TIMARU

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 29, 16 July 1903, Page 15

TIMARU

(From our own correspondent.)

rTM- Jul y 13 On Thursday evening last a most enjoyable entertainment was held at St. Andrews in aid of the local church funds. The Rev. Father Tubman and several Pimaru friends were present. The room was filled to overcrowding, and the various singers were warmly received. The concert was opened by an overture (piano) by Misses McGuinness and Egan, "followed by Miss E McGuinness rendering ' Called back,,' with violin obligato by Mr. Coombs, this item being heartily encored. Miss Kgan was very successful in ' Close those dreamy eyes ' while Mr. D. McDonald in ' The deathless army ' had to icspond to an enthusiastic recall. Mr. J. Coombs was, as usual, warmly received on rendering a violin solo, and Mr. Barrie Mareschal in his dialect stories had ample room to show his power of mimicry. Miss Mara and Mr. F. McDonald contributed a short sketch entitled ' A pair of lunatics.' The Barrie Mareschal Company wound up the entertainment with the comedy ' O'Callaghan on his last legs.' The comedy was admirably played, the audience thoioughly appreciating the hearty humor of the play

The Rev Father Tubman returned thanks to the audlenco for their patronage and to Mr. Barrie Mareschal and company and the other ladies and gentlemen who assisted for their voluntary and generous help. The generosity displaced by the St. Andrews people in connection with the erection and maintenance of their handsome church should bo an object lesson to many parishes. In my report of the Hibernian social I omitted to mention that Father Tubman proposed the health of two voting friends, Messrs James Kane and Cassidy. He was pleased to see two young Catholics so distinguished as to recently receive medals from the Humane Society for s>u ihr lite Bro Cassuly suitably responded A very hea\y fall of snow, while it lasted, occurred heie on Saturday morning— about four inches of snow fell in a lew hours The fall is leported to be much he.vMer in the country districts, and must cause serious inconvenience in the Mackenzie country Several telegraphy posts snapped with the accumulation of snow on the wires, and many narrow escapes from accidents happened The arrival of the early train from Christchurch on Satuiday morning was worth witnessing The enpme was co\ ered with snow up to its funnel, through the cowcatcher ploughing it up as the train progressed. Masses of snow were collected on the roofs of the several carriages, the whole effect being unique. All trains were late, and communication by wire with Fairlie was stopped

The Government Inspector's reports on the parish schools were all round very satisfactory, showing the different standards to be well up to the mark, and the tone and general order of the schools very good.