DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXI, Issue 34, 20 August 1903, Page 18

DIOCESE OF DUNEDIN

The Education Board Inspector has made a very satisfactory report on the Catholic school, Port Chalmers, conducted by the Sisters of St. Joseph. « The following are the results of the theory and harmony examinations of the Associated Board of the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal College of Music, held pn June 6 at St. Dominic's College : Local centre.— Senior harmony, Minnie Paton. School examinations.— Harmony (higher division), Myra Montague. (distinction), Annie Gilray (distinction), Kathleen Goyen (distinction), Maria E. Wood, M. Casey. Harmony (Lower division)— Maud Collins (distinction), Winnie Martin (distinction), Mary O'Sullivan (distinction), May Herlihy (distinction). Rudiments of music, (local centre), Minnie Collins Jeanme Miller, Pearl Brent, Mabel King, Mary Prendergast. The work of making additions and effecting improvements to the Convent of Mercy, East Gore (writes our travelling correspondent) is now nearly completed. The building, when finished, will contain 14 rooms, which will give ample accommodation to the good Sisters, and will be a credit to the Catholic community and their zealous priests, the Rev. Fathers O'Donnell and Hearn. The convent school, which is a very fine building, has a very large attendance, which shows that Catholic education is in a flourishing condition in this district. I understand that tnere is a movement amongst the Catholics of Gore towards establishing a branch of the H.A.C.B. Society in that district.— Mr. O. Kelly, who built the Catholic church at Garston, secured the contract for the additions and improvements to the convent at Gore, and has carried out the work in a very satisfactory manner. On visiting Riversdale district (writes our travelling correspondent) 1 was glad to find that everything connected with the Catholic Church is in a progressive state The people are making a great eftort to clear the church of debt, and it is expected that this will be the last call made on the congregation for this purpose. The Rev. Father Keenan has a very nice residence, the grounds of which arc tastefully planted with flowers and fruit trees. The house and grounds are evidence of the generosity , of the people of the parish. In Balfour, which is in tne same parish, I understand the people are making great oftorts to have a Catholic church erected very soon. They have acquired one acre of land for a site in the centre of the town, and knowing the progressive and generous character of the Catholics of the district I feel certain their hopes will be realised in the near future.

The Catholic community (says the ' Lake Wakatip Mail ') were singularly unfortunate in the weather that prevailed on the evening (August 12) for their social in the Garrison Hall. Preparations in the various directions or departments of labor connected with the organisation or functions of the above kind had been carried out in an extensive way in view of the projected event. The programme of amusement was well selected. The first part of the programme comprised the following items : — Solo, with chorus, ' Come where my love lies dreaming,' given by Mrs. Black (who took the solo), the Misses Gudgeon, McNeil, Robertson (2), C. Bonner, and Messrs. J. McNeil and C. H. Robertson ; chorus, 'Jingle bells,' by the same combination ; vocal solo, ' Big Ben,' Mr C. H. Robertson. Another quartette, ' Don't you hear them bells,' was renderefd later on in the evening by the Misses Robertson (2), Messrs. C. H. Robertson and J. C. Mcßride. A farce then followed and provided nearly three quarters of an hour's entertainment. The characters were sustained by the Misses Robertson and Messrs. Duncan, J. C. Mcßride, and C. Robertson. At the conclusion of this item, Mr. J. Black came forward on the stage, and, on behalf of Father O'Donnell, for whose unavoidable absence he apologised, thanked the assemblage for their attendance. An adjournment ■ was then made to the supper-room, where the good things were of such a kind and so daintily arranged- as to appetise the most indifferent.

An interesting and very successful inter-society debate took place in St. Patrick's Schoolroom, South Dunedin, on Monday night between representatives of St. Joseph's Men's Club and St. Patrick's Literary and Social Institute. The Rev. Father Coffey presided, and there was a very large and appreciative audience. The subject for discussion was ' Should military training be made compulsory for youths over 18 years of age ? ' The affirmative was taken by the local representatives, Messrs. Marlow, W. Carr, and O'Connell, the negative side being maintained by Messrs. T. Hussey, J. B. Callan, Jun., and C. Folcy. The debate was characterised throughout by sound argument, fluent speaking, and excellent auaiigemenl of matter. It is rarely that such a high style of oratory is reached at a debating club as was heard on Monday night, and all the speeches were listened to with the closest attention by the crowded audience. Mr. J. M. Gallaway acted as judge, and in giving his decision in favor of the local men took occasion to compliment all the participants in the debate on the excellence of their speeches.

The new convent at Winton was opened on Sunday week by the Very Rev. Father O'Neill. The building, which is of two storeys, is of brick and concrete. The work was carried out in a very satisfactory manner by Mr. Birss, of Invercargill, under the supervision of Messrs. Mackenzie and Wilson, architects. The building has been erected at a cost of £1200, of which £900 has already been subscribed. .After the sermon a collection taken in aid of the convent building fund realised £92.

On Friday evening the members of St. Joseph's Men's Club were treated to an excellent paper, ' Life on a New Zealand sheep station,' by Mr. James Hill. The members anticipated a very agreeable evening, and those who were brave enough to face the inclement weather were not disappointed. The chair was taken by Mr. C J. Foley. Mr. Hill kept his audience interested for nearly an hour. The greater part of his paper was read, but now and then he paused to give an informal exp-lanation or to tell an anecdote, when his subject needed any illustration — a happy innovation, which was much appreciated. Mr. Hill, in his introductory remaTks, said that shearing time is the one great event on a sheep station. He then detailed how the sheep are mustered, drafted, packed in the shed,, shorn, sent to the outer pens, counted, branded, and finally turned forth again to pasture. Mr. Hill likewise described the different processes through which the wool passes before it is finally packed into bales, and also gave some interesting particulars regarding shearers and their ways. Altogether the lecture was not only highly interesting but very instructive, and gave many of his audience their first insight into the details of a colonial industiy. On this ground alone Mr. Hill is as much to be congratulated on his choice of topic as on his manner of dealing with it. The paper will probably be published in the ' Catholic Maga/ine.' On conclusion of the paper, Messrs Deehan, Hussey, Callan, Miles, and Foley, briefly thanked Mr. Hill for his very instructive paper