CORONATION OF A QUEEN

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3006, 17 February 1917, Page 7

CORONATION OF A QUEEN

and farewell to father • O'CONNELL. The ceremony of crowning the successful. queen candidate in tho competition held recently in conjunction with St. Mary's Parish Festival was held at the. Concert Chamber of the .town Hull 011 Thursday night. There was a largo attendance of parishioners present, including the Row Fathers 0 Council and Venning. Tho queen candidates, all young school girls, looked'exceedingly well, and tho various colours of their robes produced a pretty effect. Tho successful candidate, Miss Loretto O'Driscoll, representing' the Altar Society, was supported by tho other candidates—Miss Doris Hoskins, representing tho Hibernian Society; Miss Phyllis Warren, representing tho Jioulcott Street School Children; Miss Lucy Carney, Brooklyn; and Miss Ryan, the Children of Mary. Before ascending the dais, tho queen and her supporters, preceded by a maid carrying tho crown and scepture, moved jn royal stato through tlie audience. Pile Very Rev. Father O'Connell performed tho coronation ceremony, and in a few happy remarks thanked the people for tho success which crowned their. efforts at the recent Festival, over £500 being cleared as a result. At the conclusion of the coronation Major Halpin, on behalf of tho parishioners, took advantage of the occasion to bid farewell on behalf of the parishioners to their, esteemed pastor, Father O'Connell, who would bo departing next week to take over tho parish of Wanganui, in succession to the Very Rev. Dean Holly, who was now Provincial of the Manst Order. Father O'Connell had absolutely forbidden any demonstration or presentation, but could not, even at tho risk of incurring his displeasure, let him depart without expressing their regret at his departure and gratitude for what lie had done for them, and to voice their best wished) for his future welfare. He then presented Father O'Connell with an illuminated address, Mr. P. D. Hoskins, on behalf of the members of the Hibernian Society, paid .1 tribal to to tbe work which I'ather O'Connell as chaplain had done for that society. Father O'Connell, 011 rising to reply, was enthusiastically received.- He thanked the parishioners and the Hibernian Society for their kind words. He was averse to accepting any monetary testimonial, as lie considered that the. pcoplo had assisted him right loyally in helping him to wipe off,a debt of £1500 which existed when he assumed charge of the parish. That was all lie ixpeoted, and lie was grateful to them 'or it. During tho evening an excellent programme was contributed to by Misses rcres<i M'Enroe, Agnes and Rose iegrief, Eileen and Kathleen O'Brien, Messrs. Koaney and J. O'Brien, and Masters Winston M'Carthy and Leo D'Brien. Father O'Connell, who leaves . Wellington netx week, will preach his iarowell sermon 011 Sunday at St. Mary jf the Angels, Boulcott Street.