DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVII, Issue 52, 28 December 1899, Page 19

DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN.

The Rev. Father Colgan, S.J., of Melbourne, preached on Sunday night at St. Joseph Cathedral. He proceeded to Timaru on Tuesday to open a retreat at the local convent of the Sacred Heart. Very Rev. Father Ryan, S.J.. is conducting the annual retreat of the Dominican nuns who are temporarily occupying the new Provincial Seminary at Mosgiel. Two more young priests who were recently secured by Bishop Verdon for the diocese of Dunedin are expected to reach the Colony by the next mail boat from Melbourne to the Bluff. The Rev. Mother, Convent of Mercy, South Dunedin, desires to convey through our columns her deep sense of the kindness of the St. Vincent de Paul Society (Dunedin) and of the many other

friends who contributed towards the support of the Catholic Orphanage during the present year.

Masses were celebrated at St. Joseph's Cathedral on Christmas Day at 6, 7, 8, 9 and 11 o'clock, the latter being a Solemn High Mass. The Rev. Father Moloney of St. Patrick's College was celebrant, Rev. Father Murphy deacon, Rev. Father Cleary sub-deacon. Bey. Father Colgan preached an eloquent and impressive discourse. The choir, which was assisted by an efficient orchestra under the leadership of Mr. Naumann, gave a devotional rendering of Haydn's No. 2 Mass, the soloists being Miss Rose Blaney (soprano), Miss M. Drumm (alto), Mr. P. Carolin (tenor), and Mr. 0. Feil (bass). Mr. Mr. W. T. Ward conducted. The 'Adeste Fideles' was sung as an offertory, the solo parts being taken by Miss Rose Blaney, Miss Bush, Mr. B. Stevens and Mr. W. Woods. There was a large congregation present at High Masß, and also in the evening, when the Rev. Father Murphy preached. The decorations were confined to the sanctuary, especially the high altar, which was tastefully adorned with flowers.

The unpropitious weather and the big patriotic meeting at the Agricultural Hall materially affected the attendance at Mr. Walter Kirby's song recital at the Choral Hall on Friday night. Those who were present enjoyed the fine programme presented. Mr. Kirby came to Dunedin with an excellent reputation as a vocalist, and his performance on Friday night confirmed the reports that had come from other centres. He was down for four items on the programme— 'Alice, where art thou? 'The star of Bethlehem/ 'Angels guard thee,' and 'An evening song.' Three of these were encored. Mr. Kirby's fine tenor voice did full justice to the numbers named, and the audience were very enthusiastic in their applause. Mr. Kirby also took part with Miss Rose Blaney and Mr. Jago in the trio *II Naviganti,' which was beautifully rendered. Miss Rose Blaney sang 'My dearest heart ' and 'Robin Adair,' for both of which she was enthusiastically encored. Mr. James Jago contributed two vocal items — ' Where willows whisper ' and ' Love's proving' — in his usual finished manner. Two acceptable songs— ' Sunshine and rain ' and ' Two cities '—were very nicely sung by Mr. Wakefield Holmes. The balance of the programme consisted. of a pianoforte solo by Mr. W. E. Taylor, and a violin solo by Mr. Gr. H. Schacht, played in these gentlemen's well-known artistic style. The accompaniments were admirably played by Miss K. Moloney and Mr. W. E. Taylor.

A enjoyable concert was given in the Volunteer Hall, Mosgiel, on Wednesday evening of last week, in aid. of the local convent of the Sisters of Mercy. There was a good attendance despite the unseasonable weather, and nearly every item on the programme was redemanded. The entertainment opened with an artistically played overture by Miss K. Moloney. Miss Rose Blaney was down for two songs — ' A Highland lad my love was born ' and ' Close to the threshold,' the latter with violin obligate by Miss M. F. Blaney — which, it is needless to say, were imperatively encored, the accomplished vocalist complying with the request. Mr. Eagar contributed ' A man's a man for a' that,' and later on took part in a duet, ' Hunting Tower,' with Miss Morrison, encores being insisted on in both cases. Miss A. Marks sang with taste ' Sleep my pretty one,' and the same maybe said of Miss Morrison's 'Robin Adair' and ' Bonnie sweet Bessie, the maid of Dundee,' both ladies being enthusiastically recalled. Mr Jago's two fine numbers, 'A Hieland man's toast ' and ' Defence not defiance,' met with the warm appreciation of the audience. A very fine number was a violin solo by Miss M. F. Blaney, a repetition of which was insisted on. The second part of the programme consisted of a minstrel entertainment by the members of St. Joseph's Club. Those who took part in it were Messrs J. Black, J. Fottrell, F. Duval, W. Banks, F. J. Hussey, F. Heley, L. Pastorelli, M. Coughlan, and W. Clark. This part of the entertainment was productive of considerable amusement, the efforts of the club being marked by good taste. The local \hits,' without being in any way personal, were very good, and thoroughly enjoyed by the audience. The club are to be congratulated on their very acceptable contribution to what was one of the best entertainments ever given in Mosgiel. Miss K. Moloney played the accompaniments in her usual finished manner.

On Friday last a mass meeting of the citizens of Dunedin was held in the Agricultural Hall for the purpose of raising funds for the relief of those who have been made widows and orphans by the present war in South Africa. The great hall was packed and the meeting was a very representative and enthusiastic one. The Catholic clergy of Dunedin attended and contributed generously to the fund, which reached the enormous total of £3,184. The speakers were nine in number and included the Anglican Bishop of Dunedin and representative clergy fiom each leading denomination in the city. The most taking speech of the evening was delivered by the Very Rev. Father O'Neill (Milton). On rising he received a perfect and prolonged ovation. No other of the nine speakers, with the exception of Mr. Scobie Mackenzie, was greeted with such an outburst of applause. Father O'Neill was the only speaker who really addressed himself to the subject for which the meeting was exiled — namely, the cause of charity. The others confined their efforts exclusively to attempts to justify the war itself. Our opinions on this subject have been repeatedly stated and are t-ufficiently well-known Father O'Neill made happy references to the generosity and charity of the Irish and Catholic people. He concluded a telling speech amidst great applause with the following remarks : — I have but one word to say. It is to remind you of a tribute of respect to the love and devotion of those who remained to nurse the sick in Ladysmith, Mafeking, and Kimberley. The Catholics nuns were there in possession of homes and teaching institutions, and were offered the alternative of leaving, but they bravely and unanimously decided that they would remain to nurse the sick (cheers). And now, ladies and gentlemen, I have just to give you a few lines of what our national poet says to some who have not read the history of the past, or who, reading it, did not read it aright. He said :

' Contempt on the minion who calls you disloyal, Though fierce to your foe, to your friends you are true ; And the -tribute most high to a head that is royal, Is love from a heart that loves liberty too. While cowards who blight Your fame, your right, Would shrink from the blaze of the battle array, The standard of Green In front would be seen. Oh, my life on your faith were your summoned this minute, You'd cast every bitter remembrance away, And show what the arm of old Erin has in it, When roused by the foe, you would join, in the fray.' A very enjoyable concert (says the Standard) was given in the Town Hall on Wednesday evening by the pupils of the East Gore Convent School. Notwithstanding the wet evening the Hall was filled. The concert opened with a pianoforte overture, exquisitely played by the Misses Archibald (2), Boche, and Smaill. The next item was a chorus by the girl pupils. In this the pupils looked very nice dressed in white, with blue ' sashes. The chorus was creditably performed. A song, ' Hunting doy,' by the boys, appro-, priately dressed, was excellently rendered. Miss Sherborne contributed a vocal solo. A pianoforte trio (two pianos) by the Misses Leahy, Fleming, Sherborne, Ward, Whitefield and Holland was a good number, the young ladies displaying excellent execution and touch. The Misses Archibald then sang ' Songs of our Fatherland ' very sweetly, and had to respond to a well-deserved encore. The Misses Johnston, Smith, and Taylor then gave a song and dance in costume, ' Swiss Toy Girls,' the little maids performing very well. A chorus followed by the pupils, the performers doing their parts admirably. A trio* for pianos was welt played by Misses Fleming, Archibald (2), Stuart, Smaill, and Sherborne. A vocal duet by the Misses Sparks and Sherborne was another good number, The Hisses Archibald sang a comic duet in character. The young ladies were vociferously encored, but did not respond. A pianoforte duet by the Misses Smith, Holland, Whitefield, and Walsh followed. The piece was dune full justice to by the young performers. The vocal duet, ' The harp that once,' with violin, piano, and guitar accompaniment, by the Misses Archibald, Sherborne, and Sparks was one of the best items on the programme. A chorus by the pupils was sung with effect. The concert part of the programme was brought to a close by Miss Cowie, who played a violin solo, ' Life let us cherish.' Miss Cowie performed her solo in a very creditable manner. The entertainment was brought to a close by a one-act cCmedy, entitled 'Who is to Inherit?' the principal parts being taken by Misses Archibald and P. Fleming. The minor characters Were' filled by Misses Fleming, M. Archibald, Leahy, Johnston, Bowie, and Boche. His Worship the Mayor thanked the audience for their attendance on behalf of the management, and said that no doubt they were all satisfied at the performance. He wished them a merry Christmas and a happy New Year.