Wanganui

New Zealand Tablet, 8 January 1920, Page 22

Wanganui

(From our own correspondent.) January 2. Quito a lot of interesting “old-year” happenings are waiting to be chronicled, so, after thanking le lion Dieu ■ for the year that is past and asking His blessing for the' year that now is, I shall go hack a few weeks. Gastlccliff, which for rather less than a year has had its own little convent school convertible into church for Mass on every Sunday, made a big effort to finish its school year well. A Sunday morning in early December found a batch of children assembled for First Holy Communion—--19 from Gastlccliff and nine from Mosstou —and as it was also a general Communion for all the children, the ceremony was not a little impressive. Rev. Father McDonald addressed the children, and after Mass all the little ones, about GO or so, ere entertained to breakfast. Next day, Feast of the Immaculate Conception, was a holiday, and a as spent on the beach by t he Sisters and their delighted youngsters. Always eager to do their best, the children finished up the remains of Sunday's feast, and had a jolly day on the sands. Later in the same week, a. concert, organised by Miss Curran, was given at Gastlecliff. Among the performers were Rev. Father -McDonald, Mrs. Parsons, Misses McLean, Stanaway, and Rubio Curran. The result was specially good, the Sisters being delighted and most grateful to the town folk for making the concert such a success. Wo are divided up into blocks, you know, in Wanganui, ami Castlecliff is really Very Rev. Father O’Connell’s special charge. However, while lie was away in Australia, Father McDonald attended to the needs of the seaside congregation, and for his kindness to them was presented by the children with a pair of extra line gloves (not boxing ones!) ’ , Finally, came the school “break-up” about December 15. There was a concert, prizes for everybody who is still a child. The schoolroom was tilled with interested parents and friends, and as all of these had bought tickets, the piano fund is well started on its anxious way. Just a week or two before Christmas, a “welcome home” to Father O’Connell, arranged by the Federation Committee, took place at the Druids' Hall. During the evening, which consisted of a sing-song, general chatter, and supper before going home, Father O'Connell gave a most interesting lecture on bis visit to Australia. Everyone was delighted to hear about the Convention, and anyone who knows Father O’Connell's bright and chatty style of talking will appreciate what 1 mean. Naturally, there was not time to go into detail, but the crisp little lecture was something altogether fresh ami most enjoyable. Mr. Luxford spoke on behalf of the committee. The Misses McLean and the Messrs. McCarthy made sweet music. The election was got over without much sensation or undue excitement, due in no small degree to the excellent organisation of the returning officer, Mr. F. W. Hart. So well did everything go and so early were the results, out, that the Mayor asked for and got from the assembled crowd a big and noisy vote of thanks for the returning officer ami his staff. Mr. Hart, in his spare time, is an active member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society. The Sacred Heart Convent children had the usual end-of-year celebrations. The exhibition of hand work, beautiful and varied, was held at the Hill convent, but the concert and prize-giving were at the Opera House. This time, the adult and outside music pupils assisted at the concert, taking part in the choruses, glees, and solos. The Mayoress, Mrs. Mackay, presented the special prizes. St. Mary’s and St. Joseph’s Schools had their prizegiving at the schools, Rev. Father O’Connell presenting the prizes. 1 Aramoho convent school also had their "concert - and prize-giving in their own hall. Here, as at Gastlecliff, a small prize was found for each child. And now it is holiday time and there is no such thing as school. The Sisters are all home from the branch convents, and each day brings many visitors to Mount St. Gerard, in spite of the climb. The Sisters who have been

away all year, have to , make the acquaintance of the Castlecliff School - and St. Mary’s in town, ' I was nearly forgetting to tell about the sale of work, sort of Christmas fair arrangement, at Aramoho, on December 19 and 20. This was a bazaar affair again, rather more ambitious than a garden party. The Aramoho enthusiasts supplied no end of Christmas puddings, cakes, and all manner of things suitable to the festive season. Father Christmas (it turned out afterwards that “he” should have been “Mother Christmas”) was present, and between one idea and another good business resulted. Have heard that something about £BO goes, to the fund. The Hibernians made their bazaar debut, on Boxing Day, when they had a sports gathering at tho Aramoho Tea Gardens. The weather was not specially good, which interfered probably with the attendance, and then of course numbers of the Church folk were away from town. In spite of everything, however, it was a good day, and the result I don’t know exactly how much, for I have heard various sums from £6O to £2oowas worth while. It has been a noticeable feature of all our bazaar efforts that it is the same old low who try to make them a success. It really is quite funny to see how wo bustle round to get tho goods together and then bustle round once more to buy them back again. Will it evermore be thus, and why do some people never bustle? Are they waiting for tho next world ? Westport A cable message, dated December 10, received from Belfast, Ireland, notifies the death, suddenly, of Airs. N. Corr, widow of tho late Charles Core, of Westport, who died last year. Tho late Mr. and Airs. Corr were amongst the pioneers of the Westport district, and tho latter was in business for a time at Denniston prior to going to Ireland, where she had been in business for some years. Tho deceased was well known and highly respected in the Westport district, and her death will be greatly regretted. She was, with her boys, returning to New Zealand to take up land when she passed away.R.l.P.