ST. MARY’S HIGH SCHOOL, AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LI, Issue 45, 12 November 1924, Page 37

ST. MARY’S HIGH SCHOOL, AUCKLAND

SUCCESSFUL ENTERTAINMENT BY PUPILS. (From our own correspondent.) The children of St. Mary’s High School, Ponsonby, gave a splendid entertainment the other night to a crowded audience in the Scots’ Hall. The programme opened with two very, fin© orchestral items—“Athalie” (Mendelssohn) and “Funiculi Funicula” (Denza). These were followed by the harmonised choruses“ Spinning Song” (Wagner) and “Shannon Bells” (Moore)—in which the children’s “welltrained voices blended admirably. The vocal trio “Beauteous Morn” (E. German), beautifully rendered by Misses • Mudford, R. Nicholas, and D. Bransgrove well deserved the generous applause accorded to it. Liszt’s paraphrase Rigoletto” was beautifully executed by Miss W. Cooke. Other pianoforte items were the duos “The Carnival” (Giraud)_ by Misses M. Hoffman and E. Jones “Behsario” (Donizetti) by Misses N. Adye and A. Thompson, which pleased the audience great y. The “Babes in th© Wood” was a most effective and charming item every movement of the little ones being graceful and fairy like. The operetta, “The Egyptian Princess”, was then staged in magnificent style; * be J tr St I ? rn costumes being most elaborate and effective. Miss Molly Green, the possessor of a remarkably fine voice, ab y took the part of the Princess Aida, and as her favorite slave, Miss R. Nicolas delighted the audience. The queen’s part taken by Miss L. Maher, left nothing to be desired, and her sister, the Princess Tabubu, created much merriment. This part was played by Miss R. Hoffman, and the par 80 yssa and Thila the merry companions of the princess _ Aida—were most pleasingly performed by Misses M. Overton and B. Little. Miss D. Bransgrove (as Grania, the captive queen) in her exacting part displayed a capacity or dramatic work of a high order, and the recitative work revealed the rare quality of her voice. Much credit was reflected on the teaching Sisters by he high + standard of the instrumental and vocal items, .fi hile in the dramatic performance the keenest critic could find nothing faulty in the enunciation and grace of moveSTskill ° * ClDg alS ° reflected * high'degree of techniiwlrW “ n r 011 the whole was one which gave wffn h& hlg x standard of that artistic training that th™ nW j 6r \ ° f a C6ntur y been characteristic of this old established school, v —— — * — Hibernians Farewell Father Devlin On Monday evening (writes our Masterton correspond* bran under October 31) the members of St. Michael’s branch of the Hibernian Society assembled to bid farewell

to Father Devlin, and to wish him God-speed on his departure for Westport. Bro. N. L. Curry proposed the toast of the "guest of the evening" and sincerely thanked Father Devlin for his whole-hearted endeavors in the interests of the Hibernians whilst associated with them as chaplain to the local branch. Bros. J. Connors, F. Treder, P. Hynes, G. Hunter, D. O'Loughlin fully, endorsed the sentiments of Bro. Curry, and eulogised their departing chaplain on the fine services he had rendered to the branch. The president (Bro. M. G. McArley) then, on behalf of the society, read and presented a handsome address. Father Devlin thanked the members of the branch for»their kindly recognition, and said it was a pleasure for him to associate with the true Irishmen he had found in the local Hibernians. Several of the members contributed musical items during the evening, and altogether a most enjoyable time was spent.