MEETINGS AND SOCIAL GATHERINGS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14659, 7 May 1913, Page 4

MEETINGS AND SOCIAL GATHERINGS.

Three special services were held to ! celebrate the anniversary of the Durham street -Methodist Church last Sun- . day. The Key. A. N. tocotter, 8.A., preached in tho morning on "The Difference Cirist Has Made." The combined Bible classes were addressed in the afternoon on the subject of . "The Cross," tea, being served after i tho meeting, whiio in tne evening, a! special musical service was contributed by Mr E. i'irth, F.1t.C.0., assisted by Mr J. Olds and an augmented choir. Similar musical services will be conducted each Sunday night for fifteen minutes before tho usual servjcc An eloquent sermon .was preached by the Rev. C. H. Laws, 13 A., who took for his subject '-Then and Now: A Study in Comparisons," and it was announced that the anniversary celebrations would be continued on Wednesday evening, when a social gathering would bo heid, the addresses to bo given by the president of the Conference and others. , At a meeting of tho diristchurch Tinsmiths' and Sheet-MetaJ Workers' J Union, the following resolution was carried: —"That this meeting deplores the action of tho Massey Government in depriving a boy from gainiug_ a scholarship or secondary education should lie refuse, through conscientious objections, to serve under the Defence Act." At the monthly meeting of the Canterbury Head Centro oi the Royal Life-saving Society, to be held tomorrow, the Mayor will present a number of awards gamed during the year at the examinations held under tho auspices of the Royal Lifesaving Society, and also two diplomas gained by Messrs Frank L. Collins and P. A. A. Schwartz. Tho Athletic evening promoted by tho Christchurck Sports Club, in aid of the Lyttelton Seamen's Institute, was held on Monday ab Mr Hornibrook's Physical Culture Institute. The audience was an exceptionally largo one. An excellent programme, consisting of several spirited box.ng exhibitions, took place, several wellknown local boxers taking part, including Messrs W. and D. Bartlett, W. Anderson, R. Mayzc, (*. A. Pen--1 rose, G. McNicoll, l>. Sutherland, Petty-officer Williams and Stoker Hudson. • The star item of the evening was the catch-as-catch-can wrestling match between Seaman Donald Reeday (10st 81b) and Paul D. Telia (10st 4lb), a greaser off the R.M.S. lonic. Tlus match, wh.'ch was contested under catch-as-catch-can rules, produced a most exciting struggle. The first fall was won by Reeday in 2min, and the second in smin 40see. Reeday proved himself the more aggressive wrestler. Captain Marciel, president of the Sailors' Institute, thanked tho Christchurch Sports Club for their goncrosty in arranging a benefit. He particularly desired to tliank the cliairman,

Mr \V. J. Moir, for his gift of a gold medal for the wrestling, and Mr T. H.

Hensman for arranging the arena. It is expected- that a sum of over £10 will be realised for tho Institute. A meeting of the Canterbury Fruitgrowers' Association w s held on Saturday night. Present:—Messrs E. H.

Morgan (in the chair), Fitch, Illingworth, King, Anderson Blakeway and Taylor. It was resolved that the

secretary write to Mr T. Hcrton, of Hastings, for information concerning the export of fruit to the Argentine. An application was received from Mr A. Moritzon (Dunedin) for 4000 cases for June and 4COO for July. It was decided that the discussion" of remits

for the Fruitgrowers' Conference bo left till the July meeting. Mr Fitch gave an interesting lecture on the planting of orchards, dealing particularly with the quality of soil preferable, tho selection of a suitable- site.

preparation of tho ground, provision of

shelter, of planting, etc Plantings could, in this mild climate, be coritidued from the middle of May till September. , annual meeting of the British and Foreign Bible Society wae held on Monday evening in the V.M.C.A. Hall. The Rev. Hi Johnson, who occupied the chair, delivered an address on the Society's work in Africa, where he worked ns a missionary for 15"years. Other speakers were the K«v. J. J. North, Mr P. Hercus, who dealt with the power of the Bible in Rarotonga, and the Rev. F. H. Spencer, the Society's agent, who spoke on the labours of the Society in China, where, owing to the rapid extension of the missionary field, there was an urgent need for mare funds. Expenses, he said, had had to be reduced by £22,000, and tho work of translation was for the present at a ■ standstill. The annual report stated that the receipts for the year totalled £190 14s 7d, and of this sum £193 17s lid had been forwarded to England. The election of the committee for the ensuing year resulted as follows: —Messrs C. F. Harrison (hon. secretary), J. \V. ' Twentyman (hon. treasurer), 11. S. Badger, G. Cnllendar, P. Hercus. W. Jameson, J. Munning, and G. Stening. The annual meeting of the Knox Church Band of Hope was held on Monday, when an interesting programme was' given, the following contributing items: —Piano solos. Misses Bennetts and Walden and Mr Grimmer; recitat'ons, Misses Ford, Simpson (2), Muff, and Cole; vocal solos, Misses Cook and Muff; vocal duct. Sister Annie and Miss Cook; violin solos, Miss Gibbs and Mr Dunn; cornet solo, Mr Timms; Scotch reel. Miss Simpson. Mr H. G. Ell. M.P., gave an interesting address, and presented prizes to the following: —Gladys Simpson, Ist and special; Arnold Grimmer, Nellie Musgrove, Kathleen Muff, Thelnia Walden, and Edna Simpson, 2nd prizes: Elsie BenEthel Stillwell. Willie Knifdit, and Maurice Grimmer, 3rd prizes. Tho annual report and balance-sheet mdiii cated good progress during the year. , The monthly meeting of tho committee of the Waitham Amateur Swimming Club was held on Monday. All matters in connection with the annual social to bo held on May 23rd wero finally arranged Satisfactory reports wore received regarding sale of tickets, and everything pointed towards a sijo« cessful function. Tho St. Martin's Burgesses' Association met on Monday, Mr Jpresiding. The Tramway Board agreed to make Rogers street the end of the 2d section. Regarding, tho Board's letter that tho Association's circular contained inaccuracies, it was dreided to stand by the statements mads, as they were approximately correct. Matters in connection with to-morrow's poll were settled, and votes of tbirks accorded Mrs Longton and Miss Wilson for their assistance in connection with the issue of the circular to ratepayers.