ST. PATRICK'S DAY.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1079, 18 March 1911, Page 7

ST. PATRICK'S DAY.

CELEBRATIONS IN WELLINGTON PICNIC AND SPORTS AT NEWTOW: I'AllK. Tho anniversary of tlio patron Sail' of Ireland - was celebrated yesterda with considerable enthusiasm. Th proceedings commenced with Mass at S: Mary of tlio Angels Church, Eoulcot Street, after which a procession t Roman Catholic military cadets, men bers of tho Hibernian Society, and tli Catholic -Club/ headed by tho Garriso: .Band; set out for Newtown Park, wher a picnic and sports gathering was to b held. Tho procession, which include some 400 cadets, strung out over severs hundred yards, and proceeded to tli Park via Manners Street, Courtena; ; Place, Kent Terrace, and Adelaid •Road. The younger • school childrei ' were conveyed to tho picnic ground u Bpeeial trains. ".. The whole of tho morning was givoi over to children's races, the clergy am a strong, committed giving tlio youni people -a thoroughly enjoyablo time After lunch the sports programme. fo: i grown-up people was commenced, am sonie: really entertaining items were pro j vide'd." Tho fields were heavy for eacl ! oveiit, and tho .competition was keen J Probably the. most exciting number: :of tho day were the tugs-of-war. Threi ' teams of eight entered for the big tug : which resulted in. a win fof the polic* .'probationers, captained by J; O'Leary : Tho fifst try-out was between the CatliO' i lie Club -and the tramway team, th< | ftirmer winning, rather easily. Tho win ! ners were then set against the polict probationers, a heavy, well-trained sel of men, who had no difficulty in carrying all before them: The tiig-of-wai . between the, St. (Vincent's and St. ' Anne's cadets produced a great' struggle..' First one team and then tho other gained a little advantage, but at length after a, battle royal, and when tho boys were almost exhausted, St. Vincent's got in a couple, of extra pounds, and landed', a victory for their side. Officials for the day were: —Marshal for procession, Captain Casey, St. Patrick's College; referee, Mr. A. H. , Casey; starter, Mr. T. W. Leslio , judges; walking; Rev. Father Hickso: ; and Mr. ~\D. M'Pheo; field events Messrs. J. Doyle and T. O'Brien; tug of-war, Mr. J. Doyle; jigs, Mr. £i M'Phee; wrestling, Mr. J. Doyle; cal i stewhrds, Messrs. J. E. Fitzgerald aril ' C.. Gamble; hon.' secretary, Mr. H •' M'Keowen; hon. treasurer, Mr. M'Gov : em. . The results of tho various races were 100 Yards Handicap (under 18 years) ; —Cbghlan (syds.)l; Redmond (4yds.) ■2; Symon (scr.), 3. Thero were abou; i ' 14 starters. •Wheelbarrow. Race (75yds.).—Firsl heat: Brown and O'Sullivan, 1; Smitl and Mahoney, 2. Second heat: Robert: and Hickey, 1; Scrimgeour and Cogh lan, 2. Final: Brown and O'Sullivar (St. (Anne's), 1; Smith and Mahonoj (St.' Patrick's College), 2. Irish Jig (children). —Peggio Reevcs ; 1; E. Noyer, 2; E. Austin, 3. 100 Yards Handicap (for cadets in uniform).—J. Symons (St. Anne's), 1; Sullivan (St. Anne's), 2. ,Pick-a-Back Race (50yds).—Redmond and J. Burke, 1; Coghlan and • Gascoyh'e, 2. ' '• Half-milo Walk (boys).—Sullivan, 1; Redmond, 2. High Jump'.—Coghlan, '4ft. 9in., 1; Brennan, 4ft. BJin., 2; Redmond, 3. Irish Jig (adults).—J. -O'Leary,, 1: N. Ausiin,.2: 'Gi'Kelloh'er,.;3.■' Young Ladies' Race' (50yds.).—Miss Lena Lynch, 1; Miss ■A. M'Atqer, 2; Miss A. Burbery, 3. . Potato Race. —Redmond, 1; Jepson, 2. Hibernian and Catholic Club Handicap (100 yds.).—P. Twomey, .1; C. M'Kenzie,' 2. Physical. Drill.—St. Aune'9 Cadets, 1. •' . Tent-pitcliing.—St. Anne'? No. 2 team, 1. Married Women's Race.—Mrs. Wooler, '1; Mrs. -Weaver, 2. Hop, Step, and Jump.—J. Brenrian, 37ft. 10in., I;'Wroble,'36ft. 7in., 2. Sack Race—J. O'Brien, 1;- W. H. Bnwden, 2. Wrestling.—J'. O'Leary, 1; T. Walsh, 2. ' Bugling Competition. — Bugler O'Lfiary (Marist), 1; Bugler Martin (St. 'Anne's), 2. Ladies' Nail-driving Competition.— i Mrs.' 1 Austin, 1; Mrs. Ward. 2. i Tug-of-war. — Police ' probationers' ,; team. 1; Catholic Club, 2; Tramway, 3. Cadets' ' Tug-of-war.—St. Vincent's 1; St. Anne's, .2. .. . «. IRISH CONCERT AT THE TOWN HALL. The true hearts that beat for Ireland ' mustered in great force at the Town. Hall last .evening, : when an enjoyable concert of. the popular: order was given in honour of ErinV patron saint, St. 1 atricic. The programmes were printed ,in green ink, tho ladies affected the national colour in their'- ribbons and trimmings, the men, almost without exception, woro green ties and badges in their coats, and tho programme bulged with those .dear old melodies that are as pure and sweet to hear as tho emerald is' to look upon. The audience was warm-hearted, uncritical,- and thoroughly enjoyed itself throughout. There was no reason , why .it should not, for tho /talent- was of a high quality, and all tho performers restricted themselves to , numbers well within their capacity. The programme opened with a brief recital of Irish-music on tho organ by Mc. John Sidford, who played very well, but it was evident that tlio new-comer had not yet had tho opportunity to grasp tho possibilities of the big instrument. Mr. Farquhar Young, the southern basso, whose bull'o style and manly voice'makes for popularity, reached the heart 6f the big audience with ''The •Wearing of the Green." His encoro was that tuneful bit of nonsense "Long Ago in Alcala," which he sang in a hearty spirit of comedy, avoiding any) expansion on tho top notes cleverly. Later, Mr. Young made another strong appeal to his auditors' sentiments in I' Who Fears to Speak of '93?'.' and, in response to a rousing encore, recited delightfully, "Oh, How 1 Envied M'Ginty." Miss Agnes Segricf's small but cultured contralto was heard in "Kathleen Mavourncen," "The Harp that Onco through Tara's Hall," and she was encored for both. Her voice is hardly largo enough to appear to its fullest advantage in such a large hall. One of the most artistic efforts of tlio evening was the cornet playing of Mr. John'Parker, whose" tone, phra£ ins, arid finish wero admirable. He j played "Come Back to Erin," "Take a ( Pair of Sparkling Eyes," from "The '. Gondoliers," and a charming ballad. The ( vocal star of the evening was Mi's I Teresa M'Euroe, a debutante soprano, '. and a pupil of Sister Ligouri, of St. ; Mary's Convent'. He.r voicc is a pun; ' soprano of excellent quality, and large ■enough to fill the hall wi'thoUt effort. It is well produced, and that :'t has been carefully trained was evidenced by the ease and confidence with which she usod the mezza voce, without loss of tone. Miss M'Enroe sang "The Last Pj?- Sl ' of Summer," and for an encoro Believe Me if all those Endearing loiMg Charms" with taste and exuj? S i' nn ' ~?? r ' Charles Hijkmott sang iatner O'tlynu'' (a song without which no lush concert would bo complete) with spirit, and had to append an encoro lumber. Mr. P. L. Minilie played a piccolo solo deftly, and Mr. Vincent Mason gave the recitation "King Conor M Nessa. Mr. Patrick Murphy, a particularly good dancei, gavo an Irish jig amj. a clevcrly-stoppSd Irish clog dance, f.nil the pupils of tho Marist Brother!, School sang "The Dear Little .obamrocij the phrasing and harmony

of which was decidcdly quaint. Tho accompaniments wore adequately played by Miss Henderson, and .Messrs. \Y. M'Loughlin and Dave Kenny. There was a number of the clergy among the ■ - audience. 1 . ~— 1 IN OTHER CENTRES. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) Timaru, March 17. t The St. Patrick's holiday was oby served by picnics, sports, and races. 0 Special interest was given to the sports lit Geraldino by tho presenco of Holway, '■ Trembath, and M'Lachlan, each making " fine performances. Holway attempted f to lower tho 140 yards record of 135 sec., . but took 13 4-sscc., but the track had B an uphill rise in it. Trembath was greatly applauded for his half-milo in lmin. 53 4-ssec., but tho track on being 3 measured was found to be 7} yards J short. There wore good fields in nearly all tho events, and the meeting passed ' off well in the presence of a record at- * .tendance. Finals resulted as follow:— ' 75 Yards: Pratt (sJyds.) 1, Holway (scr.) 2, Kcnnard (6yds.) 3. 130 Yards: Gardiner (16yds.) 1, Kcnnard (13yds.) 2, Holway (scr.) 3. Half-Mile: Tavoner (40yds.) i, Trembath (scr.) 2, Dolacour (55yds.) 3. Quarter-Mile: M'Lachlan (10yds.) 1, Tavencr (25yds.) 2, ■ Gibson » (30yds.) 3. Sixteen started. Cycling— ■ Half-Miio: Wall (45yds.) 1, O'Shea (30 , yds.) 2, Young (70yds.) 3. ' Mile (cycling): O'Shea (50yds.) 1, Young (130 yds.) 2, Behrens (160 yds.) 3. Two 1 Miles (cycling)': Wall (120vds.) 1, ' M'Glin (130 yds.) 2, Gillcspio (30yds.) 3. ' Two Miles Provincial Championship: ' A. B. L. Smitlf 1, M. O'Donohuo 2, ; P. Gillespio 3. Won comfortably. Blenheim, March 17. At the St. Patrick's Day sports the i principal race, the St. Patrick's Handicap, £100, 150 yards, was won by S. i Darby (Auckland), Campion (Wanganui) being second, and Leahy (Taihape) third. A protest against Darby will be decided to-morrow. _ G. Kinsey (Auckland) won tho Publicans' Handicap, 100 yards. W. Farrelly (Hastings) won the Half-mile, and E. Cunningham (Petone) the 220 Yards Hurdles. P. Maddock (Blenheim) won tho Mile Bicycle Race, and C. Sheen (Blenheim) tho Two-mile Bicycle Race.