MARIST BROTHERS WORK

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 86, 6 January 1919, Page 8

MARIST BROTHERS WORK

THORNDON GATHERING FAREWELL TO BROTHER LOUIS. A lnrge'number of I tic parishioners of the Catholic parish of Thorndon assembled at the Hawkestone Street School 011 Saturday afternoon to fifty. good-bye to tho J!ev. •Brother Louis, who lias been transferred to another sphere of labour. Tho Kov. Bi:o. .lSuschina presided. The' Kev Father Smyth, Adm„ said that the removal of Brother Ixiuis was a loss to the. cause of Catholic education. Ho did not refer only to the gaining of educational, honoura. Tho Catholics knew there was something'more important: .'ind essential than the imparting of intellectual knowledge. It must, however, be added that the secular education imparted ii) tho Catholic schools throughout the Dominion was fully equal to that Riven in any other school in New Zealand. Tho -reports of the inspectors year after year bore out that statement, and he doubted if any school in tho Dominion got a'better report from the.inspectors than the Catholic schools £f "Wellington. (Applause.) lie attributed the success of the Hawkestone Street. School vory largely to the work of Brother Louin. No school had been more successful, and the Catholics of Thorndon were justly proud of it. (Applause.) In his departure, Brother Louis was carrying with him the best wishes of the wholo parish and the hope of all that he would be long spared to continue the grand and noble and self-sacrificing work in which he and tho Brothers associated with him had been engagc-d for so many years. (Applause.) I On bohalf of the old hoys of the school Mr. Fergus Beeves read an address expressive of the feelings of Brothw Louis's past pupils and their hopes for'his future welfare, the gift being accompanied by a substantial purse' of sovereigns. Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald said it must be very gratifying to Brother Louis that on tho ovo ol' his departure so many parents and past and present pupils had assembled to bid him fai'owell. (Applause ) Tho Marist Brothers had shown Now Zealand what rej) manhood is, and that tliey could not only impart tho ordinary curriculum, but give their pupils higher ideals which would stand them in good stead during the .storms and trials of their later years. He went on to refer to tho work done iby" tho pupils of tho school since its opening, in 1912, when the pupils numbered 70. Last year 155 pupils attended tho school, lie referred to the records of scholars in outside examinations, showing that the school had a very fine record. On behalf of the present-day pupils Master Brogan presented Brother Louis with a travelling bag and a- fountain pen. The Ifov. Father Smyth then presented tho following medals ■ won by pupils of the school at the-yearly examinations:— Dux, Frank Brogan (presented by His Grace Archbishop Redwood). - Good conduct, Walter Staff (presented by Rev. Father Smyth). Christian doctrine, R. Dunns (presented by the lier. Father Dignan). Arithmetic prize in'scholarship examinations, gold medii.li William Cudbv. Composition, Norman Cairns (presented bv Mr. Levien). Best homework, Gerald . Griffin (presented by Dr. Mackin). Reference to the sports side of the eelicol's activities was made by Mr F. Iv. Meeves, who pointed out thai in 1912 the school won tho "Wellington Football Association's cup in the sixtli class, and that it. had won cups and medals in each succeeding year,. including tho district championship for the past four years, ami last year.the school cup,- the sixth A cup, the sixtli B cup, and tho school bannor. ' (Applause.) The school, ■ lie added, had also put. up a splendid record in swimming, and in 101"), in competition with ail the other schools, won the Divtiiie Cap for team work. Last hut not least.'fluid tho speaker, tho schools 801 l of Honour contained no fewer than .15 names—a splendid tribute to the courage and patriotism of tho men who had received their first lwsons from tho Jlnrist Brothers. (Cheers.) ; 4mid chairing, the Her. Brother Louis rose to reply, and in a few irords expissed his great nleasure at the- eifts with which he had been presented, of the Inud things said about him, ami of tho deep Tegret he felt at leaving a sphere of work in-which ho had so many pleasant friendships. . Later in the afternoon Brother Louis hoisted tho football flag on the new flagpole which has recently been erected in the school grounds. After tea "was served iby n conmittoo of ladies the proceedings concluded with hearty votes of thanks to nil the workors. -'