St. Patrick's Day in Auckland

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 13, 1 April 1909, Page 492

St. Patrick's Day in Auckland

(From Our Own Correspondent.) On the morning of St. Patrick's Day all were astir in the city and suburban parishes at ah early. hour. ' The rendezvous- was at Sir George Grey's statue, where by 9 o'clock the children of the Cathedral parish, St. Benedict's, Ponsonby, P-arnell, Newmarket, Otahuhu^ and Onehunga met. The marshals, Mr. John Patterson, J.P., and Mr.Hubert Nerhehy, assisted by Rev. Father Edge, soon had the concourse*of children in order around' the statue. ' When his Lordship the Bishop arrived all sang ' Faith of Our Fathers, 3 acompanied by the Garrison Band, the whole conducted by Mr. P. F. Hiscocks. The Bislop then imparted his blessing to the assembled ■ children from the steps of the statue, aft&r which the- head of- the procession moved off down Queen street, which b*y this. time was lined on both sides with interested_ spectators. The dimensions of the procession will be gauged when it is stated that the children walked three deep, and it extended from Queen street wharf to the Grey statue. The Garrison Band was at the head, followed by the members of the local branch of the H.A.C.B. Society; then St. Patrick's, Parnell, - St." Benedict's, Sacred Heart, the children from the Ponsonby and Takapuna Orphanages, First Battalion Band, Newmarket, Otahuhu, Ellerslie, Onehunga. With banners and bannerettes waving in. the sunshine, it was a grand spectacle. At the ferry tee two of the largest steamers of the fleet were^ waiting, and on to these the whole body marched in regular order, without the least -confusion — no easy feat for the marshals and those in charge of the various parishes. It was estimated that 5000 marched through Queen street. Across the water at Devonport the same good older prevailed at the disembarkation. Here, too, at the marine suburb the whole population seemed to have turned out. From the ferry they marched to the Takapuna Jockey Club's course. - Refreshments in abundance were " given out . to the children, after which various sports were provided for them. About noon his Lordship the Bishop came on the ground, and later ■on it was computed that there must have been 10,000 persons present. The sports committee provided, an excellent programme, the* principal, event- being the Marathon Race from Lake • Takapuna to the course, around which' the competitors had to run eight times. The excitement over it was great, which was heightened by means of a megaphone, through ' which the concourse were apprised of the start and the positions of the contestants before they entered the course and came into view. The distance was eleven miles, and was won by A:. Rogers. An interesting item was the champion drill competition for squads from the schools. This was. again won by the pupils of the Sisters of St. Joseph, Surry Hills, who have now won the banner three times, thus retaining possession of it. The judge complimented the winners on their splendid exhibition. Sacred Heart parish children were second. Everything went on smoothly and well, and the tastes of all were catered for abundantly, and the committee was complimented for the excellent arrangements and success of the celebration. Before the shades of evening fell the vast crowds were- safely landed on the city side of the Waitemata. . - . The Irish national concert was held in St. Benedict's Hall. Directly the doors of the big hall were opened the crowd surged in, and very soon every seat was filled, and many could not. even get standing room. The following was the programme : — P art I.: Chorus, '-JJet Erin< remember,' children of the Catholic- schools; song, 'An spalpin fanac,' Mr. Owen Pritchard; quartette, 'Hymn to the Pope,' ' May Erin's faith ne'er languish,'- Misses C. Lorrigan, Duffin, Tobin, and Mrs. Hiscocks ;- song, 'Kathleen Mavoumeen,' Miss Florence Quinn; chorus,. ' Tho' the last glimpse of Erin,' orphan children; song, 'Come back to Erin,' Miss Colita Lorrigan ; trio, ' The Jow-back car,' Messrs. Egan, Pritchard, and Hiscocks. Part II. : Chorus, 'The minstrel boy,' children of the Catholic schools; song, ' Killarney,' Madame Casier; clorus, 'Steer my barque to Erin's Isle,' orphan children ; quartette, ' The dear little shamrock,' Messrs. Egan, Adeane, Hiscocks, and "Pritohardj song--and chorus, 'God save Ireland,' Madame

Casier. The accompanists were- Miss Kathleen Owens and Mr. Harry Hiscocks. Mrs. Ralph accompanied the orphan children, and Mr. P. F. Hiscocks was conductor. Before the last item "on the programme was given his Lordship the Bishop ascended the stage and said he felt proud of the whole proceedings that day and the fitting culmination in the fine concert. On his return from Europe he was pleased to learn that his priests and people liad determined to. make an effort to worthily commemorate their national festival, and at the., same time to assist the schools of the diocese 'by devoting the proceeds to their support. No better object could be chosen by them upon which to bestow their money and energies. That morning, when standing on the steps of the Grey statue and looking over the big throng" of children, his mind was taken back to that memorable Saturday afternoon in London when he saw that huge children's procession which, like their own that morning, sang '-Faith of Our. Fathers.' Both- were cheering and comforting events, and nerved one to do still more in the interests of Faith and Fatherland. He felt proud at being their Bishop, and proud of being an Irishman. The committee he wished to thank, and only wished they were present on the stage that lie might thank them m v as public "a manner as possible. He also desired to thank the performers, especially Misses Lorrigan and Quinn and Madame Casier, who were always ready to assist in any good cause. His Lordship was warmly cheered as he- left the stage. The concert concluded -with the singing of the chorus of--""* God save Ireland ' by the audience.