MEETINGS AND AMUSEMENTS. [From March 20 To April 18.]

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXVIII, Issue 1571, 18 April 1872, Page 7

MEETINGS AND AMUSEMENTS. [From March 20 To April 18.]

The annual meeting of the "Young Men's Catholic Literary Society was held at their hall, Wellington-street, on Mouday, March 25; J. Sheehan, Esq., M.G. A., presiding. There were about 60 members in attendance. After j the transaction of some routine business the meeting proceeded to the election of officers for the coming year, when the following members were appointed officers :—Chairman, Mr. J. Calnan ; treasurer, Mr. Peter Dignan ; secretary, Mr. G. Connolly ; librarian, Mr. D. Murphy ; Messrs. Michael Connolly, James M. Mulhollancl, and John Grace, members of committee ; and Mesara. A. Oliver, Plunket, and J. Flynne, selectora for readings and recitations. The outgoing officers then read their annual reports, which showed that the affairs of the Society were in a healthy condition. The first meeting of the Pollok Settlement Mutual Improvement Association wa9 recently held in the school-room connected with the Scotch Presbyterian Church. The Rev. Mr. Smith, pastor of the congregation, occupied the chair. Mr. Smith was unanimously chosen president ; M*. Brownlee, vice-president ; Mr. Robert Scouller, treasurer; Mr. James Brownlee, secretary. At the next meetiug of the Association, held in the same place, au introductory lecture was delivered by the .Rev, Mr. Smith on "Ocean Currents." It is a pleasant duty to record anything which tends to promote good feeling among country settlers, who must be regarded as the backbone of the social body. Of this nature was a meeting which took place on the afternoon of Wednesday, March 20, at the residence of Mr. Thomas Ball, Mangonui. Besides invitinghis neighbours of Oruaiti, Mr. Ball had sent an invitation to the people of Mangonui. Such meetings are periodical at Oruaifci, in connection with the meetings for public worship. The last previous to this happened j about two years ago, just prior to the departure of Mr. Ball to Europe. On the present occasion about 90 people assembled to enjoy ' a pleasant and profitable time. The second annual meeting of the Waiuku ( Institute took place on Friday evening, March 22. In tne absence of the president, E; Hamlin, Esq., M.P.C., who has gone to Canterbury to compete for the Government prizes, J. Hall, Esq., took the chair. Op the motion of Mr. Chappell, seconded by Captain Alexander, the following report was adopted: *- "Second Annual Report : There are now 313 volumes in the library. The following members were elected office-bearers and committee fpr the ensuing year :— President, E. Hainlin, Esq , M.P.C. ; hpnorary secretary and librarian, Mr. A. Campbell ; honorary treasurer, Mr. R. J. Moore ; committee, Captain Alexander, and Messrs. J. Hull, J. Chappell, and W. Flavell. "The monthly meeting of the Wharehine Mutual Improvement Society was held at Mr. C. D. Cray's, on Monday evening, March 25, whore the members met aud partook of the excellent repast which that gentleman had prepared, having slaughtered a sheep and lamb for the occasion (mutton being scarce in this district). Mr. Cutler presided during the meeting. The March meeting of the Porb Albert Literary Society took place at Mr, Becroft's on Monday evening

March 25. Mr. B. M. Gubb occupied the chair. Dr. F. G. Dalton read an essay " On the Teeth." The March meeting of the Port Albert Association took place at Mr. J. W. C. Smith's on Wednesday evening, March 27. There was a good attendance. The President, Mr. W. Hefford, occupied the chair. The following were elected an Exhibition Committee to hold office till the end of March 1, 1873 :— Messrs. J. Shepherd, F. Judson, C. Judd, W. Hefford, It. Cutfovth, W. Armstrong, and W. Lutler. Mr. T. A. Gubb then lead a paper by Mr. Henry Woods on "The Breeding and Management of Sheep." The ninth anmversaiy of theHopc of Auckland Tent, No. 1, was commemorated on Tuesday, March zG,in the upper room of the Youug Men's Christian Association. There was ° full attendance of the brotherhood present, together with a number of members of the Auckland United Alliance and others, including many ladies, friends to the cause of temperance and the order. The ninth annual report stated that in May, 1863, the Hope of Auckland Tent of the Independent Order of Recbabites (the first in ft ow Zealand) was duly opened by authority, and was attended with great success. In 1866 Auckland was declared to be the head-quar-ters of the district. It has now to the credit 1 of its funeral fund £211 lls. Id. On the evening of Wednesday, the 27th March, a soirde was held in Mr. 1 Wood's Hall, to commemorate the inauguration of the Whangarei Literary Institute. A very agreeable entertainment, in aid of I the Thames Hospital, waa given at the Baptist Church, Shortland, on Monday, April 1, and met with very fair patronage. Mr. [ T. L. Murray, occupied the chair. An amateur concert was on April 2, in the Parnell HalJ, in aid of the St. Mary's 1 Sunday-school Library. At a nieetiug in connection with the Miners' Accident Relief Fund, held at Grabamstown on Tuesday, April 2, Captain Skene in the chair, a code of rules | compiled by the sub-committee was read and amended, and the following executive committee elected : — Messrs. Fraser, it.M., Skene, Richards, Dewar, Corlett, Higgins, iNicholls, Swan, Kernick, Walker, Donnelly, Goldsmith; and the clergymen of the various denominations ex j officio. Mr. F. Day, of the Una Company, was appointed secretary. On Wednesday, April 3, a very success ful soirde and concert took place in the Whau Hall, the proceeds of which went towards defraying the debt connected with the school in the district. The tables were abundantly provided with the good things of this life by the following ladies : — Mesdames Buchanan, Bollard, Forsyth, McCaul, Rogers, Owen, Poppleton, and Archibald. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Agricultural Society was held at the Criterion Hotel, Otahuhu, on Tuesday, April 9th, at half-past 3 o'clock. There were few members present, owing probably to it being a wet afternoon. Mr. W. T. Bassett, the Vice-President, was in the chair. The Secretary read the annual report of the New Zealand Agricultural Society, 1872. The Chairman, in a few remarks, moved the adoption of thereport, which was seconded by Mr. Scott and carried. A meeting waa h»ld on Tuesday, April 9, at the Masonic Hotel, Princes-str»et, where the brotherhood of Lodge Ara, 348, I.C., assembled for the purpose of making a presentation to Past-master and V.W.P.G. Chaplain, Brother the Rev. Robert Kidd, LL.D., in token of the high esteem in which he was held by the brotherhood, and for his efficient services while performing the'duties of Worshipful Master, from December, 1870, until the same month of the following year. The presentation consisted of the latest edition of Chambers's Encyclopaedia in 10 volumes, and a quarto edition of Webster's Dictionary, in hands<>me calf binding. The presentation inscription was beautifully engrossed in illuminated letters, and was the artistic work and design of Mr. Richard Morrow. A presentation of a very beautifully prepared scroll was also made to Brother George Lavers, Secretary. ' A public meeting was held at the Mangonui Hotel on the 9th April to take into consideration the necessary steps for opening the coalfield of the district. Mr. T. Ball, being called to the chair, stated the object of the meeting, and read an extract from the Public Works Act relative to the development of coal mines. — Mr. Wyles stated that he had invited the meeting to consider the suggestions put forward by the Provincial Secretary at a late meeting — that a committee should be formed to carry out the search for coal, and to solicit help from the i Provincial Government. H« thought that, considering the liberality of the Government to other diatiicts, some help might be obtained for this object. He read a report from Vickery and Maaefield on a sample of Mangonui coal proved by them years ago. — Mr. Maxwell was of opinion that £100 would barely be sufficient for testing one locality, while there was evidence of the existence of coal at various places from Mangonui to the N orth Cape. He moved that a sum of £200 be applied for (which was carried). — Mr. Wyles held the opinion that if coal could be found elsewhere than in the neighbourhood of Mangonui harbour it would not pay at the present time. — Mr. R. Henderson proposed, and Mr. Maxwell seconded, "That a copy of Vickery and Masefield's report on the coal found in this district be forwarded to the Superintendent, with the resolutions of this meeting." — Mr. Pattison moved, Mr. Hunt seconded, "That a committee, consisting of Messrs. Ball, McLcod, Butler, Macintosh, Hunt, White, Kelly, and Maxwell, be formed to carry out the resolution of this meeting." — During the course of the proceedings reference was made to the seam of surface coal which lies bare in Doubtless Bay, and to the fact that a specimen of Maugonui coal may be seen in the Auckland Museum. A large and influential meeting of the settlers of Poverty Bay was held at the Albion Hotel, Gisborne, on the 6th April, for thepurpose of presenting Major Weatrup, on his retirement as commanding officer of the district, with a handsome silver vase, having an appropriate inscription, and accompanied with an address.