ST. PATRICK'S DAY.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1701, 18 March 1913, Page 6

ST. PATRICK'S DAY.

* —— - SPORTS & CONCERT. REPORTS FROM OTHER TOWNS, Staunch wearers of the green, many of them with shamrock leaves pinned to their coats, assembled at 'Newtown Park' yesterday to witness the 'annual celebration connected with St. Patrick's Day. . At about 9.30 a procession headed by the Waterside Workers' Band left Boulcott Street for the park, where the sports w ere at once put in progress. ' They were superintended by Brothers Basil, Louis, and Trciieues, and Messrs. J. Burke and A. Guise. Mr. H. M'Keowen acted as h'on. secretary. The display of Swedish drill by the cadets, under Instructor. J. Dully, was one of the features of the afternoon. The following is the result of the various races:— Wheelbarrow. Hace.—Ward iind Schrader, 1; M'Fadder and George, 2. Cadets' Race.—M'lligott, .1; Knight, 2. Hop, Step, and Jump.—Cliampiiutu, 1; J. Grey, 2; Campiou, !).• Irish Jig (girls).—Florrie Shaw, 1; Lillie O'Leary, 2; Mary Reid,, 3. Irish Jig (men).—John O'Leary, ,1; N. Austin, 2; P.' Lsggntt,'! 3. Boys' Half-mile \Valk. —Stirling, 1; J. M'Kenzie, 2.Wrestling, under 16,—M'l'arland, 1; C. O'Leary, ,2. . .Wrestling, under H.—L. Dwan, 1; Gallieliaii, 2. Si.. Patrick's College, 100. yards.—J. Riley, 1; Campion, 2; Sullivan, 3. 100 Yards College Handicap.—liiley, 1; O'Sullivan, 2. 220 Yards.—J. Sullivan, 1; J. Riley, 2. THE MUSIC OF IRELAND. NATIONAL CONCERT AT THE TOWiN HALL. The soul of minstrelsy, so dear to tlio heart of every Irishman worthy of the name, was embodied in the music wliieli constituted the programme at-the Irish national, concert given in the Town Hall last evening iu honour ol' St. Patrick's memory. Ulanciug down the sheet one could not help being struck' with tlie great part Tom Moore played'in the establishment of national song, for Ireland, and unconsciously his name- is honoured by Irishmen the world .over when St.'.Pat; rick's Day comes round. There is. no" thing modern to approach the genuine sentiment, and unswerving patriotism embodied in the poetry of Moore, .and that his beautiful lines should: have, been set to undying melodies was perhaps , only in tlio natural order of..things .to Ixv It was the sweet'soprano.pipe .of Master R. A. Pankhurst which carolled that sweetest of ballads, "Believe Me if all those Endearing Young Charms," and ' "The , Harp that Once Thro'-Tara's • Halls." The spirit of Moore was present in "Rich and Rare," sung with charming intelligence' by Miss' Teresa r McEnroe, .whose opulent, soprano has'matured iil.to a voice of great beauty. And again Moore, was present in "The Last Rose.of' Summer,'' played as a flute solo by Miss Nellie Simpson. It was his lines in the quartet "Coulin," .which were so artistically siingby Misses..M'Enroe,. I'.i Segrief, Martin, and Morrison. Indeed, a:i Irish. concert without the songs of, Tom Moore would lie like "Hamlet" minus. tho Prince of Denmark. Every number mentioned was encored. Master Pankhurst,. ivhen .recalled, sang. AVilleby's ."Little,-'Pilgrim," and Miss M'Enroe • sang-as an encore , a beautifully-written ballhd entitled "Hush, My Little One". (Berighani),, which her fine soprano gave vivid expression to. In this song her phrasing was excellent, aiid her admirable control of breath and voice was apparent in the charming mezza-voce effect at the end. Miss' Agnes Segrief, who Was in good voice, . sang "Khte O'Sliane" Reeling])*, and had, to ; supplement it with the pretty .song,let, 'The Birth of I}awn." The Orpheus Quartet (male), which- is ■ always welcome,- sang "The Minstrel. Boy" (arranged by D. J. Kenny), "Kathleen Mavourneen," "Eileen Alani'iali," and as an.'encore "The Rosary," in which the harmony was inclined to halt a little. It is. not a song that lends, itself to harmonic treatment. -Mr. J. Parker, a.cultured cornetist, played a selection of Irish airs most sweetly, arid Mr. D. Kenny played as an organ solo a number of national Irish melodies. Mr. H. N. Fletcher exerted his light tenor in "She is Ear 'From the Land" (Lambert), and Mr. AUwright, the "Orpheus" baritone, contributed "The Irish Emigrant," At the sound of the Irish pipes off-stage, a titter of pleased excitement disturbed the audience and when a "broth of a bhoy" in knee breeches and green stockings entered with a skirl, he was re-' ccived with a wild burst of apnlanse. He supplied the music for an Irish jig, nimbly stepped by Miss Shaw, which the big audience vigorously encored. The boys of the Marist Brothers' School opened the programme (vocally) with the choruses "Erin, tlie Tear," and "A Toast to Erin." and closed it with the stirring number, "God Save Ireland." ■ Mr. D. J. Kenny made a capable accompanist. Among those present were the Veil. Archdeacon Dovoy, Denn O'Shea, the Rev. Fathers Hickson, Tyrnons, Herring, Peoples, and other members of the clergy, and a contingent of Hibernians in ' regalia. HUTT & PETONE. ' St Patrick's Day was celebrated in the Hutt Valley chiefly by means of entertainments in the everting..- At Lower Hutt a "social" and dance was held, which was attended by a large number of people, these including the Mayor (Mr. E. P. Bunny) and Mrs. Builny. , At Petone an Irish national concert was held in His Majesty's Theatre, where the seating accommodation was taxed to the limits. The following were the contributors:—Misses' E.' Gaynor, Chase, O'Sullivan; Mesdames 'Ferguson, Casey, Messrs. Casey, Walsh, M. Ryan, Parker, Delahunty, Wrav, Corliss, and Master Donaldson. The Rev. Father M'Menamm played -the accompaniments. GREYMOUTH SPORTS. (Br TelezraDh—Prosa Association.) Greymouth, March 17. The Hibwsian sports at Victoria Park were the only attraction for the holiday. Showers during the day interfered with the attendance, but fully three thousand people were present. Wall, the Christchurch craok, won the half mile and one mile evele events and gained second place In'the' two males. In the three miles race lie was rehandicappcd to tlio extent of 120 yds.. and would not start. The Sheffield Handican (120 yds.) was won by A. Court (9yds.) in 114-ssec. SOUTHLAND CELEBRATION. ! Invercarflill, March 17. The Irish Athletic Society held their annual sports gathering t'o-day, in fine but "windy "weather. The day "was not observed as a close holiday in town, and therefore the attendance was not large. The principal event—the Sheffield Handicap—was won by E. J. Bartlett (!>!yds.), who takes .£4O and Sir Joseph Ward's gold medal. J. J. Livesey (OJyds.) was second, P.. G. Richards (10yds.) third, and AV. Aldred (2yds.) fourth. All the placed men are local athletes. ■ AT GERALDINE. Tlmaru, March 17. • ' The St. Patrick's Day sports at Geraldine to-day were rather hampered by a strong north-wester, but there-were good fields and a good attendance, and the sports passed off well,' but for one mishap. F. Everett (Christchurch) and Meharry, in the first bicycle race, glided togethei. Both fell heavily, and Evfrett broke his shoulder blade. P. O'Shea won the halfmile, mile, and three-mile bicycle races from scratch. A. Bonis (25yds.) won the two-milo bicycle race. The_ running • events were won as .follows. —75yds.: M. M'Clelland (lyd.), 1. 130 yds. Sheffield: D. Devon (G2vds.), 1. 220 yds.: Saunders (11yds.), 1." ttOyds.: Mak.ie ißyds.,t. '• 88(i,vds.: Tavcner (scr.). 1. 220 yds. hurdles: C. Fitzgerald.(syds.),,l. DORMER'S FEAT. Auckland. March 17. At St. Patrick's Day sports Auckland. Dormer lowered his own New Zealand half-mile record by two seconds, his time . being Imin. 50 l-jsec.