MEETINGS AND SOCIAL GATHERINGS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14758, 30 August 1913, Page 6

MEETINGS AND SOCIAL GATHERINGS.

A very pleasant function took place in tho Durham street Methodist schoolroom on Thursday evening, When tho Church members and adherents met as a "family gathering." Tho Rev. C. H. and Mrs Laws and Sister Winifred welcomed the guests, who numbered about 150. Tho school was tastefully decorated, and tho evening was spent very enjoyably. Mr' Lancaster recited, and a Shakespearean dialogue was given by Mr and Mrs C. W. Barrell. Songs were given by Sister Winifred and Mr R,. A. Lowry, and a recitation was given by Miss Eckroyd. An impromptu speaking competition was won by Messrs E. Lund and W. H. Barrell, while Miseee Keppel and B. Cowey and Mr E. J. Bell wero tho winners of tho "telegram" competition. Tho Enterprise Tent. 1.0. R., mot in tho Leeds street HalJ- Linwood, on Tuesday evening, Bro. R. A. Stokes, C.R., presiding. An invitation to -visit the Pride of Christahurch Tent on Monday evening next was accepted. Two new members wero elected, and one candidate was proposed. A visit was received from the Star of Woolston Tent. During recess, cards and "scallyway" wero played, the visitors winning the former, and the home team the latter. At a meeting of tho committee of tho Addingtpn Burgesses' Association, held on Thursday, Mr Sheldon eaid that Mr A. S. Taylor, chairman of tho Electric Lighting Committee of the City Council, had offered to como to Addington and lecture on the electric lighting scheme. The secretary was instructed to write to Mr Taylor accepting the offer, and fixing a dato for the lecture. A special meeting of householders was held in tho St. Alba'ns School to protest against the proposal of .tho Education Commission to abolish" school committees. Mr J. Beanland presided After discussion, the following rasolution was carriod unanimously, and the chairman was instructed to forward it to the Prime Minister, Minister of Education, and the three city members of Parliament:- —''That this meeting of St. Albans householders strongly protests against any alteration of "the present system of control of schools by means of school committees." It was decided that it was desirable to hold a school fair early next year. A vote of sympathy was' passed to Mr J. H. Pratt in his serious illness. The annual meeting of the St. Albans Methodist Ladies' Guild was held on Wednesday, the Rev. Mr Bellhouse presiding. Tho following officers wero elected for tho ensuing year:—President, Miss Smith; vice-presidents, Mrs Bellhouse, Mrs Orr, Mrs Walker. Mrs Burrell; secretary. Mrs T. Harrison ; treasurer, Mrs Woodham. A concert was given in St. Mark's Schoolroom, Opawa, on Thursday, beforo a crowded audience. The' fir'-t part consisted of the following:—Violin solo. Miss I. Morris: songs. Messrs Vincent, March. Ward; recitation. Mr F. McDonuld; clarinet solo, Mr Clarkson ; and the cantata, "The Incihcape Rock" (Bridge), by tho choir. Miss Ruth Vincent played the accompaniments. The evergreen "Box and Cox.' , play c<l by Messrs Thompson, Davis, and Booth, comprised the second part, the whole proving most enjoyable. The Musical and Elocutionary Competitions were continued in the Club Hall at Heathcote Valley on Thursday evening, when the Rev. E. Bellhouse judged elocution, and Mr H. Johnson music. Mrs Livingstone and the Misses Matthews, Quereo, Page, and Wetherall were the accompanists. The following is the prize list: —Recitation (ex-scholars): Gladys Gray 1- ba«s solo, Mr Cargill 1: prepared speech, Mr Stewart 1: vocal duet. Miss Oetgen and Mrs A. T. Smith 1: humorous recitation, Miss Carter 1; vocal solo (ex-scholars), Mies A. Oetgen 1; soprano solo, Miss Grainger 1.