MEETINGS, ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVIII, Issue 255, 3 November 1897, Page 2

MEETINGS, ENTERTAINMENTS, ETC.

A meeting of the City Schools Commit, tee was held last evening in the Wellpoi street School. Mr J. Blades (ehainß presided. ' It was resolved to support M Stewart's application to the Board f Education for an extra teacher at Welle! ley-street. A request from Mr Grange!! secretary of the Children's Flower Shn Committee, to grant the school children holiday on November sth in order to alln 31 them to take their exhibits to the sho was granted. - , The meeting convened for last evenin sa f the Epiphany Hall for the purpose of in viting the co-operation of the residents of the Newton and Arch Hill districts in for warding the interests of the Floral BW lapsed owing to the small attendance Mrs McKean, however, suggested that th district should provide a decorated convey anceand a kiosk for the fete, and it yL decided to take the matter in hand in order that suitable representation should be made.

The Women's Democratic Union heldthe usual fortnightly meeting last evening in the Foresters' Hall. In the absence of fin Mahon the chair was taken by Mrs Kirkbv (Vice-president). Answers were received from the Premier to the petitions sent down by the Union regarding a weekly half holiday for waitresses and domestic servants, A lengthy discussion took place on the latter, the Premier having intimated that he would be pleased to receive any practical suggestions on the subject. Copies of the Masters and Apprentices Bill were dis. tributed, the contents to form subjects for discussion at next meeting. ■ • ■

A meeting of the Auckland Women's Political League was held yesterday afternoon. Several bills at present before Parliament were discussed. It was decided to send the following resolution to the Premier: —" That this meeting is in cordial sympathy with any effort to prevent unnecessary Sunday labour." It was further resolved that a copy of prospectus of the Hagey Institute be sent to Mr Joyce, with a suggestion that the gold cure be applied to inebriates in preference to incarceration in inebriate homes for more or less lengthened periods. Consideration of the Juries Amendment Act was adjourned to next meeting.

A daylight battalion parade of the Auckland Volunteer Corps was held last evening, the companies mustering at the Drillsued at 6.30 o'clock for Government inspection. The companies present were the Auckland Naval Artillery, under Lieu-tenant-Commander Clemens; Ponsonby Naval Artillery, under Lieutenant-Com-mander Graham; Devonport Naval Volunteers, under Lieutenant-Commander Parker : " A " Battery of Artillery, under Captain O'Brien ; and the Victoria Rifles, under Captain White. Lieutenant-Colonel Banks, attended by Captain Grant, District Adjutant, made the inspection, and the battalion then marched out through the streets, headed by the Garrison Band, under Bandmaster Hunter. There was a' good muster of some 250 men. Last evening the College Rifle Volunteers were put through skirmishing drill at the Drill-shed by Sergeant-Major Carpenter. •

A meeting of the Auckland Presbytery was held in St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church last evening. A call; from Onehunga addressed to the Rev. R. Wylie, formerly of London, was laid on the table, and it was resolved that the call he sustained and placed in Mr Wylie's hands. Mr Wylie then addressed the Presbytery and intimated his cordial acceptance of the call. It was decided that the Presbytery should meet in the Onemmga Church on November 25th to induct Mr Wylie. The stipend was stated to be £200 yath manse. A call from Corornahdel addressed tose Rev. T. Norrie was also laid on the table, and Mr Norrie intimated his acceptance of the call. The stipend is' £150''with a manse. It was decided thafc a commission of the Presbytery should meet at Coromaridel on December 2nd to induct Mr Norrie. The Presbytery resolved to allow the Pukekohe congregation to sell their old church.

The Rev. W. Gittos gave an address last night in the Helping Hand Mission Halloa "The Truth About the King Country." There was a large attendance, andMrA. C. Caughey presided. Mr Gittos saidwitk reference to what appeared in the papers concerning the social or religious condition of the Kingites, he had no desire to impugn the veracity of Miss Bedggood. He had no doubt that the matters she had pnt down in her diary actually occurrei Still he thought the phrase "six thousand heathens at our very doors " was an exaggeration. In the first place, he did not think there were 6,000 natives in the Kbg Country, and in the second, they were not heathens, as the older Maoris had nearly all been baptised, and were thereforenominally Christians. They might be more properly called lapsed Christians. The reproaches cast upon the Mission Church of neglecting the Maoris, were untrue and ungrounded. All the money spent upon Maori missions had not been thrown away, as some imagined. The reverend gentlemen dealing with the drink question said it was impossible to describe the demoralisation ana degradation to which the drink traffic was bringing the natives in the King Country, and it was to the eternal shame oi™®* concerned. Miss Woodham sanj* "The Cry of the Lost," and Mr H. Blakeley "the Holy City." A collection was taken up in aid of the Home. Mission fund.

The annual soiree in connection with the 33rd anniversary of the Newton Congregational Sunday-school was hew la» evening and was very largely attenaea, fully 200 sitting down to tea. At tw after meeting the building was crowoea. The Rev. F. Warner presided, and made a few opening remarks, after which an excellent address was given by the Rev. .toW West. The annual report was read by we secretary, Mr T. Craig. It showed W* the school had made good progress during the year. Reference was made to «f excellent work done by the pastor■ andws wife in connection with the school. \™ roll showed 361 scholars, 261 being gtt» and 165 boys, while the officers ana teachers numbered 30. The library consists of 497 volumes, and has 56 subscriDef During the year nine scholars joined u» Church. In connection with the anniw sary 525 circulars had been P° stt£ J? old scholars inviting them to atwn a re-union next Tuesday femng. Mr Craig read a letter of congratulaUoa received from the Pitt-street CongrtP tional Church, Sydney. He also w nounced that the anniversary nymDL 0 < be repeated next Sunday for the w»e» the aged friends who were unable to e » the Choral Hall. Mr John El[yetJ n 3 the financial statement, winch sno' total receipts £159 13s 3d, of which «o , Id was the balance brought forward year, £43 8s the collection last bunttaj, £35 13s 6d given during the year » Sunday-school collections. Amongst^ items of expenditure were £5 donaw home missions, £3 11s to the famine fund, and £2 3sw Hawke's Bay relief fund. -l^e tf balance totalled £51 15s 4d. Mr f'!Lr also announced that during tne J the £60 had been paid off the money due ou cottage and allotment ad joining tne The reports were adopted, alter addresses were delivered by j» r a in g Wood and Mr Farr. During ?ne^ le nt anniversary hymns were snrig me^ t style by the scholars, aided by an w orchestra. Miss Wood took one « solos in an admirable manner, au,^ Abelßowe sang another very' orw ■ • f At tlie conclusion of the meeting * aj thanks were accorded all who had a^ on the motion of Mr Lee.