ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

New Zealand Tablet, 8 November 1906, Page 13

ARCHDIOCESE OF WELLINGTON

(From our own correspondent.) November 3. The Rev. Father MaGDermatt, 'C.SS.R., who has been indisposed of late owing' to" the severe strain of mission work, is now, I am 'pleased to feport r almost quite well. , , . ■ . _ The St. Patrick's College Cadets are at present in camp at Trentham. The boyjL.are in : charge of, the Rec-~ tor, Very Rev. Father Keogh, S:M-.,'^B.A: The camp\is to be open to visitors on Saturday and Sunday. The devotion of the. Forty Hours in St. Joseph's Church, Buckle street, began on. Sunday morning. On Monday evening a special sermon was preached by Rev. Father Lowh'am, Cf.SS.K.. The mission was concluded on Sunday evening last in the presence. of a' cougrega- - tion that filled every part "of the spacious church. A powerful discourse was preached by the Rev. Father Lowham, C.SS.R. On Sunday morning great^riumbers ' received Holy Communion. "^'Z-f-At the meeting of the Miramar Borough Council on Thursday evening the Mayor made, reference to "tfi«?~death -of Mr. M. T.. McGrath, a former member of the Council. His Worship spoi'ce of the zeal and ability displayed by* deceased in the discharge -of his public duties-, and. instanced in particular the Seatoun- tunnel scheme, by. which he had saved the borough a ! considerable sum. On the Mayor's motion it was decided" to send a letter of condolence to the' widow, and- family.- - Miss.. Marie Narelle, the distinguished -vocalist,, arri.ved in Wellington- by. the ' Maheho '. on Thursday. She was. 'entertained in the afternoon by the Hibernian Society at. the Kiosk, Kelburne, where Mr.- J. W, Callaghan- extended- a hearty welcome, to the famous- singer on behalf- of the Irish people of the Empire City.. " Miss Narelle's first concert ~ was " given in the Town ' Hall on .Thursday night,- her • sectfnd* last night,-. and the final concert '" is to be given to-night. Regarding herself and .the other -two . artists with her ■ the- ' Even- - ing Post ' report has the following :— "lt is rare that . three artists- of the fust rank „ appear on. a single -platform, yet , this may- be said without, exaggeration of the company how -in -Wellington. ,Miss Narelle. is a. singer . of commanding presence,, superb physique, ~and . great dramatic power. .Her voice is a pure and sweet soprano of great power and compass- and', rare flexibility. ; her singing, is unaffected, sympathetic, and artistic in ahigh degree. There are singers of as high culture and

equal .technique who lack " soul," but this incommunicable quality is one of Miss Narelle's finest endowments. The simplest ditty, .as interpreted by Miss Narelle is elevated into the region of .the higher music, and, ; given a dignified theme, she raises ballad music to its highest power. And it is noteworthy that with' a vocal .organ of such -tremendous power" and. capacity, there is 1 . never a harsh note-,, while the piano passages, are;rendered-"-with an indescribable - sweetness and delicacy. Mr.:. Chester Feratress, an American- singer, who^also made his first appearance before a Wellington audience,, possesses a richj powerful, a"nd well cultivated- tenor voice, and sings with fine taste - and effect. His voice is under the most complete control, and the most difficulty vocal passages- are given apparently without effort and with fine sympathy with words and music. Miss Constance Brandon Usher, the pianist, combines extraordi-* nary powers of execution with high musical taste, and is free from every kind of trick or affectation.'