Wrey's Bush

New Zealand Tablet, 13 May 1915, Page 31

Wrey's Bush

(From an occasional correspondent.) x May 7. A very successful entertainment was held at Wrey's Bush on Friday evening, April 30, in aid of the Convent school. The public hall was filled by a large and appreciative audience. The programme consisted of a lecture "by the Very Rev. Dean Burke, of Invercargill,

and recitations and musical items by friends of the school. -...'"_:'• ■""•>'-■" ,-..---r •-- ■ ' '■;. ."' ;;:-'.:...,?;.;.;;,.-; ,y^ The Very Rev. Dean, dealt with the history of Europe during the past 50 years, the origin % of. the Triple Alliance and the Triple Entente, the resources and aims -of the six great Powersßussia, ; Germany, Italy, Austria, France, and Britain,and the trend of world politics that led to the present" conflict between the members of the Alliance and those of the Entente. Germany's aims in the war were described as four fold. In the first place, the combination of all, the German peoples in Europe, and of the Slavs and Hungarian Magyars in the Austrian Empire. In the second place, Germany's objective is the command of the sea by means of the German fleet, the extension and efficient protection of German commerce, to end in the taking over- by force of the French and British colonies. In the third place the exploitation of Asia Minora work already well in hand, —either by an understanding with Turkey, or by crushing her, and again, the annexation of Holland, Belgium, and Denmark as opening a way to the Atlantic and the west. Finally, world domination or the imposition of German • kultur' on all the surrounding nations. The Allies are fighting to stop the advance of this Juggernaut in its attack on our existing civilisation. They are fighting against the German creed of ' Might is right,' the 'trampling on small nations and minorities. They are fighting that justice and right should rule, that small nations and minorities should have "fair play. They are fighting to save the world from militarism, from the domination of soldiers and professional man-slayers, and from a state of things by which three or four vain and ambitious individuals can send thousands, even millions, of men to death, and their families to poverty "and destruction. We should feel proud, said the Very Rev. Dean, that our fellow-countrymen and the men of our race are taking so prominent a place in this great contest. They have special motives for doing so at the present time, when their motherland has become a nation once again. They fight, because Irish leaders from O'Connell to Redmond guaranteed that if England gave Ireland Homo Government, Ireland would give England faithful co-operation and all assistance in the hour of need. They are fighting to take their place in perfect equality with the other constituent parts of our great Empire, which they have helped to build up. They fight to repay Belgium and France for that sympathy, vast help, and protection these countries gave Ireland's sons in the dark days, when the penal code drove Irishmen to their kindly shores. They fight to assert the rights of minorities, the claims of justice, religion, and nationality; in other words, they continue the contest they have carried on against superior force for 700 years. In his recent speech, delivered in the Free Trade Hall, Manchester, John Redmond quoted statistics showing that at least a quarter of a million men of the Irish race were now with the colors, and were distinguishing themselves . both as officers and soldiers. The names of French, Beatty, Carden, Creagh, in the higher; of O'Leary, Kenny, and Hogan in the lower ranks of the Army, are evidence ' that Ireland is doing her duty.' The lecture was listened to with rapt attention by the large audience, . the speaker being frequently greeted with outbursts of applause. The second portion of the programme consisted- of musical items by Misses McLeod, Burke, Patterson, and Messrs. Cusack and Clappe; recitations by Miss Prendeville, and step dances by Miss I. Richards. The various performers were very successful in their contributions, encores being the order of the evening. At the conclusion of the programme, the Very Rev. Father Lynch, who presided, in a few appropriate remarks thanked all who had assisted in making .the entertainment such a success; he specially thanked the Very Rev. Dean Burke for his able and instructive lecture, the performers for supplving a capital programme, and the accompanists, Misses Patterson and Forde, and Mr. W. Egan, for kindly, assistance. As a result of the entertainment the school funds- will benefit to the extent of about £4O. ~ ; .; ': ' 4 •;.: ■-;:.