DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 52, 28 December 1899, Page 5

DIOCESE OF CHRISTCHURCH.

(From our own correspondent.)

December 22. The annual retreat for the Sisters of Mercy is being conducted at the Convent, Colombo street, by the Very Rev. Dr. Kennedy, S.M. His Lordship the Bishop was amongst those who occupied seats on the platform at the prize distribution of the Boys' High School held this week.

The Very Rev. Father Ginaty, S.M., of Mount Magdala, has gone on a visit to Melbourne, his place, meanwhile, being taken by the Very Rev. Dean Foley, S.M.

The following pupils of the Sisters of Mercy, Colombo street, passed most successfully at the drawing examination (second grade), in connection with the School of Art, Wellington, held on December 2 : — Freehand, Lizzie Joyce, Monica Flood, and Ethel Main.

The general examination of the pupils of the Marist Brothers' School does not take place until mid- winter, but for the benefit of the boys of the Sixth Standard, many of whom are about to leave school, an examination of that class took place the other day. In his report the Inspector (Mr. J. Baldwin) says : ' The class has passed a very satisfactory examination, 11 boys out of 12 examined fully satisfying all the requirements of Standard VI. The behaviour of the boys during the examination was good.'

St. Mary's schoolroom was filled to overflowing on the evening of Friday last to witness the prize distribution and annual entertainment of the pupilp. His Lordship the Bishop presided, there being also present all the local and several visiting clergy. The excellent manner in which the children acquitted themselves was very creditable to their painstaking teachers, the Sisters of Mercy. The following was the programme : — Chorus, singing class ; violin sollo Miss Agnes Nelson ; song, Master Cronin ; and a drama, ' Dolores,' in which the parts were taken by Misses J. Sweeney, K. Barnard, D. Smith, E. Dalton, N. Main, V. Davison, W. McAdams, C. Sweeney, M. Sweeney, M. Haughey, A. O'Connell, N. Murphy, N. O'Brien, N. Flannelley, and Master A. Foster.

The Inspector of Catholic schools has furnished the following report on St. Mary's School, Manchester street, conducted by the Sisters of Mary : — The results of the examination of the school, with the exception of Standards IV. and V., are very satisfactory. Standards IV. and V. are very uneven in their work, owing to the number of exceptions. The neatness of the work in the upper standards is highly commendable (omitting the exceptions, for which the school is not responsible), and the reading is very intelligent. The behaviour of the children during the examination was very good. The reading was very good, with expression ; spelling and dictation, good ; writing, very good ; drawing, very good, several exoellent copies in Standard VI. ; arithmetic, fair, weak in Standard V. ; composition, good ; geography, fair ; grammar, weak ; history, fairly good ; mental arithmetic, very good ; poetry, good ; singing and drill, very good.

An exceptionally well arranged and successful operatic and dramatic entertainment was given in St. Aloysius' Hall by the pupils of the Marist Brothers' School, in aid of their prize fund, on Thursday, the 21st inst. There was a very good attendance and the young performers excelled in their respective parts, showing to advantage the excellent training they receive at the hands of their devoted teachers. The first part of the programme consisted of the operetta ' Donald's Hamper,' in which the characters were sustained by B. Kelly, S. Poff, VV. Barrett, E. Boland, W. Duichan, B. O'Connor, J. O'Connor, C. Collins, J. O'Malley, T. Power, J. M'Aleer, T. Cronin, and W. Lyons ; and dumb-bell exercises by the junior pupils. For the second portion a farce, 'Cherry Bounce,' was staged, the parts being taken by W. Barrett, J. Commons, P. Augarde, R. Holehan, J. Close, and J. M'Aleer. The accompaniments were played during the evening by Master P. Augarde Valuable assistance in the rehearsals and subsequent production of the plays was rendered by the Rev. Father Richards, to whose energy much of the success of the entertainment was due. Hia Lordship the Bishop and several of the clergy were present. In the midst of the joy and gladness of this festive season, permit me, on behalf of your many friends in Canterbury and more especially Christchurch, to tender all connected with the Tablet sincere and heartfelt wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year.