GIRLS FRIENDLY SOCIETY.

Evening Post, Volume XL, Issue 11, 12 July 1890, Page 2

GIRLS FRIENDLY SOCIETY.

4 The seventh annual meeting of tie members df the Girls' Friendly Society was. held at the Lodge yeaterdajr aftetndon, anfi was well attended. The President (Mrs. F. E. FilßGerald) occupied the chair, tn opening the proceedings the Rev. E. Coffey (curate of St. Mark's) made a few remarks, and the annual report was afterwards read by Mrs. Grant. After a brief reference to tho important work societies of the kind carried on in nearly all the centres of the English-speaking countries of the world, it mentioned thai death Unfortunately had been busy anlonget the ranks of the local wdrkars, and the loea of Mrs. Captain Atideraon^ Mrs. Kenneth Wilson, and Mrs. Benjamin Smith was a severe blow to the Society. Tho paat yoar had been one of steady progress, the number making use of the Lodge having increased from C 4 tb 89, while!; the rttfcehaanoo at tile Varim's gatherings in co nection with the society, though not so great as it ought to be, on tho whole had been fairly satisfactory. New members were wanted and more life and interest taken, to relieve the strain of work that fell upon tho fow who tried to oarry out tho functions of tho society in tho face of many a difficulty. The council regretted the serious illness of the secretary, whose work ill the interim had very kindly been undertaken by Misa Hftdtteld. AftOr jntvklng mention of the various aotrial gatherings held; and the meetings of the ooupoil and of assotiates which hnd taken place, the fephrt iV B pt dn. 10 Baj that tllo classes tor members whioh had been held by Mrs. Kemp and Miss Birmingham at Mrs. Kemp's house, by Mra. Miaon at her lonso, and by Mrs. Orant and Misses Qalway and Lawaon at the Lodge, had aroused a deal of interest. SGwing (iloseos, at which good work was, c'ono, wero also holji by Mosdames Eobineon, Ttiokey, Hart, Kemp, Toomath, Coughey, and Rtidwood. The Lodge haa been In otiatenee fbr tipwarad of three years, and was beginning to realise the hope of its founders, being used as a centre of good work in Wellington. The renting of the Recreation Room by tho Ladies' Cbriation Association helped materially to defray the expenses oonnsoted with the maintenance of the Lodge. Soltlo alterations to tho bedrooms had been compelled during the year, and Mf. Clero had ffiVeit his services in efteeting thi§ as a donation tb the Society. Referring to ihb library, it was mentioned, that it Had. bbbn ,hiat,erially aped tS by H valuable donation 01 books from Lady Jervois, whioh woro brought out from Homo by Mrs. FitzGorald, who retnrned only recently from a visit. In conclusion, it was reported that the Johnsonvil'o and Otaki branches were well supported, and a favourablo report from the Bangitikei branch was also attached. The balance-sheet of tho general account for tha year ending 30th Juno showed the receipts (including a balando carried forward froth last year of £Q 5s 3d) to have be?n jeiOO 0s Bd, whilst the expenditure was £90 Ba,. leaving a of edit; b>lanb'e of £9 Hi 83: The Lodge account showed the year's receipts to have been .£lBO 53 Bid, and a balance of 18s 6d remained over and above the oxponditure. Tho Lodge sinking fnnd was represented by a ca-h balanco of .£8 5s 6d, and the sick fund amounted to £5 2a Cd. The roport and balance-sheet wereadopted. It was decided that the annual winter festival should tako place on Friday, tho 20th of Anguat, the nsual sorvioos being first held) to bo followed by a social at the iiodgerootn. The wholo Of lost year's officers wore reel jet fid, with tho exception of tho Secretary (Mra. Tanner), who did not wish to act again owing to ill-health. Tho list of officers ia therefore as follow .— Patroness, the Countess of OnsloVr ; Presidont, Mrs. FitzGerald ; Yiae-Presidcnts, Mesdames Hadfleld, Grant, and ICetttpi Council) Lady Atkinson, Mosdames Coffoy, Stock, Still, England, Cooper, Gore, Leokio, Reid, Williams, and Miss Greenwood ; Troaaurer, Mrs. Haroourt. It Was decided to mako no appointment to tho Secretaryship for tho present. The meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to tho oiHcera.