Page 5 Advertisements Column 1

Evening Post, Volume LVII, Issue 32, 8 February 1899, Page 5

The annual meeting of the Newtown Gymnasium was held last night. About 80 persons were present, and the Rev. 0. FitzGerald took the chair. After complimenting and thanking the outgoing committee on the success of the gymnasium for the past term, Mr. FitzGerald stated thai although the building would always be a part of the church property, the gymnasium • would bo a public one, open to all, irrespective of denomination, and it was managed by a non-denomina-tional committee The support from outside sources had been very small, but he hoped that the coming year would show bolter results in that respect. Mr. J. P. Luke, in moving the adoption of the report and balance - sheet, eulogised Mr. iMtzGerakl for undertaking the building uf a purely undcnominatonal gymnasium, and supplying a long-felt want in the district. Iho benefits which must accrue i'or both young and old from, such an institution, would be inestimable. Mr. E. Gerard, in seconding tho motion, also spoke of the good work that had been done and hoped that the gymnasium would receive the support that an institution of the kind deceived. The report and bal-ance-sheet , showing the receipts to have been £66 14s, and the credit balance £7, were adopted.. The following officers ■were elected for the ensuing 12 months : — President, Rev 0. FitzGerald; VicePresidents, Messrs. J. F. CaultOn, C. M. Luke, E. Gerard, G. Flux (re-elected), C. Wilson, M.H.R., Dr. ftewman, and Mr. J. S. Powell ; Hon. Treasurer, Mr. •E. Gerard ; Secretary, Mr. J. J. Roberts ; Auditor, i.ur. W» Chegwidden (re-elected) 5 Committee, Mesdames Walters and Mason, Messrs. W. Archer, C. D. Fox, M. J. Grenside, J. Collinson, S. Martin, W. F. Christie, G. W. Harvey, J. P. Luke, C. E. Luxford, and H. Gerard. At; the annual meeting of the Petone Caledonian Society, the Rev. A. Thomson presided. Tho balance-sheet, which was adopted, showed a credit balance of £3. The following officers were elected for the ensuing term : — President, Rev. A. Thomson ; Vice-President, Mr. N. M'Neil ; Committee, Mesdames Lash and Corson, Miss Rintoul, Messrs. J. Sharpe, W. Hay, R. Brown, and E. Harris ; Secretary and Treasurer, Mr. J. Muirhead, jun. ; Piper, Mr. J. M'Donald. The society has now a membership of 61, of whom nine were elected at the meeting. The next ingleside will be held about the end of March. The terrible disadvantages under which missionaries are sometimes placed is illustrated by a distressing accident which happened to Mr. J. W. Mansfield, assistant missionary on Ambrym, New Hebrides. Mr. Mansfield was effecting some repairs to his oil launch when a piece of hot metal flew off his hammer and embedded itself in his eye. For some days he suffered fearful agony, being unable- to get over to consult Dr. Bowie, on Santo, before the fifth clay after the accident. Dr. Bowie relieved him greatly, but after a second visit to him, the doctor advised him to go to Sydney for special treatment, in order to save, if possible, the sight of the eye. Mr. Mansfield is now in Sydney, and the doctors there are hopeful of saving his sight; but they have forbidden him, to either write or read, in fact he is confined to a dark room, and his wife desires us (Christian Outlook) to state that owing to this unfortunate accident he will not be able for some considerable time to ack nowledge personally the many kind letters and Christmas boxes which they received from New Zealand during the Christmas week, and for which he and his wife are very grateful. When delivering judgment in a civil case at Wanganui this week, Judge Kettle pointed out that it was highly desirable that vmerchants and those dealing with contractors (bush-felling contractors and the like) should be careful to obtain the names, and if possible the signatures of "all" the partners to whom credit is to be given. If credit was given to Jones "and Co." it was often a matter of dispute as to who the partners were. A little care and caution in a matter of this kind would often prevent a great deal of false swearing and save much expense. Sir W. Harcourt has closed (says the Spectator of Dec. 23) his series of letters to The Times by one on " The Awakening of the Bishops," which appears in Thursday's issue. If the tone and general temper of his previous writings on the Church question had been as reasonable and as free from the language of menace and insult, Sir William would have gained many more supporters for his cause. However, we have every desire to let bygones be bygones. The main result of Sir William Harcourt's letter is to show the serious and thorough way in which the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Bishops have entered upon the duty of forbidding services and ritual acts which cannot rightfully claim to be comprehended in the Church of England. Among the things condemned and forbidden are services introduced at the caprice of the clergyman which are not sanctioned and authorised by the Prayerbook ; the " enrichment" of the Communion from the liturgies of former ages or of other branches of the Catholic Church, the introduction of " superstitious and extravagant acts of devotion" ; the ceremonial use of incense, "asperging" of any kind, burning candles before pictures ; all reservation of the Sacrament ; the use of Roman terminology such as "Mass" and "Viaticum" ; the holding a Communion without communicants ; the invocation of angels or, saints or the Virgin Mary ; prayers fOlf 01 the dead ; and the requirement of confession as a necessary preparation for tb.6 Holy Communion, as " distinctly contrary to the teaching of the Church of England.'" These are, we believe, sound prohibitions. No doubt it will be said that the Bishops ought .to have acted long before ; but we shall continue to hold that in "all causes ecclesiastical as well as civil," it is wise to remember Burkes maxim: — "I must bear with inconveniences till they feater into crimes." The largest •, factory registered in the Christchurch district returns 360 hands as being in its employ. Another has 352. Mrs. George Lovett, another of Auckland's old identities, died on the 31st ult. She was in her 77th year, and had resided in Howick and Auckland for over 50 years. She came out in the same ship as Captain, afterwards Sir George, Grey, her husband being in the 58th Regiment. When two men were charged with drunkenness at Ashburton recently, one was fined 10s, in default 48 hours' imprisonment, and the other ss, in default 24 hours' imprisonment. The men were strangers. One had a cheque for £2 17s, while the other had not a penny, and would have had to go to gaol. The capitalist of the two, when the amount of his fine was mentioned, called out to the constable — " Pay the poor devil's fine, also ; the money is little good to me ; I'll only drink it." And so both fines were paid. An entertainment will be given at the Wellington Working Men's Club to-night by Messrs. Liardet and Palethorpe, yclept the Modern Merlins, consisting of various feats of magic and legerdemain. Our readers are reminded that the season of the Tivoli Speciality Company will commence at the Opera Hoiise this evening. The annual swimming sports of the Wellington Rowing Club are to take place next Saturday. Mr. W. H. Judkins is announced to lecture in the Newtown Wesleyan Schoolroom to-morrow (Thursday) evening on "The Struggles and Triumphs of Early Temperance. The lecture will be illustrated by about 60 lantern views. Admission is free, and a collection will be made. A miscellaneous concert will be given by the Musical Helpers in Wesley Church schoolroom to-morrow evening, in aid of the Karori Church Trust.