Diocesan News

New Zealand Tablet, 1 July 1915, Page 26

Diocesan News

ARCHDJOCE3E OF WELLINGTON (From our own correspondent.) June 26. Rev. Father McCarthy, Marist Missioner, is at present engaged in conducting a retreat for the Sisters of Mercy. His Grace Archbishop Redwood was welcomed back last Monday by the local clergy, who were invited to luncheon by the Very Rev. Dean Regnault, S.M., Adm. of the Sacred Heart parish, Thorndon. Much excitement was caused over the Queen Carnival. Raffles, art unions, and all devices for making money were resorted to without a protest from a quarter which generally makes itself heard when the same means are used for a Catholic bazaar. Mrs. H. Sullivan, of Roxburgh street, recently presented a set of statuary to St. Gerard’s Church, Hawker street. The Very Rev. Father Roche, C.SS.R., performed the unveiling ceremony last Sunday week, and an appropriate sermon was preached by the Rev. Father Lynch, C.SS.R. ' Mr. Lance Girling-Butcher, son of Mr. George Girling-Butcher, secretary and organiser of the Catholic Federation, has gone into camp as a non-commissioned officer for the Eighth Reinforcements. Mr. GirlingButcher has another son in the Expeditionary Forces now fighting in the Dardanelles. An entertainment in aid of the schools, Newtown, will be held in the St. Anne’s Hall, Green street, on Wednesday, July 14. There will be a Swedish drill display by the school children, an attractive exhibition of magic lantern views depicting scenes in the present war zone, and a first-class musical programme.

His Grace Archbishop O’Shea, whose health has not been of the best of late, left on Thursday last on a visit to San Francisco by the steamer Marama. His Grace has only been once away from the Dominion since his ordination to the priesthood, and that was to attend the Catholic Congress in Australia some years ago. His many friends wish his Grace a, pleasant voyage and safe return. ’ ’’ L •• ’

. * The boys of the Marist School Choir made a name for themselves at the Carnival bazaar. One of the local dailies, in reporting the function referred to the choir as follows; — ‘The one vocal diversion was the

appearance of the Marist Brothers’ School Choir, who looked very neat and clean in their white suits and pale blue ties and belts, and who sang two or three choruses very sweetly. They were also included in the programme of the competitions concert-.in the Concert Chamber. Mr. F. J. Oakes will leave shortly on an extended holiday visit to Sydney, accompanied by Mrs. Oakes and Miss Ross. A few days ago Mr. and Mrs. Oakes were farewelled by the choir of St. Gerard’s Church, of which 1 Mr. Oakes was conductor, and Mrs. Oakes and Misi Ross valued members, and presented with tangible marks of esteem. While the New Zealand Expeditionary Force was at Cairo, a competition was held for the best signaller in the New Zealand Mounted Brigade Signal Troop. The competition was conducted by officers of the New Zealand Staff Corps, each of whom took a section of the examination. It was divided into seven parts. The competition was won by Sapper R. T. McElligott, with 636 out of a possible of 700 points. Sapper McElligott, who is a Catholic, and an officer of the accountant’s branch of the G.P.0., has sent to his father in Wellington (Mr. Thomas McElligott, of Hawkestone crescent), the gold medal awarded as the first prize. Wanganui n migetuui The Opera House was crowded on the occasion of the patriotic concert given by the pupils of the convent, under tjie direction of the Sisters of St. Joseph, and a substantial amount was thereby realised for the Belgian Relief Fund (says a local paper). It is doubtful if the convent pupils have ever given a better entertainment. Every item was excellently given, and everything went off with perfect smoothness. The cantata, ‘ The Allied Nations,’ was particularly good, and at the end of the evening the large audience left the building satisfied that they had had a delightful time. The first part of the programme was of a general nature, the Garrison Band, which played the overture, also playing the accompaniments. The overture was followed by the National Anthem, after which the programme proceeded as follows:—Chorus and tableau, ‘Flag of our homeland,’ senior pupils of Sacred Heart and St. Joseph’s Schools; march, 1 Red, white, and blue,’ pupils of Aromoho Convent School; patriotic chorus, ‘ Knit, knit, knit,’ junior pupils of St. Joseph’s; piano solo, ‘ Polka de la reine,’ Miss Ruby Curran, L.T.C.L. ; recitation, ‘The Belgian flag,’ Miss Rita Foster; military march, junior pupils of Sacred Heart Convent; flag drill, ‘ Flags of the Allies,’ senior pupils of convent ; recitation, ‘ Plea of the Belgian children,’ junior pupils of St. Joseph’s School. The second part of the programme was devoted to the cantata, ‘ The Allied Nations,’ in which the singers were accompanied by Misses R. Curran and M. Kavanagh, and an orchestra under Mr. R. O’Hara. Those taking the principal parts, in costume, were; —Russia, Misses Madge Bremer and Mavis Cam ; France, Misses E. McDavitt and K. Carroll ; Belgium, Misses R. Foster and D. Jeffcoate; Britannia, Miss Clare Gellatly ; Herald of England, Miss M. Burr; Canada, Misses R. Cribb and J. Cameron; Africa, Misses T. McDonell and W. O’Connell ; Australia, Misses V. Emeny, F. Mullins, and E. Rhodes; Zealandia, Miss F. Emeny. The dresses worn by the pupils in the different marches made a very pretty picture. Great credit is due to the Sisters, who must have been exceedingly gratified at the splendid success which attended their efforts.