GORE CONVENT SCHOOL ENTERTAINMENT.

New Zealand Tablet, 16 October 1919, Page 35

GORE CONVENT SCHOOL ENTERTAINMENT.

_ u The concerts given by the pupils of the ' Gore Convenl School (says the Mataura Ensign ) have earned local fame and the one given recently would enhance this reputation The whole programme was carried through by the children no adult appearing on the stage in any - of the performances and the result must be regarded as a distinct” tribute to the thorough tuition and painstaking care of those responsible for training the youthful performers. Thai the public expected a treat was shown by the large audience, the Princess Theatre being packed, and thaf patrons were more than, satisfied was demonstrated by the very hearty applause which greeted every item. The promoters of the entertainment had wisely determined that there would be no recalls, so some very insistent encores were disregarded. * During the interval Very' Rev. P. O’Donnell (pastor of the district) thanked the audience for its attendance. The hearts of the Sisters of Mercy, he said, would be gladdened at such marked public appreciation of their efforts. He was sure most of the parents were agreeably surprised at the manner in which the children had acquitted themselves in their allotted tasks, but it was merely an evidence of the painstaking methods of the nuns, and a guarantee that the teaching of the children in the more important work of the school and of religion would be equally as efficient. The object of the concert was to raise funds to add another room to’ the school, as the 170 children going to it had overtaxed the existing accommodation. The Catholic people were called on to pay taxation for the public schools, and then had to put their hands in their pockets and pay for their own schools. If justice as justice, this matter should not be decided by a count of heads, but by a. fair consideration of the rights of the minority. The majority had made the present law, and it might be legal, but it was not just. The Catholic people were bearing this injustice with fortitude, and making sacrifices to maintain their own schools. He hoped the proposed addition to the school would shortly be a reality the attendance that evening was an indication that it would soon be possible to undertake the work. A word of praise is due to all the youthful performers for the clearness of their enunciation, the words of all the songs and dialogues being distinctly heard. Miss T. Warring provided the accompaniments for the items rendered by the girls, and Master J. Burnby for those by the boys.