Diocesan News.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXVIII, Issue 47, 22 November 1900, Page 5

Diocesan News.

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON.

(From our own correspondent.)

November 17. St. Joseph's Orphanage benefits to the extent of £ir, from the Bocial held last month.

His Grace the Archbishop has rejoined Father Aiasworth in the mission work. They are at present at the Hutt. The Very Rev. Father Lewis and Rev. Father O'Shea aro spending a short holiday in Palmerston North. The Catholic bazaar is in full swing there and good results are anticipated. The net proceeds of the performance of ' Arrah-na-Pogue,' given by the Fabian Dramatic Club in aid of the Newtown Convent, are estimated at £50.

i^ r "-J" , Dwan ' senr -» nas J UBt returned from a trip round the W - Of i ,- „ ooks the P icture of health and has much benefited from his holiday.

The Sacred Heart Church at Thornton is now approaching completion. It was announced last Sunday that tho eolemn opening will take place on the first Sunday in February when hia Eminence Cardinal Moran will be present at the ceremony. Other Australian prelates are also expected. Latest advices from the examiner on behalf of the Royal Academy of Music show that Miss Gwendoline Flanagan, a pupil of bt. Mary s Convent, is leading for the gold medal given annually by the Associated Board to the moat proficient candidate in singing in the Australasian colonies. On two previous occasions a pupil of the convent won the much coveted prize. The pupils of St. Marys Convent grove another of their finished concerts m the convent on Thursday before a large and appreciative audience. Each of the performers did so well that ie would be invidious to individualise. The programme eon^t-d of piano solos by Misses B. Flynn and Falconer, n, piano duet by Mi»st> \V Cuimell and White, sonps by Misses Balhn, Maclo«key, CoDtiell and (3 Flanagan, vocal duets by Misses Conuell and White, Rowe and Flynn, and four chorus itprn».

The members of the Mariht Brothers' Old Boys' Association intend shortly to give a variety entertainment. Tii.-y are working assiduously and the affair promises to be a hucjes".. The Literary and Debating Society held its weekly meeting last Thursday evening. Several impromptu s,peeche3 on various questions were given by the members. It is intended to close the season by producing Dickens' ' Trial by Jury.' The piece will be well .staged and a firatclass entertainment should result.

St. Mary of the Angels' Church was packed to the doors on the occasion of the choir's ninth sacred concert last Sunday evening. Madame Eveleeu Carlton assisted the '>hoir and pave in admirable Btyle Mendelssohn's ' I will sing of Thy great mercy ' and ' Jerusalem,' both from the great composer's 'St. Paul.' Mr. A. 8. Ballance gave a very tasteful rendering of the eolo in An'lalp'hi's ' Domine ad adjurandum,' set for male voices. The -Gloria ' from Gounod's ' Mease Solennelle' was undoubtedly the finest piece of work done by the choir for a considerable time ; in attack and general attention to expression marks tne choir and orchestra fairly excelled themselves. The solos were also especially well Bun^ by Mre. Oakes (soprano), Mr. Carr (tenor), and Mr. Ballance (bass). Mr. Ballance also sang the solo in Clifton's ' Ecce Deus.' An unaccompanied quartet, ' God is a Spirit,' from Sterndale Bennett's ' Woman of Samaria,' was given in a finished manner by Mrs Oakes, Miss A. Rose, Messrs. Carr and Ballance. The concert part concluded with the ' Hallelujah Chorus.' As an offertory piece the orchestra, led by Mr. H. A. Forest, played a ' Berceuse ' by Anton Mistouski. During tha Benediction Mrs. Oakes and Mr. Carr sang Murphy's ' O Salutariß ' and the choir again showed to advantage in Lambilotte's' Magnificat ' and ' Tantum Ergo.' As a finale the orcheetra played the march from ' Athalie.' The conductor, Mr. F. J. Oakes, is to be congratulated on the standard of efficiency maintained by his choir. Mr. D. Kenny presided at the organ.