WANGANUI NOTES

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LI, Issue 50, 17 December 1924, Page 39

WANGANUI NOTES

(From our own Correspondent.) December 11. Marists' School met Technical College in the 3rd grade competition at Victoria Park on November 29, and after a most exciting finish Marists won by 4 runs on the first innings. Marists scored 66 runs. Technical on going to the wickets opened well and had only 5 down for 60 runs, so that victory was seemingly assured. The Marists captain decided on a double change ..of bowling, with the result that J. Burton, who is only 10£ years of age, disposed of ■ all the remaining batsmen in one and a-half overs for no runs, including the "hat trick." The innings closed for 62 runs. Besides this youngster's bowling feat, J. Burton also brought-off three good catches, two of them off his own bowling, therefore helping materially to his side's victory. . Under the able coaching of Brother Bonaventure this boy has shown great ability, but in this, his first club game, his feat

with the ball exceeded all expectations. The ceremonies in connection 'with the devotion of the Forty Hours' Adoration, held in St. Mary's Church, were well attended throughout. High Mass was celebrated on each of the three mornings. Rev. Father Hickson preached on Sunday evening, and Rev. Father Kimbell on Monday. The members of the congregation approached the Holy Table each morning in large numbers. The sanctuary decorations were very beautiful, the work being by the Sisters of St. Joseph. The annual concert given by the pupils of the Marist Brothers' School have 'become very popular because of the all-round merit of the programmes submitted, and when they gave their annual entertainment on Friday evening, December 5, the Opera House was crowded. Chorus singing has always been a feature of these concerts, and at the concert under notice the numbers given by the boys were particularly enjoyable. These numbers were(a) "Love of Home"; (b) "Evening Bells"; (a) "Sunshine"; (b) "Whispering Hope"; and in each case the blend and balance were uniformly good, the singing reflecting a great deal of credit on the Brothers. An action song, "The Dunces," was well received, as was a duet, "Eileen Alannah," by Ernest and Alfred Dear. A recitation, entitled "Carry On," by Mr. W. J. Mather, was given in first-class style, and he had to respond with an encore. The chief feature of the evening's entertainment was a drama, "The Dawn of Ireland's Freedom." The piece was an ambitious one, which took over two hours to stage, but the young actors carried out their various parts without any sign of hesitancy or shyness which usually characterise children's concerts. The cast was sustained by Fred Gallagher, Gordon McDonald, Patrick Heagney, Aubrey Burton, John Ellis, James Gallagher, Joseph Voltz, Brian Windleburn, Patrick Koorey, Michael Harrison, Clifford Bridges, John McDonald, and Ray Chadwick. Mrs. C. I. Spillane played the accompaniments in her usual finished style. Cable information has been received to the effect that, at the recent examinations of the London School of Optics, England, Mr. T. V. Crotty, M.P.S., of Wanganui, was successful in obtaining his diploma. Mr. Crotty, who has been studying in England, was a well-known footballer and athlete, having represented Wanganui and Wellington in recent years, and his success in the field of study is nightly pleasing to his many friends. The second annual Retreat for men will be held in the Villa from Friday evening, January 16, at 8 p.m., till Monday morning, January 19, at 8 a.m. Accommodation has been arranged for fifty men, ten in excess of last year's number. It is anticipated that this Retreat will eclipse the previous one, which was held last January. A boys' Retreat will be held the following week from Friday till Monday, and the same hours will be observed as at the men's Retreat. This Retreat is mainly for those boys who have left school and are under 18 years of age. The preacher's time between these two Retreats will be occupied by a part-time Retreat for the Children of Mary, which will be held in St. Mary's Church.