s concert was held on Wednesday night and was a great success, the proceeds being reserved for the benefit of the members of the local branch who are away on active service, and whose annual fees are being kept up to date by their friends, la addition to our own local talent, Miss Teresa McEnroe (Wellington), already a favorite here, delighted us again with her beautiful voice. Her programme songs were “Kathleen Mavourneeu” and “She is Far From the Land,” and in response to insistent encores, Miss McEnroe sang “Believe Me” and the very dainty “There are Fairies at the Bottom of Our Garden.” Miss O’Leary, also of Wellington, made her first public appearance here and danced of her best. Her little golden-slippered feet twinkled through an “Irish jig” ; later she danced the hornpipe and a waltz clog dance. Mr. F. Bourke (Auckland) also assisted us for the first time. His singing of the old favorite, “The Irish Emigrant,” was a rare treat. Recalled, he sang “Mother Machree,” and later “When Shall the’' Day Break in Ireland,” followed by “The Mountains o’ Mourne.” The Wanganui Garrison Band, Miss Belle McLean, Mr. C. Wadman, a chorus of girls from the parish school, and boys from the Brothers’ school, supplied the local touch, and were supported by O’Hara’s Orchestra, and Miss R. Curran, A.T.C.L., L.A.8., who played the accompaniments.

Father J. M. O’Ferrall, who has been stationed here for about two years (excepting the few weeks he was loaned to St. Patrick’s College), left during the week for Greenmeadows Seminary, where he is to be Procurator. Father O’Ferrall has made lots of friends here, his work having been for the most part among the sick and “sorry-for-themselves,” to whom he was ever welcome as the flowers in spring. We wish him the best of good times, and assure him of our sympathy, for trying to make ends meet is almost harder than trying to keep the commandments these days. Father A. McDonald has arrived to take up the running. Writing to friends in Wanganui, a southern soldier at present in hospital at Walton-on-Thames, makes mention of the goodness of Sister C. Lee, who tucked him in and was generally good to the sufferers. Sister Lee is a daughter of Mrs. Lee, of our congregation, and was trained at the Wanganui Hospital. She has been on military duty almost since the beginning of the war, and like so many others of our fine nurses, has done her best to alleviate the sufferings of others. A son. Private George Lee, is also on active service, and has been awarded the Military Medal.