MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXIV, Issue 16256, 3 June 1913, Page 2

MEETINGS OF SOCIETIES.

The results of tho fifth night's play in the Christchurch Friendly Societies' Card Association's . tournament were as follows:—Perseverance drew with Star of St Albans, 22-22; _ Mistletoe beat Hibernians, 23-17; Pioneer beat Queen's Own, 22-15; City of Christchurch beat Star of Canterbury, 17-16; Hope of St Albans beat Star of Syden-ham,-25-22; Washington beat Ivy of Linwood, 18-12; Oak pf Sydenham won by default; Anchor, a bye. There was a full attendance at the meeting of tho Rangiora Literary and Debating- Society -on May 20. - The subject for'debate was " Is Compulsory Military Training Pernicious?" The affirmative/was taken by Mr Cox,'with Mr Sinclair seconding, and tho negative- by Mr M'Keown, with Mr Cormody seconding. A deb ate followed, nearly all the members taking part. An extension of time had to bo granted to enablo tho debate to be concluded. Tho next meeting will be devoted to' the journal. A special meeting of the United Friendly Societies' Benevolent Association was held in the Gloucester Street ! Chambers on Friday, the vice-presi-dent, Bro. Hean, presiding over twenty-oight delegates. Two applications for assistance were received for brethren in distress, and after conj sideration the Association granted tho sum of £lO in each case.

The monthly meeting of' the Oxford branch of the Women's Christian Temperance Union was held on Wednesday, tho president, Mrs R. H. Gainsford, in the chair. On account of the death of the dominion president,- Mrs H. Cole, a memorial service was held. The president sang ■ " Crossing the Bar," and Miss J. M. Gainsford played the "Dead March." The following resolution was carried in silence, members standing:—"The members of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, Oxford branch, desire to place on record their appreciation of, and admiration for the noble life and work of the late dominion president, Mrs H. Colo. They tender their sincere sympathy to her bereaved, family." It was decided to hold a special meeting on Juno 4.

At tho weekly meeting of the Lyttelton Literary and Debating Society held on May 29, Mr T. C. Hatton, presiding, a debate took place between tho St Paul's Club and Lyttelton on tho subject "That the credit system in retail trading is moro of an evil than a benefit." Lyttelton took the affirmative. Mr F. L. Anderson, of Christchurch, was judge, and his award was as follows:—St Paul's, 289 points; Lyttelton, 278 points. Next Thursday a mock municipal election has been arranged, and at present two candidates have been nominated for the mayoralty, and fourteen, including four ladies, for the council.

A meeting of the Ashburton Mothers' Union was nold on Friday, Mrs G. B. Inglis presiding over_ an attendance of sixty members. ' Miss Bourdillon addressed the meeting on the " Order of the Star in the East." ' - Tho executive of the Canterbury Band of Hope Union.met in. the Manchester Chambers on May '29. Matters in connection with the coming contests were discussed. It, was decided-to recommend tho Union to award two special prizes for the best original dialogues in sections 1 and 2, and several new items were added to the list \of competitions.