MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CVII, Issue 12850, 24 June 1902, Page 2

MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES.

The -weekly meeting of the- Lyttelton Literary and Debating Society was held in the Presbyterian Schoolroom on Thursday night. There was" a large attendance, and Mr A. Henderson, -vice-president, was in the chair. Competitions in reading and recitation took place, and were both won by Miss Thorpe, Misses Stinson and l Robinson and Mr A. Webb being highly commended;. A number of contributions of original' poetry were read by Miss Coote, and were referred to two judges, who will give their award at the- next meeting. Tho Canterbury Athletic and Cycling Club held -a very successful social gathering at the . City Hall on Thursday evening, when about 70 members and friends were present. The president, Mr J. H. Parker, occupied the! chair, and in his opening remarks congratulated the club on its sound position. An) excellent programme -of songs and recitations, contributed b ( y Messrs C. React, D. Ryan, Petersen and others assisted 1 tWarda an enjoyable evening. The annual meeting of the Cust Band l of Hope, which &*p> place on Thursday evening at the Oddfellows' Hall, was largely attended, and 1 was.a. most successful gathering. Mr A. D. Hassall presided. Readings were given by Messrs H. Henderson and J. Smith, recitations by Misses H. M'Cutcheon, Doris Hassall and R. M'Lauchlan, and Mr Eric Stnbbs, and solos Misses Lucy M'Cutcheon and Stella Hender-' son and Mr J. Lyon. Mr A. Searell played tihe accompaniments. A very interesting address was -delivered l by the Rev D. D. Rodger. Refreshments were provided by the ladies, and a strong committee was appointed to cany on tie work of the- ensuing year. There was art attendance of over three hundred at th© annual meeting of the Rangiora Band of Hope held at the Institute Hall on Thursday evening. The Rev A. Doull presided. An address by the Rev T. A. Jougbjin and a musical,programme preceded the business meeting. The annual report stated that the society [had experienced a (most successful year, the average attendance at the monthly meetings held . throughout the year being, as shown by the door-takings, about 300. A hundred and fifty-two pledge cards were issued during the year.' The balance-sheet showed the '■ receipts to have been £ls 5s 9d, and the expenditure £l3 '-13s 2dy leaving a credit balance of £1 12s 7d. Tho following officers were- elected: —President, Rev A. Doull; Vice-Presidents, the Revs F. P. Fendall, W k Barry and A. Peters, the Captain of the Salvation, Army, Mrs R. Darling, Miss llanby and Mr A. H. King; Secretary and Treasurer, Mr F. B. Lane; Organist, Miss. Hassall • Committee, Mesdames Rogers, Bailey, Barry, G. Felton and Lane, Misses Anderson, M. Anderson, Avers and Ramby, the Rev A. B-eaven, and Messrs Hands, Worsfold, Lewis, Doggett and Matthews. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the outgoing officers for their admirable management of the society during the year. The -weekly meeting of the North Belt Literary and Musical Guild was held 1 on Monday night.. The "Journal" was read, the articles being on "How to Write an Essay," "A Chat About the Fire," "Land Nationalisation," and " Interviewing; 1 ' There was a good attendance, the President, the Rev Dr Erwin, occupying the chair. \ An ordinary.'meeting of the Socialist Party was held on Thursday. The committee reported that the Oddfellows' Hall had been engaged for July 13, 15 and 17 for Mr Tom Mann's meetings. A report of a conference with the School of Brotherhood was dealt with. It was decided to amalgamate the two and from the end of the present month to meet in rooms at 151, Gloucester Street, every Tuesday. The following resolution was carried unanimously —"That this meeting protests against the misleading statements attributed to the Premier in his speech in London, when he is reported to have said that there was little crime arid 1 no poverty in the colony, as according to the Mayor of Christchurch there have -been some • hundreds of cases assisted in Christchurch during the past week." \ Thirty ladies attended the .opening of a J Ping-pong Club at the? Church of England Schoolroom, Cust, on Friday evening. A very pleasant time was spent at the game, and before closing refreshments were partaken of.