DOMINICAN CONTENT, LAWRENCE.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 51, 21 December 1899, Page 21

DOMINICAN CONTENT, LAWRENCE.

The annual entertainment by the pupils of the Dominican Nuns, Lawrence, was held in St. Patrick's Schoolroom on Friday evening. The Tuapeka Times Bpeaks in very laudatory terms of the performance, the manner, voice, and gesture of the children, even of the youngest, beint? excellent. The entertainment was an unqualified success, and the crowded audience tet-tified their appreciation by frequent applause. The programme opened with a pianoforte trio, very successfully played by Misses Leslie, King-, and Moody. This was followed by the first scene in a two-act drama, ' Dolores,' in which a number of the pupils took part, the principals being Mii-ses Bridget Devine (Pauline Norton), Mary Devine (Mrs. Norton), Maria Roughan (Augusta Norton), Alice Kelleher (Mrs. Worthjngton), Kate Roughan (Aunt Betsy), Ethel Kelleher (Nellie and

Sally Anne), Lily King (Grace), Maggie Real (Fanchette), and Mary Colligan (Pinoher). There, were some very pretty- scenes in the play, as well as some very pretty bits of dialogue, and the young players did the fullest justice to everything. Of the music and the isinging we can only speak in the most complimentary terms. The pianoforte duet, ' Lea jolis Oiseaux,' was very cleverly played by Misses E. Hart, L. King, M. King, and Moody, and Miss Woods was very warmly applauded for her very fine playing of the piano solo • Polka de la reine.' Mißses Delany, B. dart, Woods, and Hart played with singular evenness and Bpirit ' Concordantia,' and the Misses Hart gave a very pretty rendering of the vocal duet, • Venetian boat song,' for which they were warmly applauded. A. piano duet was very nicely played r *>y Misses M. King, N. and A. West. Miss and Mr. H. Woods were applauded for a capital rendering of the vocal duet 'Nocturne,' and Misses M. and G. Taylor gave a clever rendering of the piano duet ' Maritana.' Romberg'a toy symphony brought a very picturesquely attired company of school children on to the stage, who entertained the audience with music representing the notes of various song birds. In this part of the entertainment the following ladies and gentlemen assisted :-— Misses Wood and E. Hart (piano), Dr. Bauchop (cello), and Messrs. J. J. Woodß (violin), R. Walker (violin), John Kirby (olarionet), and E. Tamblyn (bass). The concert closed with the singing of the New Zealand National Anthem, after which The Rev. Father Keenan returned thanks to the large audience present for their patronage, and to the people of Lawrence generally for the readiness with which they had always come forward to assist the nuns. They were entirely indebted to the Sisters for the excellent entertainment they had the pleasure of attending, the manner in which the ohildren had acquitted themselves showing the excellent training they had received. He asked them to join in a hearty vote of thanks to the nuns for the entertainment they had provided, and to the children for the very clever manner in which they had acquitted themselves.

The annual art exhibition of the pupils took place in St. Patrick's schoolroom on the previous Wednesday, and throughout the afternoon and evening was inspected by a large number of persons. The exhibition was of a varied character, and included oil paintings, fancy work, and specimens of wood carving. Not a few of the paintings displayed considerable artistio taste and careful tuition, and the examples of wood carving gave evidence of skill, and originality of design, whilst the various objects of needlework were very highly spoken of by the lady visitors. Among the exhibitors were Miss Lomas, Miss R. Pearson. Mies W. Roughan, Misses Mary and Maggie Colgan, Miss Hart, Miss Johnston, Miss M. Byrne, Miss M. Devine, Miss A. Murdook, Miss M. Franklin, Miss McKenzie, Miss Matheson, Miss TucKey, Miss Airey, and Miss L. Pearson.

Speaking generally (concludes the local paper), the exhibition was the best we have had the pleasure of seeing in Lawrence, and rt fleets the highest credit on the Dominican Nuns as teachers of art in all its various branches, while it must be said that exhibitors have shown that they take the fullest advantage of the splendid opportunity afforded them of increasing the number of their accomplishments.