HIBERNIAN SOCIETY'S FESTIVAL.

Grey River Argus, Volume XII, Issue 1137, 20 March 1872, Page 2

HIBERNIAN SOCIETY'S FESTIVAL.

As briefly noticed in our last, the Greymouth Branch of the Hibernian Australian Catholic Benefit Society celebrated the anniversary of St. Patrick's Day by a ball and banquet, in the large hall at Gilmer's Hotel, on Monday evening. There were about 250 ladies and gentlemen present, and the music was supplied by the members of the Town Band, who volunteered, their services. The ball proved to be a brilliant ' success ; indeed, one of the most successful that has ever taken place in town, owing to the completeness of the arrangements made by the Committee, with the assistance of the Messrs Gilmer, and the thoroughly joyous manner in which everyone present entered into the spirit of the affair. The hall was tastefully decorated with appropriate devices; flags, &c, while the officers and members of the Society present decorated themselves with an abundance of their National color. The new supper room attached to the large hall, which on this occasion was used for the first time, is a decided improvement upon the old system, because it is larger, is easier of access, and in many particulars is much more convenient than the old supper room. The Messrs Gilmer deserve credit for securing this large addition to their already extensive premises, and they certainly deserve an additional amount of credit for the handsome manner in which the room was decorated, for the liberal manner in which the tables were provided, and for their general carefulness in seeing, under very, trying circumstances, that everything was done that possibly could be for the comfort aud convenience of their visitors. , At the supper table the chair was occupied by the President, Mr M'Grath, supported on the right by E. Wickes, Esq;, Mayor* M. Kennedy, Esq., and F. Guinness, Esq., and on the left by W. H. Revell. Esq., R.M., Messrs King, Kilgour, Dungan, M.C.C., «fee. After supper, the Chairman said they had assembled for the double purpose of celebrating the anniversary of St. Patrick's Day, and also that of the Branch of the Hibernian Society, to which they belonged, and he knew that all his countrymen who were present were proud of the opportunity of celebrating the day in the manner in which they werej;hen doing. give, because the Society to which they belonged was strictly Catholic, was "Pope Pius the IXth." The Chairman then gave the toast, "The Queen and Royal Family," which was received with applause. The Chairman then proposed "Our Native Land," which' was very ably responded to by Mr G. King. The Chairman ne*t toasted "New Zealand, our adopted Country," to which Mr F: Guinness replied. . The next toast given by the Chairman was, "Our Guests," to which Mr Revel! said he had the honor to respond, and felt sure he spoke for all the guests present that they were very much pleased at being present on the auniversary of St. Patrick's Day. He, for one, reciprocated the sentiments which had been- expressed that evening, because he was himself an Irishman. On behalf of all the guests, he returned thanks for the very happy and pleasant evening they had spent, and he suggested a speedy return to the ballroom. . The Chairman next gave " The day we celebrate," which was ably and enthusiastically responded to by Mr P. Dungan, M.C.C. "Kindred Societies," was proposed by j the Chairman, coupled with the names of Mr Hogg and Mr Green. Mr Hogg replied on behalf of the Ancient Order of Foresters. The Chairman next gave "The Greymouth Fire Brigade," to which Captain Amos responded ; the "Commercial and Mining Interests/ to which Messrs Kilgour and Grippen replied; the "Parliament of New Zealand and County Council of . Westland/' to which Mr Dungan, M.C.C, responded ; "The Mayor and Borough, Council of Greymouth," which was duly acknowledged by the Mayor. Mr Frank Gra^ss proposed the toast "The Hibernian Society," who are our hosts to-night,. {, ' > Mr M. Kennepy, in responding, said that although the night was far advanced, the enthusiastic manner in which the toast had been received compelled him to say something in reply. The r progress which their young society had made was very satisfactory, especially when it was remembered that at its starting there was no one here who was acquainted with its working. It was. .well-known thai Catholics were forbidden to become members of secret societies • and consequently ■ the present society was established in order to give Irishmen an opportunity of . perpetuating ibhe memory of their beloved country. The Society had rapidly extended, and had now seventy branches,numbering four or five thousand members, and speaking for the branch here, he must say that the efforts of its promoters had been more than repaid, even though they had given one hundred times more time and trouble to it. They had determined to extend their operations in future, and on; St. Patrick's Day provide out-dobr amusements, arid otherwise assist in making that day memorable.. j The remaining toasts were — " The Press," "The Ladies," responded to by Mr J. S. M. Thompson, and " Our Hos,t and Hostess." \ The company then returned, "to the ball-room, whei'e dancing was kept up with spirit until long after daylight. ; All places of business were to be closed in Paris on the 28th January, the amu- * i vereary of the capitulation of the city* ■