ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 50, 20 December 1923, Page 26

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

(From our own correspondent.) December 15. The jubilee preparations go on apace. It is to be hoped that Wellington will have reasonable weather in February. A concert was held at the Cumann na nGaedheal, Dominion Farmers’ Hall, on Sunday night. The items were greatly appreciated and the audience was large. Rev. Father Lockington, S.J., is preaching the Retreat for the Sisters of Mercy, Hill Street. Father Lockington is a Coaster of whom his compatriots are justly proud. His eloquence is widely known, and most of us have read his book on Ireland.

The Irish Industries'a branch of the Cumann na nGaedheal—are now well established. Mrs. T. J. Bourke has secured a room for their sale. This is situated No. 7 O’Neill’s Buildings, Courtenay Place, and we feel sure that true Gaels will turn up there to buy their Christmas gilts of handkerchiefs, ties, and stockings. People whose children have out-grown their toys are reminded that the little children in the Catholic orphanages would cherish tenderly the rejected favorites. It takes so little to gladden a child. Speaking of the orphanages there are tine Catholic souls who give their time on Saturday afternoons to aid the nuns in any way required. I know two such, and .feel sure hat God will bless their hidden labors. A number of Wellington priests are travelling northwards to Greenmeaduws to be present at the ordination ceremony on the Kith. Fathers O’Reilly, Gilbert, Gondringer, and Ryan are going, and perhaps others 100. The relatives ol the young priests are busily preparing gifts in preparation for the ceremony. 1 have seen one stole that should delight Ihe heart of any beauty lover. A great crowd is expected as the young aspirants tor the priesthood have friends in both islands. St. Patrick’s College was packed to the doors for its "break-up.” Its old pupils do not forget their college on such occasions. Both Archbishop Redwood and Archbishop O'Snea were present. As a full account will be given later only the play will be noted here. One qualified critic stated that it was the best Shaksperiau play he had yet seen. It consisted of the Katherine scenes from “The Taming of the Shrew.” Winston McCarthy has histrionic gifts quite unusual in a boy of his age, as most Wellington folk know. His acting as Grumio was wonderful, and the audience fully realised it. Paul Cullen made a most convincingly shrewish Shrew, and Connor as Petruchio was excellent. The rest of the caste were, uniformly good. In the intervals the College Orchestra played selections that were greatly appreciated, as was the Glee Club’s item, “Noel.” ENTERTAINMENT AT UPPER. HUTT. An exceptionally large audience greeted a Wellington concert party at Upper Hutt Town Hall, on Thursday evening, December 13, when a high-class and well-organised entertainment was given by the clever pupils of Mr. Joe Knowsley, in aid of the St. Joseph’s Orphanage Christmas cheer fund (writes a correspondent). The dance recital, which commenced at 7.30, was preceded by a. series of the latest musical numbers played by the local town band outside the hall. The stage was prettily decorated with Chinese lanterns and paper streamers, and the special lighting effects showed off to advantage the brilliant dancing and beautiful costumes. Of added interest were the selections of several leading artists from the district. On account of the length of the programme recalls were disallowed, but the big audience showed appreciation by repeated rounds of hearty applause. Supper was afterwards served in the adjoining hall, during which the M.C., on behalf of the orphanage authorities, briefly thanked all for their attendance and support. The response and willingness to help this annual function was (he said) most gratifying. Apologies for absence included one from his Grace

Archbishop O’Shea, who has always shown great practical interest in the orphanage. His Grace wrote wishing the committee every success in their worthy efforts to help the orphans. Mr. Knowsley and party, who were invited to repeat their entertainment on some future date; the pianist Mrs. Whiteman) and the assisting local artists, were also thanked. The hon. secretary (Mrs. Le Fievre) desires to convey gratitude to the many kind friends, both in town and country, for their much appreciated and willing assistance; also to the numerous generous and practical sympathisers who sent along their donations for the neeedy orphans.. Palmerston North (From our own correspondent.) December 14. Father Dore, of Hamilton, is spending a holiday here, and it is hoped he will benefit by the change. Conferences up and down the line last week, and quite a number of Rev. Fathers off their moorings for the time being. The devotion of the Forty Hours’ Adoration was largely attended, and the parish paid its annual tribute of love to the Blessed Sacrament. Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy came in from Highden, and preached on both Sunday and Monday nights. His Grace Archbishop O’Shea administered Confirmation on Sunday last, and Palmerston claims 204 more soldiers of Jesus Christ; Ashhurst 12. The Sacrament was administered in Ashhurst after the 11 o’clock Mass, and locally at 3 in the afternoon. His Grace preached at the evening devotion^. The convent schools “broke-up” on the oth and lessons will be in the back-ground for many weeks to come. The Sisters are to be congratulated on the grand results of the year’s labor; such a long list of successes, both scholastic and musical. Thirty-two pupils were presented for the proficiency exams, all being successful. In the primary schools’ sports competitions the boys carried off the 192223 cricket shield, the seven-a-side Rugby football shield, 1923, and the primary schools football shield, 1923. Welcome home! to Mr. and Mrs. P. Garrity, who recently returned from Melbourne, where they spent quite a long holiday. They had a nice holiday, which would have been nicer still if it had not been for the riots. The visitors were very quiet and retiring during the trouble; but distance did not lend any enchantment to the view. Apart from the riots nothing exciting befell the travellers; no encounters with snakes; and no wallabys “hugged” them. An echo of the bazaar: not an unpaid bill, or anything unpleasant, but a presentation to Father Doolaghty, the “tug-of-war priest,” and Mr. G. B. Cope, the secretary. The former received a case of pipes and the latter a silver tea service. When Father Doolaghty smokes his pipes he will live over again the tug-of-war contest; and as he “pulls” at his mouth-piece he will see mice more the exciting pulls between Borough, Mirauui, and the rest of the teams. Perhaps his reverence will christen each pipe after one of the teams? When we have another bazaar, Father Doolaghty will he on the scene, we hope, pipes and all; and Mr. Cope will be with us too, please God! but he had better leave the tea-service at home, as the tea-room ladies might look on it as “opposition.” “The Convent High School has been removed, renovated, and will be re-opened this afternoon at 3 o’clock, and no collection.” So ran the announcement at the Masses on the first Sunday of the month. A goodly number of parents and past and present pupils attended the opening ceremony, which was a nice little family affair; just our own two priests, the Sisters and ourselves. Father Mac blessed and opened the building and had a few words to say about the Catholic system of education; and a word of praise for the Sisters, whose self-sacrificing labors deserveand receivethe grateful thanks of both parents and pupils. The school has been transferred to a new site on the opposite side of Fitchett Street, and when one considers the journey the building had to make, the question arises; how did it happen? how could such a huge two-storeyed building be moved and leave no traces of

the transfer in its wake? Ask Mr. J. Wischnewsky, he was the contractor. He divided the school into halves, and said to each half: “Come on!” and it went; quite simple when you know. When the halves arrived on the 'new site they were not joined up again, but a new piece was built in between them, which made quite a lot of extra space. Mr. Wischnewsky made a good job of the additions, and no one can tell where the “seams” are, or where the “buttons do up.” It was the same contractor who moved the infant school from Broad Street, and he is to be congratulated on his splendid work. If any of the Tablet readers have a building— or small—which they wish to “move on,” then send to Palmerston to Mr. Wischnewsky; have faith in him, and mountains of wood will move at his bidding.