Auckland

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 13, 28 March 1907, Page 15

Auckland

(From our own correspondent. ) •• ' March 22. ". The St. Patriok's" Day celebrations in Auckland were", blessed with glorious weather, and the demonstration to Motutapu of the^chdldren was eminently successful. The committee in futiurtPlike celebrations -would do well if they were to provide more boats for the homeward journey. From 5 p.m-. to 8 p.m. is' too long -_ an "imter-' val to keep a huge crowd awaiting embarkation. With. this exception the outing was all that could be . desired. There must have been at least 5000 all told of excursionists- on the island. The children as they.^_ marched through C^ueen street' in their snow 'white dresses and profusion of green ribbon and rosettes,- and •bearing banners and bannerettes, accompanied by their teachers and- three 'bands, evoked the" highest" encomiums from onlookers who -lined the way. • A wellknown non-Catholic clergyman exclaimed : 'No other denomination in Auckland could' turn out like this.' It" was- certainly creditable. At the island each of the four' city parishes- had; its own tent from which good things were dispensed- : to the children by willing workers. -The' girls from the Star ■oU the~ Sea.. Orphanage and the '< boys from Takapuna Orphanage were thie objects of general admiration for their neat, tidy, an.d smart [appear- - ance. The latter went through a course of jdrill on the" ground and won~ loud applause. In the competitive drill for the possession of the banner the children from the Surry J Hdlls convent school, under, the - Sisters of' Sb. Joseph, wrested it ' from last year's 'winners (the children of -the ' Sacred Heart Convent school, Ponson-by). The Bishop, the Very Rev, Father Tlrnr, Rev. - Father McDermott,. C.SS.R.', all the local clergy, the Hon. Mr.- Heydon,- ■. M.L.C., New South Wales, and the Hibernian /delegates :• from all parts of the Colony were "present. ;'; ' ' On- Sunday -morning, St. Patrick's Day, th-e Htber* nian Society's district officers, visiting delegates,,- andoffioers and members of the local branch attended a special Mass at 8.15 at the .Cathedral and approached the Holy Table. There must" have 'been close upon two hundred present. Ik was a '^fine sir*** After Mass they marched in- processional order from the church up Hobson street to the Hibernian Hall, where the -breakfastwwass s laid. His Lordship the Bishon presided, having on his , right the new district president, Bro. T. Corbett, and the Hon. Mr. Hevdon on his left. There were also present the Very Rev. Bean Hackett and Rev. Fathers Holbrook and Cahill. After .breakfast his Lordship the Bishop briefly spoke, and expressed Continued on- page 19.)-

Continued from page 15. his great pleasure at , presiding over so large and so thoroughly - representative -a" gathering of tne Hibernians of 'this. Colony,.- " He. would ; -con vinue to. do all in his-jpoweJc. to, further the interests "of the Society. He urged, -the ~jnerdbe"rg- to pay strict attention to the' " rule -which '"brdeiVd." quarterly ' Communion. Short speeches,", w.ere t^venr.'.byi the'.±lon. Mr.: Heydon,' Bro. P. o. Nertieny,- P.D;P,y Very -Rev/: Dean Hackett, and On cqhalf "' of \tp& .visitors ;by Bro;." U. J. Jsellars;- KD.p., ana 1 /Biros. J Mario \v. (DuneUin) "and Dennehy (Timaru), PvP.'s. " The Bishop", at .the " • conclusion of breakfast, „ invited the delegates to visit -Bishop*- s* House, when the whole, set out on. foot with the Bishop in their mid£t. On arrival they were entertained by the Bishop and .shown - over the beautiful - house and taken vto the tower, whence they obtained a charming view- of the - city. They were loud in their praises of what they" saw. _ The Bishop was heartily thanked for- his kind hospitality, and assured how deeply grateful to -him the delegates were.- In the afternoon Bros. McLean (Palmerston North), Tymons (Greymouth)., and Hickey (Waimate) left c Onehunga, and .were accompanied out by the local members and visiting delegates. On Sunday evening all met in St. Patriot's Hall and marched in legalia to St. Patrick's Cathedral, where Dean" 'Hac- - kett delivered an eloquent, stirring,- and deeply, impressive panegyric on St. Patrick. The^ Dean dealt with the early missionary labors of St. Patrick, and his long connection 1 with Ireland and the lasting character of his wcirk, which Irishmen -and Irishwomen had received, treasured, and propagated from the days- 6f-Pat-rick to the present day. Much was heard of Imperialists just now, but the Irish race were in the true sense ' Christian Imperialists,' because they bore the Cross of Crrist and the banner of Patrick/ to every remote corner of the earth. The Dean kept the close attention of the crowded congregation during "the whole of his sermon. Every' word' of his splendid discourse'was eagerly caught up, and during several passages there were lew dry eyes, particularly when he pictured the departing emigrant ship leaving the shores of Erin., He concluded by earnestly urging all to join the sodalities and societies connected with the Church, by which means they could best perpetuate the memory and work of St. Patrick. Organisation was absolutely necessary^ in this age to combat the organised forces fighting against the Church and the grand old Faith of Ss." Patrick. This sermon of Dean Hackett's ranks amongst the best ever heard in this city. At the conclusion of Benediction the choir sang very spiritedly ' All praiseto St. Patrick,' the congregation standing . while it was -. sung. Afterwards the Hibernians assembled and the district president, Bro. Corbett, and P.D.P. Bro. Nerheny heariily thanked Dean Hackett on behalf of the society for his great sermon,- and for his vindication of the'H.A.C.B. Society -from the unjust aspersions lately cast upon it in Auckland. The Dean thanked the members, after which three hearty cheers were given for him, and the members dispersed. Three entertainments in connection with St. Patrick's Day celebrations were held. The first was held on Friday evening in the Royal Albert Hall. His Lordship the Bishop, a number of the local clergy, and a vast audience attended. The greatest enthusiasm was shown, every item on the following programme being -encored :— Part- I.— Overture, ' Emerald Isle,' orchestra ; chorus, ' The last glimpse ' of EJln,' Orphan -children ; song, | The exile,' Mr. J. P. Lonergan ; song, ' The minstrel boy,' Madame Cecilia Staun.ton;. song, "• Mavourneen,' .Mr. R. Rogers; quartet, ' The dear little shamrock,' Messrs. C. Clegg, A. As r . bury, A. Wordley, H. B, Harris ; chorus, pupils of "St. Patrick's Convent School. Part 2.— Fantasia, ,s, s Humors . of Blarney^ (H. Hiscocks), orchestra; chorus, V I saw from - the beach,' Orphan children ;- song, 'Irish, emigrant,' Mr. 0. Pritchard ; song,~ ' Kathleen Mavourneen,''Madame Cedilia Staunton ; quartet, 'Oft- in the stilly night,' Messrs. Clegg, Asbury, Wordley, and' Harris; chorus, ' Has sorrow thy young aays shaded,' Orphan children ; chorus, ' God save Ireland." 1 Mr. P. F. Hiscocks ably conducted, while Mr. H. Hiscocks accompanied. Far some timq past the memibqfL's of the St. Benedict's Advanced School of Acting Society have been rehearsing the melodrama, ; Conn the Shaughraun ' under the direction of Mr. P. Walsh, and .the fruits of their labors, were evidenced when the company selected ' for the, reproduction presented- the drama before a large and enthusiastic audience at St. Benedict's Hall on the evening of March 18. \ A.. feature -of .the production was the mounting and "dressing; which : was- all>. that could be desired. The majority of the characters were

well portrayed, reflecting credit on Mr. Walsh, who had charge of- all the arrangements, in the name part Mr, Vvalsh made - a great hu, whilst Mr. W. Moyian made the most, of the character' of corny Kinchela.^As^ the. police agent Mr. J. Mctvenna "displayed a- -good deal of ww necessary cunning and villainy required* of the part, ' while Mr. J. Lonergan acted the part of the priest.Mr. J. Gallagher had the role .of Captain Molineaux, a ' young English otticer, and Mr. R. Uuonin that of a young Irish Kenian. " Miss Vera Foley displayed^ some originality im the role of Conn s mother, Misses L. and • Phyllis Beehan did credit to their "respective parts of Arte O"!Neil and Moya,. while. Miss "lima.. Foley .well portrayed the part of- a "Sligo lady. •• Ttie'fdther characters were well sustained, and the whole performance was well received. An oroh&'&tra, ' under' Mrs. W, S. Jackson,- provided capital 'music, , '; \ On Wednesday" evening last an Irish national ccn- ■ cert was held- at ..the Public* Hall,- Onehunga/ There was a large audience, and the following programme was subanitted :— Overture, ' ' Gems of -Ireland,' Miss Mulkefe jj^song, ' The Irish emigrant, '~ Mr. 'O. Pritchard; recitation, : Robert . Emmet's dock sp.eech,' -Mr. H. Herbert; song, 'Erin/ my. .country,'' Miss Madol.ine Knight; song, ' Oil -to" Philadelphia,' .Mr. J." Park; Irish jig and song, Miss" Brightie -Barry;- overture? r Faust,' Misses^- JVlulkere and- Cutts ; - song, 'Mavourneen,' 1 Mr. R. > Rogers ;- -song, "Miss, G'lanfield;; song, 'Exile of Erin,' "Mr". " J. -"Eronefgan i; recitation, 'Uncle Josh's' Visit to New York,' Mr. McElwain ; song, ' The lost chord,' Mr. J. Park ; coon- song and • dance, Miss Brightie 'Barry. •' At the 'conclusiSh' of the concert the Rev. Father -Ma-honey, parish-priest,-heart-ily-thanked the performers for their valuable aid, and Mr. J. J. Shaldrick for his- Untiring, efforts, in organising the programme and " carrying out the details. The proceeds of the entertamment'-'wil-l ''be' "devoted -towards the presbytery fund. -•- " N '- „ „,... ' % .. .?