ST. PATRICK'S DAY.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 459, 18 March 1909, Page 6

ST. PATRICK'S DAY.

PREY WEATHER. Showers colder and sharper than tho "soft sweet rain" of Corymeela chilled the welcome to St. Patrick's Day yesterday morning, and hundreds of people' stayed at home who wanted only the invitation of the sunshine to become blithp holiday-makeTS. Tho Hibernian picnic was, however, held at Lower Hutt, and tho patriotic venturesomeness of the excursionists was rewarded by a dry, if somewhat grey, afternoon, and a very pleasant outing, 'l'ho cars and ferry boats were' fairly well patronised during the afternoon, and a proportion of bolder spirits sought more distant fields by train, but more general advantage of the "holiday would undoubtedly have been taken if'tho fates had been more kind. Government and legal offices and banks were closed, and the national green was-honourcd in many buttonholes. There was a crowded attendance at the national concert, held in the Town Hall in the evening. AT NEWTOWN PARK. ■ Owing to the morning's rain having rendered Newtown Park too wet for cricket, tho fancy-dress match, Press vJ Wednesday Representatives, to have been hold- in aid of the Penguin fund yesterday afternoon, was postponed till next Wednesday. Tho rain also rendered lieccssary' the postponement of the match. Law v. Insurance.

HIBERNIAN FETE At HUTT.

Loyal Hibernians of Wellington celebrated the anniversary of their patron saint yesterday in .a manner befitting the occasion. It has been the custom to observe tho occasion by holding an annual monster picnic in Father Lane's picturesque grounds at the Lower Hutt, and the outing this year was a great-success, due in no small degree to the united efforts of committees representing the Hibernian Society and the AVolling-ton-Catholic CJub, the presiding genius being Mr. P. D. Hoskins, general secretary of the joint committee. It was in a large measure an outing for the children, and although the day dawned somewhat throateningly, there was little rain to hurt anyone, and the various sports and other attractions organised for tho occasion were.carried out with complete success. Tho youngsters attended early Mass at the various : churches, and were then mustored -in procession to tho railway station, where they were entrained for the picnic ground. Tho principal procession was 'that which marched from St." Mary of tho Angels, Boulcott Street, about 500 chldren and a detachment from the Hibernian Society, in the regalia' of their order, being present. Tho juvenile detachment from St. Anne's, Newtown, numbered about 200, who were taken by car to the station. AVith the Hutt children added, thero must liavo been well on 1300 children all told. The St. Anne's School children cave a display of club swinging, and among' the numerous dances given were Irish jigs by Misses Amelia Fa ma, Moana Butler, and Lizzie Coleman. During the day, Archdeacon Devoy and the Rev. Fathers Hickson, Venning, Herring, Macdonald, and Lane, and Mr. T. M. AVilford, M.P., -were present.

IRISH NATIONAL CONCERT. , -Tho Town Hall was taxed to its utmost capacity last evening,' when the St. Patrick's Day celebrations wero brought to an appropriate termination by an excellent concert, . tho programme for which, of course,. was essentially characteristic of Erin's Islo. Thero wore no fewer than twentytwo items, but as the management committee bad had the good senso to intimato that no encores, would bo allowed, tho entertainment, although somewhat protracted, did not tire tho audience. His Excellency the Governor (Lord l'lunket), Captain Shannon, A.D.C., Lady AVard, and Miss Eileen AA'ard, his Grace Archbishop Redwood, S.M., his Worship- the Mayor (Hon. T. AV. Hislop), and Miss Hislop, and Dr. Cahill, were among those present. The excellence of tho programme was considerably enhanced by the inclusion of several items by tho Canadian Kilties , Band—"Tipperary" (overture), AVagner's magnificent overture to "Tannliauser," the solection "Hurrah for Harrigon" (Helf), "Erin" (overture), Tuders's "Cavalry Charge" (a descriptive selection), and an extra number, "Mr. AA'histles and His Dog." Tho band's most conspicuous success was tho rendition of "Tannhauser," the massive grandeur of this fine overture, the full organ-tone of tho opening, the tempestuous crescendo, and tremendous climax, the oft recurring "Pilgrim's Chorus" therao being splendidly treated. Mrs. Amy Hydc-AVood-ward sang very sweetly, "An Irish Lullaby" (Needham) and "Tho Shamrock." Miss H. Lorraine Tansloy, despite tho fact that sho had but just recovered from a severo cold, was in very good voice, and her item — "Kathleon Mavourneenwas pleasingly and artistically interpreted, the singer being recalled to bow her .acknowledgments. Miss Ruby M'Donald (violinist) played an arrangement by Vieuxtemps of tho Irish national air, "St. Patrick's Day,'' and her own arrangement of tbo favourite air, " Kathleen Mavourneen." Miss May Driscoll's singing of "Tho,AVearing of tho Green" was much appreciated, tho singer being recalled to repeat part of her song. • Two excellent items were "For the Green" (Hermann Sohr) and "The Littlo Galway Cloak" (also by Lohr), sung by Mr, Ernest Parkes, who Was given a most cordial recoption, and warmly - applauded. Mr. J. Finla.v, at very short i notice, and at tho special request of His 1 Excellency, the Governor* recited, with ex-

cellent effect, " Shamus O'Brien." Misses Maisio' and Peggy and Master St. Leger Reeves gave two really good exhibitions, in costume, of national dancing; the Clau Johnstono troupo of dancers also contributed an Irish jig. Tho cornet solo by Mr. Alfred Cook (conductor of tho band) was a very fmo item. Other items wore given by Master James M.'Carthy (recitation), Master Hubert Christie (song), and tho' pupils of tho Marist 'Brothers' School (patriotic choruses). Tho accompaniments were played by Miss Amy Remington, Miss Henderson, and Miss Una Simon.

AT MARTON. , (BY TELEGRAPH—SPECIAL COitRESPONDENT.) Mar ton | March 17. The Marten sports'woro held'"to-day, and woro a pronounced success, despite tho threatening weather during tho morning. Some of tho best athletes in the Dominion took part, and tho racing was ' interesting throughout. The chief results were: — Half-mile Cycle Race. —M. J. Anson, 1; W. H. Brough, 20. E. Burton, 3. 75 Yards Handicap.—L. Marter, 1; C. Lett, 2; W. Woodger, 3. 100 Yards Amateur Handicap.—B. Signal, .1; S. Markham, 2; A. Blair, 3. Novice Cycle Race. Olio milo. —F. Farmer, 1; Waters (100 yards), 2. Ladies' Jumping Competition.—MissFitzherbert's Mr,id Marion, 1; Miss Smith's Grisolda, 2. , One Milo Cycle Race.—R. J. Jones, 1; W. H Brough, 2; W. Vincent, 3. Half-mile Flat Race. —E. Jones, 1; Jas. M'Mullan, 2; J. M'Glynn, 3. Pony Jump—B. Signal's Black Bess, 1; G. M'Donnoll's Carissima, 2; T. Cameron's Blue Bell, 3. 150 Yards Blacelet Handicap (amateur). — W. G. Hagan, 1; S. Markham, 2; B. Signal, 3.

■ Marton Wheel Raco. Two miles.—W. H. Brough, 1; AA r . Vincent, 2; 11. Chapman, 3. •*Open Hunters' Competition.—Miss Fitzherbert's Maid Marion, 1; Miss E. Smith's Griselda, 2; J. Brico's Sylvia, 3. 220 Yards Amatonr Handicap.—T. Stnbbs, 1; G. H. Mculi, 2; B. Signal, 3. Three-mile Cycle Handicap.—AV.' Vincent, 1; C. E. Burton, 2* J. A. Cooksley, 3. One-mile Running Event. J. M'Mullan, 1: J. 6. M'Millan, 2; AV. Hall, 3. 220 Yards Handicap.—AV. H. Scally, 1; W. AVoodger, 2; J. Hubner, 3. Members' Raco. —G. AA T . Lawrence, 1; G. Smith, 2.

AT INVERCARGILL. (BT TELEGRAPH —PI'ESS ASSOCIATION.) , Invercargill, March 17. The Irish Athletic Society's twenty-third sports gathering was held to-day in "beautiful weather on the new Rugby Union ground, which competitors pronounce as a splendid one. The attendance was about 5001), tho gate takings totalling about £230, the previous best being £193. About 230 competitors took part, which is claimed to bo a record. Tho 135 Yards Sheffield, for £40 and Sir J. G. AVard's gold medal, was won by G. M'Leod, of Roxburgh (B}yds.), A. E. Peters, Gore (18yds.), being second, and J. "Zep-

pelin," lato of Palmerston North . (13yds.), boing third. 'Die other events resulted as follow:— 75 Yards Flying Handicap.—H. S. Strang, 1; 1?. Jl'Taggart, 2; "Zeppelin" (oyds.), 3. Jtilo Handicap.—G. Brownlio and J. P. O'Brien, dead heat, 1; Jas. Holland, 3. Cash Champion.—Chalmers, unplaced. Half-mile.—W. F. Trcmbath (Gore), 1; A. Kay (Oainaru), 2; G. M'Queen, 3. 440 Yards.—Trembath, 1; D. Sanson, 2; J. Hoi™,- 3. ■ 220 Yards Handicap.—D. Sanson, 1; G. M'Leod, 2; Stinson, 3. Frank Ford won tho throwing the stono event (Irish style) and hammer. William Ford won tho Cumberland wrestling. MASTEUTON SPORTS ABANDONED. (bi n3t.Ecp.Arn—press association.) ; . Maotorton, March 17. _ Owing to tho wot weather, the St. Patrick's Day sports havo been abandoned.