WANGANUI NOTES

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 32, 16 August 1923, Page 26

WANGANUI NOTES

(From our own correspondent.) ' August 10. The Hibernians’ annual social and dance, held at the Druids’ Hall, on July 26, was a great success. Unfortunately, it was a most unpleasant night—just the sort when home feels its very bestbut despite that there was a record attendance, somewhere about 300. The prizes for the euchre —all good oneswere won by Airs. AlcCormick (lady’s first), Airs. Nolan (lady’s second), Air. Kruse (gentlemen’s first), Air. J. Coxon (gentlemen’s second), Airs. Shanly and Air. Courtney, consolation prizes. A very nice sitdown supper was enjoyed by everyone, and the music for the dance was supplied by Air. Nolan’s orchestra. Altogether it was a specially gratifying effort, the second biggest the society has had.

Rev. Father McGrath, S.M., is back here again for a short holiday after.his missionary trip in the Auckland district. Really speaking, if even half we hear from our friends in various parts of the country, is true, we in Wanganui haven't over much to complain about as regards roads and things. Some of our footpaths are not as broad and as smooth as they might be, but that only makes them all the more like the road to Heaven. Anyhow, to come back to our very welcome guest, he says they'll d,o him quite well. Father McGrath is leaving about the middle of the week for "Wellington.

Wanganui friends extend their sincere sympathy to the two Fathers Seymour and the family in their present bereavement. Rev. Father Mahony, in announcing on last Sunday, the death of Mrs. Seymour, made reference to the deceased lady's sterling character, great faith and love of God, and to the fact that out of Mr. and Mrs. Seymour's fine family, two are priests, a third is studying at the seminary, and three are Sisters. —R.I.P.

The Children of Mary held their first big social on Thursday night in St. Joseph’s Hall. Just now the sodality is rejoicing in the possession of quite a number of new enthusiasts, and these have been most anxious to try their hand at an “evening.” The' preparations, were on quite a lavish scale; I mean that it took several nights to get the hall festive enough looking to be in 9 ,jkeeping with the light hearts of , the young folk, and the finished article was quite a “glad” hall. Streamers, blue and white, brought to a central climax by the addition of an ancient wedding bell re-dressed in blue and white finery, and lots of evergreens. This was the downstairs where dancing started the evening, and upstairs, where the card players were enjoying themselves, was resplendent in Japenese lanterns, streamers, and greenery. It was a beautiful night, there was a- record attendance —two big crowds as the euchre and the dancing were’both going togetherbut the nett proceeds (something under £SO) are not sorted up yet. As the sodality is in the happy state of not needing the money for anything special, the girls decided when arranging the social to give the amount to Father Alahouy for the electric lighting fund. The euchre prizes were won by Mrs. Purnell (ladies’ first), Mr. Hall (gentlemen’s first), There is to be another social in St. Joseph’s Hall on August 23, for the' same fund, and everyone is looking forward to another sociable re-union. St. Vincent de Paul Society, Hawera The half-yearly meeting of St. Agnes’s branch of the St. Vincent de Paul Society (Ladies’ Auxiliary) was held in St. Joseph’s Schoolroom on Tuesday, July 30. There were present Mrs. Ferguson (president)., Mrs. O’Connor ■ (vicepresident), Miss M. Bartlett (secretary), Miss J. Joyce (treasurer), Mesdames Plank (wardrobe-keeper), Keegan, Morrissey, and Miss Plank. The annual report and statement of accounts gave the following details;- —— Secret collections, £2 7s lid; donations, £2 4s; honorary members’ subscriptions, £4; balance forward from last year, £8 Is 6d ; total, £l6 13s sd. The expenditure, including relief in kind (£3 19s), purchase of material (£5 18s 2d), and sundries (£2 9s lid)., amounted to £l2 7s Id, leaving a cash balance in hand of £4 6s 4d. The branch consists of 12 active members, with an average attendance at the meetings of nine members; six members of honor, and 46 honorary members. 69 visits were made to‘the

hospital, and as a result of the weekly sewing meetings 33 garments were distributed >to local cases and 179 sent. to Catholic orphanages. Relief was granted to three families and three persons. V <HK>