(From an occasional correspondent.)

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 12, 12 November 1908, Page 13

(From an occasional correspondent.)

November 6. Mr. M. O'Kane, of the Wellington Catholic Club, has been chosen fls one of the representatives of the Wellington Literary and Debating Union team in their debate- with the Wanganui Debating Union on Saturday in the V.M.C.A. rooms. The many friends of Mr. F. H. Chamberlain, late of Chfistchurch, and a respected member of St. Mary's. "Church, Manchester street, and .formerly - engineer .to ihe Christchurch Tramways' Board," will be pleased to hear that he has received an important appointment in the United States. .„,.

To Mrs; A. A. Corrigan and her energetic staff of helpers belongs the distinction of having topped the list of .Ambulance canvassers, financially speaking, no less than 10s going to their credit' out of a total of £292., Mrs. Corrigan and staff also gained first place on the occasion of last year's canvass. About . sixteen years ago, in order to meet the interest on money spent on the Catholic schools in the various parishes of the city, the authorities instituted a system Of 'penny collections." The October subscriptions for the parish of Te Aro amount to £27 17s 6d, and the total amount collected up to date comes to 16s 1 id. The St. Aloysius branch of the H.A.C.B. Society held its fortnightly meeting in St. Anne's Club room, yNewtown, on Tuesday evening. Bro. Strickland was elected to the office of guardian. The winding-up of the Hibernian Club (now undergoing incorporation with the new St. Anne's Club) took the form of a social evening. The following contributed items : Messrs. M'Erlean, Guthrie, Murphy, Simon, O'Meara, Vaney, and Twomey. The Wellington Catholic Club Cricket Club journeyed to the Upper Hutt on Saturday week to try conclusions with the, local team, and for the first match of the season performed excellently. The Catholic Club batted first, making 116 runs, of which number J. R. Hunt contributed 507 P. McGrath~22, J. McCusker 11, and G. Watson 10. The local team at the drawing of the stumps lost 7 wickets for 99 runs — P. McGrath, T. McGovern, t\.. and F. Hickmott dividing the wickets. On Tuesday evening Miss Ruby M' Donald gave heix first recital in the Concert Chamber of the Town Hall (says the New Zealand Times). Her numbers seemed to cover the field of technical effects, and solid hard work and study of her art were manifest throughout her performance, which was certainly ambitious. No fault can be found with her execution, which was at times brilliant. Miss M' Donald has had competent instruction, and has profited by it as far as hard work and close application can enable her. Miss M' Donald has reason to be satisfied with the reception given by her very appreciative axidience. A valuable site in Buckle street, at present occupied by^entproducing buildings, is destined (says the Post) for the erection of the new Catholic Cathedral of Wellington. For the- past eight years money has been collected in various ways for a building fund. As much as £230 was realised in the Thorndon parish by a recent canvass by the Rev. Father Holley, of Blenheim. ,It is expected that over £200 will result from similar work in the Te Aro parish, which has been canvassed by Very Rev. Dean Smyth, of Hastings. A little over .£15,000 has already been received for the cathedral. Before commencing work about £20,000 in all is needed, and this amount it is estimated will be in hand in about eighteen months' time.