Convent School, Blenheim

New Zealand Tablet, 28 December 1911, Page 2657

Convent School, Blenheim

The fairies (says the Marlborough Express) were abroad last night, and took the, for them, unusual course of allowing mortals to witness their revels The Town Hall was rather small to hold all who wished comfortably to see and hear the little elfs, and many were content to stand throughout. The entertainment, of which the audience only saw the finished performance must have caused weeks and weeks of weary toil and

patience on behalf of the Sisters who were responsible for the work. The curtain rose on a pretty scene in a woodland dell, the fairy queen held her court, enthroned in a bower of forest flowers, the attendant fairies paying her homage in music, song, and story. The dresses of the fairies, representing the sprites of the various seasons of the year 4 showed up very richly under the limelight, worked by Messrs. Walsh and Paine. A flock of butterflies were very quaintly dressed, and added greatly to the general impressiveness of the ensemble. The singing was very good throughout, and in some instances surprisingly clever, and dancing was a feature of the spectacle. Miss Fanny Langley was the hardest worked individual of the evening. She presided at the piano throughout the evening and it was noticed that she played the music entirely from memory. It was a feat to be proud of on the part of such a young performer. The following was the cast of characters:Fairy Queen, Miss Northcroft; Spring Fairies, Misses M. Watson and C. Priddle; Summer, Miss Murray Autumn, Miss Elliott; Winter, Misses Watson, Gould, and Burgess; butterflies, Masters Watson, Burns (2), Griffiths, Maher, and France. There were some outstanding voices which deserve more than passing mention. The two Watson girls, Alexis and Marlet, and Cora Burgess must be singled out for special praise in this department, while Miss Northcroft, although nervous, acquitted herself admirably in the duet with Miss Watson, ' Before the dawn awakes.' The choruses were all sung well, the best perhaps being ' The toast,' with solo by Cora Burgess, and 'Sailing,' solo by Alexis Watson. The banquet scene was ; a pretty sight, whilst the fairies' march drew a spontaneous ou'tburst of applause from the audience. A quaint little artist was Miss Marlet

Watson in the old-fashioned song, 'lf no one ever marries me,' for which she was encored. The dancing was splendidly done by Miss A. Watson, Misses Priddlo and Perrin, and Misses A. Watson and C. Burgess. The latter introduced a dainty form of jig step, which appealed very favorably to the audience. Three pianoforte duets for two pianos were played by Misses Murray, Benning, Gould, and Houldsworth, Misses Haywood, Benning, Elliott, and Perrin, and Misses Sharpe, Broughton, Haywood, and Wolferstan. • The pretty little butterfly dance by the butterfly sprites must not be forgotten mention. Certainly the spectacle was one which would bear repetition, and there is no doubt it would again draw a full house to witness the frolics of ' The Fairies of the Seasons.' The following is the prize-list at the Convent School, Blenheim :

Good conduct, A. Elliott; Christian doctrine, class 1., D. Houidsworth; Christian doctrine, class 11., M. Perrin; Christian doctrine, class 111., G. Flood; music, senior division, F. Langley; music, higher division, m! Benning; music, lower division, T. Haywood; music, elementary division, L. Broughton; music, elementary division, D. Sharp. Hockey prize (gift of Miss Northcroft), T. Haywood.

Class I.Reading, French, drawing, history, and composition, F. Langley; geography, N. Gould; English, spelling, recitation, and writing, M. Watson; general improvement, E. Murray. Class ll.—French, N. Gould; writing, arithmetic, history, and composition, D. Houldsworth; spelling, English, geography, and recitation, A. Elliott; drawing, E. Wolferstan; reading, M. Benning. °

Class lll.French, English, reading, spelling, geography, and history, L. Bronghton; drawing, C. Priddle; arithmetic and composition, T. Haywood; writing, J. Burns; second reading, spelling, and writing, I. Wilkins. Class IV.Arithmetic, I. Wolferstan; reading and spelling, C. Burns; English and history, M. Perrin; writing, geography, and drawing, B. Burgess; composition, D. Sharp. Class V. —Highest marks and arithmetic A. Griffiths; drawing, A. Mackintosh; needlework, G. Flood. Class Vl.Composition (oral), K. Broughton; reading and recitation, M. Sharp; arithmetic, J. France; needlework, Z. Adams; arithmetic, G. Griffiths; highest marks, N. Brown; mental arithmetic, R. Burns; spelling, G. Maher; catechism, E. Barry; attendance, K. Barry; drawing, K. Bartlett; writing and drawing, C. Canavan; spelling, M. Mills.

It is doubtful (writes the Brisbane correspondent of the Catholic Press) if ■ there is another prelate in Australasia who has had such, a strenuous year, as his Lordship Bishop Duhig. Besides traversing his own extensive diocese he has contrived to find time to carry out a considerable amount of church duty in the archdiocese, consequent on the continued ill-health of his Grace the Archbishop. He remarked at the Dinmore function that during the past twelve months he had travelled 16,000 miles within the State, and everywhere he saw evidence of the wonderful progress the Church is making. What was still more astonishing, as well as gratifying, was his statement that since he became Bishop of Rockhampton nearly £60,000 had been spent in paying off debts and building new churches and schools. It is a splendid record, and no wonder the Bishop speaks enthusiastically of the good-fellowship and generosity shown by the people of Central and Western Queensland. *