SOIREE AT WAIKOMITI.

Auckland Star, Volume XVIII, Issue 278, 25 November 1887, Page 3

SOIREE AT WAIKOMITI.

Parsexgees by the trains to and from Helensville on Wednesday evening must hav e noticed an unusual bustle as they passed Wiiikomiti Station. That not very lively neighbourhood presented quite an animated appearance : buggies, horsemen unci horsewomen, and pedestrians of all ages were to be seen coming from all points of the compass towards one centre. Something unusual was evidently calling so many people together. It was the first anniversary social meeting in connection with the Sunday .services held in the mortuary chapel. For several years past Mr Rowland Hill, who lives clo;-e to the station, has held a service in his house, but when tho cemetery close by was opened it was felt by him and his fellow worshippers that io would be an advantage if the more commodious chapel could bo obtained. Application was made to the City Council, who promptly granted the desired permission, and for twelve months constantly increasing congregations have been got together, the services being conducted alternately by Mr Hill (who is a Baptist), the Anglican Home Mission Society, and the Wesleyan preachers of the I'itt-street circuit. To give the worshippers an opportunity of social intercourse was the object of last night's gathering. At six o'clock the company—or as many of them as could find room—assembled at the tea-tables, which were laid in Mr Hill's barn, which had been decorated for the occasion with spoils from the bush—pungas, liikau and fernr, of many varieties—and presented quite a festive appearance. The abundance of good things, particularly the strawberries and cream, received ample attention, and proved quite sufficient for the 150 or more guests though only 100 had beon expected. After , tea Mr Hill took the chauancl opened the meeting with a few welltimed remarks, after which a varied programme was gone through, embracing addresses by the Revs. Thos. Bray and C. Worboys, Mr W. P. Tucker and Mr Woolgar, a concise report by Mr F. R. Ward" and the following musical items :— Song, " Tiied," Mrs Beach ; song, " The Maiden's Prayer," Miss Davies; song, " Gates of the "West," Mrs Hepburn ; song, " The Children's Home," Mr Beach. Foul' Part .songs were rendered by Mr C. H. Murray, Mr Hookey and the Misses Davies, 'from Auckland, and selections of instrumental music were given by Messrs Davison, H, E. Sharp, G Potter, W. Cartwright and Isaac Hill, members of the Waikoir.iti Orchestral Society, Mr Levy, the conductor of the society, wielding the baton with his accustomed skill. Several solos, duets and part sono-s which did not appear in the programme were rendered at frequent intervals in a more or less harmonious manner by sundry of the largennmber of babies present. A voto of thanks, moved by Mr Bosomworth.totheladiesandgentlemenmentionea, and to Miss Macdonald, who accompanied the quartette party, brought to a close v-hat seemed to be unanimously pronounced the Dleaaantesfc gathering ever held m Waifcomifci, and about ten o'clock buggies and equestrians, mothers, babies,fiddles and all the other component parts of the soiree were making their way home by the light of the moon, some of the neighbours having six or seven miles to go.