DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

New Zealand Tablet, Volume L, Issue 26, 5 July 1923, Page 27

DIOCESE OF AUCKLAND

(.From our own correspondent.; June 22. The musical and dramatic entertainment given by the pupils of the Sacred Heart College, Ponsonby, in aid of the Takapuna Orphanage, was held in St. Benedict’s Hall on Friday, Juno 15. Although the night was a very cold and rainy one, there was a large audience, and all present thoroughly enjoyed the boys’ varied and delightful programme of choruses, recitations, piano, violin, flute and vocal solos, instrumental trio, and scenes from “Merchant of Venice,” and “Much Ado About Nothing.” A very enjoyable concert under the auspices of the St. Patrick’s Conference of the St. Vincent de Paul Society was given recently at the Costley Home. Songs were contributed by Mrs. Monihan, Misses McKean, Johnston, / Smith, and Elmlie, Messrs. Duffin, Volkner, Hogan, Austin and Dixon Messrs. McGrael and Aloodabe gave recitations, v Mr. Whitty and pupils performed several dances, and Messrs. North and Young a banjo and ukulele duct. Air. James Mahoney and Miss Nora Mahoney, who are leaving the Thistle Hotel, where they have been so im- \ mensely popular for the last five years, were presented (by the staff with a silver tea service, tray, and gold-mounted fountain pen. In making the presentation. Air. Willie - Meehan said: —“On behalf of your staff I have been requested to express our sincere regret at jour retirement from the Thistle Hotel, Auckland, and also to express our appreciation of the kindly relationship that has always existed; between your employees and'"yourselves. We are conscious of the many kindly acts you have performed for ns, and we trust you may long be spared to enjoy good health. You carry away with you our very best' wishes,

and we are sure that no staff ever had, or could have more kind, and considerate employers. I have been requested by them to ask your acceptance of this little memento to mark the great respect and high regard in which you are held by them.” Mr. J. Mahoney and Aliss Alahoney then feelingly responded, and in the course of their appreciative remarks, thanked the staff (many of whom had been with them during their whole term) and said, a great deal of the popularity of the “Thistle” was due to the excellent workers they had been fortunate in having. On Wednesday, June 20, a number of friends of Air. and Aliss Alahonfey assembled in the dining-room of the Thistle and presented Air. Alahoney with a travelling case and Aliss Mahoney with a silver epergne. Air. Brockway-Rogers made the presentation, and many speeches expressive of regret at their departure from the Thistle were made. - June 29. Among the passengers who arrived from Sydney on Tuesday, June 26, was Aliss Amy Castles, the gifted Australian dramatic soprano, who is visiting New Zealand after an absence of four years, during which she has added greatly to her reputation. Aliss Castles has brought a concert party with her, and it is her intention to spend about three months in the Dominion, Since Aliss Castles visited New Zealand her tours have been world wide, including a very successful tour of the United States, and a comprehensive tour of her native country. In the course of a brief chat on the Manama, Miss Castles referred to her experiences on the Continent prior to, and up to the outbreak of war. The statement by an Australian musician now in London to the effect that Australia is practically unknown to the Continental musical world was brought under the visitor’s notice, and she expressed genuine surprise, pointing out that in addition to Dame Alelba, she herself had appeared for two years at the Imperial Opera House at Vienna, in which city Lalla A Grand a and many other Australian singers and instrumentalists had been well received. It will be remembered that it was Aliss Castles who was chosen to appear in the title role of Puccini’s opera, “Madame Butterfly,” at the Imperial Opera House at Vienna, having made her debut m grand opera some years earlier at Cologne in Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet, and Faust. It was while at Vienna that the prima donna journeyed to the Hague, at the request of the Queen of the Netherlands, to sing at the performance given by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. At the outbreak of war Aliss Castles managed to get out of Austria and went to Australia, where she engaged in war work, later touring America, returning to Australia to appear in grand opera about four years ago. Aliss Castles again goes to America after the present tour. The prima donna is accompanied by her sister Eileen, who has a wide reputation as a lyric soprano, and will assist with the New Zealand tour. On Wednesday, June 27, Aliss Castles and her concert party entertained the Sisters of Alercy and their pupils at the Convent of Alercy, St. Alary’s, Ponsonby. A thoroughly delightful treat it was' The following appeared in the Young Citizen for Mav 31, 1923 : THE ORPHANS’ S.O.S. It is now some weeks since an appeal was made in “Our Own Corner” for toys and books for the orphans who lost their j possessions in the Takapuna Orphanage fire. Although the general response has not been as good as we had hoped, I am glad to be able to tell you that at least in one school—the Grafton—the pupils have showed a most generous spirit, and as a result, a large ' parcel of books and toys was recently taken to the Sisters of Mercy at Vermont Street. Among the toys were a number of woollen balls and golliwogs, also a big cat, made . by the pupils themselves. The gifts were handed out by the teacher to the little orphans,^ and there were many childish screams of joy as the toys were "unpacked. Another kindly gift which must be mentioned was a parcel of story-books collected by Joyce Minns, on© of the prize winners in the last essay competition. For these" gifts the orphanage authorities are deeply grateful. The need still exists, and any further gifts will be gladly received by the Sisters of Mercy, Vermont Street, Ponsonby.