ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LI, Issue 28, 2 July 1924, Page 26

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

(.From our own correspondent.) June 27.

Rev. Father McManus, C.SS.R., is to conduct a Retreat at Akaroa before his departure from New Zealand. Rev. Father Whelan, C.SS.R., leaves by the express to-day for Palmerston North, where he will conduct a Retreat before leaving for Gaiong, and Rev. Father Duffy, C.SS.R., is to conduct a Retreat for the Sisters of the Missions, Napier. Mi*. Reg. Dwyer’s concert party continues its entertainments. The last was at Porirua, where a good programme was given for -the inmates. The attendants thanked the performers warmly at the close. Rumors of great activity in Lower Hut! —but too soon to publish anything yet. The pupils of St. Mary’s College held a fancy dress dance to celebrate their breaking up for the holidays. The dresses were very pretty and St. Francis’s Hall looked gay and bright. The Sisters thank all who helped to make the entertainment a success. Rev. Father McCormick, who was here on a health trip leaves to-day for Sydney by the Ulimaroa. Father McCormick lias enjoyed his holiday and his friends think he is looking much better. Father McCormick is Irish born, so hearing there was an Irish Club in Wellington, he went down to see Irish dancers in the Carlton Hall and later addressed the members. “You seem all like one family finest family I’ve seen hero,” said lie afterwards Bon roijiiijn to him, and may lie return some day ! An excellent gramophone concert was held recently in aid of the .Newtown bazaar. The songs carried well through the hall and were much appreciated. Another concert in aid of the stall of Airs. Giles will he held on Sunday night next. An excellent programme is promised, including songs by Rev. Father Ryan, S.M. The full programme will lie published next week. The general preparations are going well and some line pieces of work have been received as donations to the various stalls.

The. combined schools of Thorndon held their concert lust night. Children and parents and non-parents had been looking forward to it eagerly, and not without reason. The result more than justified expectations. So many concerts are the order of the day that to have one singled out for enthusiastic praise is a rare thing. However, “Good wine needs no bush,” and the Brothers’ pupils and the Guilford Terracq girls need no advertisement. The programme left the audience, like Oliver Twist, longing for more. 1* or days one could hear down Tiawkestone Street ,010 hoys practising “The Old Brigade,” and they rendered it wonderfully on this night. The Tannhauser, Mendelssohn, and Chaminade choruses are not to fie attempted lightly, but the prize choir of; Guilford Terrace girls came through them in triumph. 'The chorus, “1 Would That My Love/’ and the solo, I he Birds Go North,” were very beautiful. i he boAs solos were bailed with delight. A special mention must be made of the color scheme in the tableau at the end and in the Japanese scene. Only teachers with the true color sense could have constructed that scene. The programme is appended in full, for too much praise cannot he given to the producersthe Sisters of Mercy, Guilford Terrace School, and the Marist Brothers, Thermion. They were responsible for the best concert presented here for years: Chorus, “Lullaby Land,” Junior Girls; recitation, “Shaving,” Rex. "Walsh; action song, “Dolls,” the Infants; chorus, “Angelas” (Chaminade), Girls; solo. “Hills of Donegal, I rank Hamilton; duet and chorus, “Honey Boy,” Lena Higgins and W. Plimmer; action song, “Butterfly,” At oil Daniels ami Junior Girls; recitation, “Not Un-. derslood,” C. do Vere; chorus, “Alaybells” (Mendelssohn), Girls; semi -chorus,Silver Moon,” the Bovs; song, “The Dunces,” Junior (Gris; song, “I Would That Mr Love” (Mendelssohn), Girls; “The Birds Go North,” Lena Higgins;

chorus, ‘Old Brigade,” the Boys; recitation, “The Aspiring Dish-Washer,” Joan Maunder; “Umbrellas,” Girls; solo, “Believe Me,” John O’Connell; drill and chorus, “Flowers,” Junior Girls; “Pilgrims Chorus” (Tannhauser), Girls. The subject for the lecture on Sunday at the Students’ Guild is “Hasthe Church the Power to Teach?” The lecturer will be Rev. Father Kingan, S.M., whose lecture on the “Spooks” and their ways last year is not forgotten. o-o-o-o-<>-'X>oo IRISH REPUBLICAN ASSOCIATION OF NEW ZEALAND. A meeting of the above association was held on Sunday evening, the 22nd ult., in the rooms, 98 Maimers Street. In the absence of the president, Air. I). Griffin occupiedthe chair. In opening the meeting the chairman explained the origin of the association and outlined the objects. The following motion was introduced for debate, “That the Article of Agreement of 1921, between the representatives of Ireland and England can hot ho used as a stepping stone to an Independent Irish ’Republic.” Several members spoke for and against the motion. The- historical development of the Irish struggle was traced and 1 lie incidents preceding the negotiations were dealt, with. It was maintained that the delegates to London had no right or authority to sign any agreement and the articles were declared to he unconstitutional and it was assorted that the Republic was still in existence. Those in the negative maintained that the Trealv gave the Irish people control of the administration ami suggested that this power could be used to obtain a Republic. 1 hero was a lengthy discussion, keen interest was shown and both sides displayed an intimate knowledge of details. The meeting showed itself to he whole heartedly in favor of the motion. At the conclusion of the debate a very successful collection was taken up in aid of St. Knda’s College, which was luiinced to. propogale a. Gaelic cull lire bv Patrick Pearsc. The chairman, after further gem-rad business bad been dealt with, announced that the next meeting would he held a fortnight hence and declared a very successful meeting closed. ■ -C'C'C