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New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1401, 14 May 1868, Page 3

An American, once attempting to address a Parisian audience in French, extemporaneously, earnestly exhorted them to take of the water of life freely, in a literal translation from the J&gliflh " eau de vie," the French for hrandy (he should have used the phrase " eau vivant") The audience lost the force of the exhortation entirely. A Frenchman once returned the compliment in English, by endeavouring; to give the benediction in the following form: "May the good Lord pickle you." He meant preserve. Mastication. —The custom of not masticating the food completely, is a very common cause of dyspepsia. Before the stomach can act properly on food, mastication is necessary to break the cohesion of the organic matter, in order to aid its solution in the stomach. It extends the surface of the substance to be acted upon by the juices of the stomach, in the same manner as pulverization aids the action of chemical solvents upon common matter. There is also probably some influence of the saliva, -which mastication mingles with food, in aiding the solution of solid, matters in the stomach, although this is undetermined. At all events, mastication, : mechanically considered, assists digestion; and nothing is more likely to act as an injurious irritant to the alimentary canal, than nnnunticated food.

AUCKTiANT) WBSLEYAN SUNDAY SCHOOL UNION. Th£ first annual meeting of this Union wa» held last evening in the Pitt-street school-room. The tea tables were presided over by ladies connected with the school. After tea the Bev. J. Buller took thechair, gaveouta hymn, andcalled upon tne Rev. J. Hobbs to engage in. prayer. The Chaibman regretted the absence of many who ought to have been there. Nothing seemed to go down but musical entertainments. He liked music in its own place, but he certainly thought that christians should not neglect other important meetings. There were very few present to-night except teachers, and he regretted this lack of interest by the Church, for the teachers had a right to expect their countenance and support. He hoped the teachers would not allow the absence of those who, should have beeu present to have a depressing influence on their minds, but pursue their worfc with unabated zeal.

Mr. Beaumont, the Secretary, then read th# following:— SSPOBT. "The first year of the existence of the ' Auckland Circuit "Wesleyan Methodist Sunday School Union/ having now heen completed, we have, as a committee, to tender an account of our stewardship; and, in doing so, feel that we have much reason to render heartfelt thanks to Almighty God for his sustaining care and directing wisdom through the past year, and to congratulate the officers and teachers on the amount of success which has attended the operations of our union during the past twelve months. For a long time previous to the formation of the. Union a great lack was felt amoug the teachers of the several schools of something to bring them into closer communion with each other, and this desideratum was well supplied by the prompt formation of this Union, and from that time the co-operation and determined effort of the several schools has met with encouraging success sufficient to urge them on to more diligence and activity; and also to more prayer for the ensuing year. In regard to the home or inner work of the union, the united monthly prayer meeting which was at first suggested, has not been attended. There are many causes accounting for this'; but were greater interest felt and manifested by a general attendance, we are convinced that this means of grace would be found by many to be a privilego, and a means to an end, that end, a closer walk with God, and a manifestation of more power in our midst, the children saved, and our own strength constantly renewed. "We would earnestly recommend it to the consideration of all our Sabbath school teachers. The next in order of importance comes the weekly teachers' Bible class, under the efficient supervision of our ministers. This, since its commencement, has been well attended, particularly by the female teachers, and the benefits resulting from it have been felt by all who bare earnestly co-operated with it. There is no fault, to find with it, only that were the teachers more fitted by a previous preparation in the closet, the Lord would make it still more useful, and the benefits accruing still more generally felt. We would not forget to mention our united quarterly teachers' tea meeting. We have had in the past year four essays from teachers, on various subjects relative to Sabbath schools and their proper wirking, which have been well appreciated, so much bo- as to fix their general practice at every quarterly tea meeting. All theso meetings are presided over by one of the ministers, so that we have always their advice and counsel in all matters of importance, together with their prayers and encouragement. "We have only to report the the addition of one new school during the past year, viz,, Shorthand, We trust that their work and labour of of love may not be in vain in the Lord, but that the good seed sown there, in the hearts of the children may bring forth fruit an hundred fold, and at the end a glorious harvest be reaped. The several schools keep up their practice of monthly Sunday evening prayer meetings, inviting all the senior scholars to remain with them, and the Spirit of their Master has often been felt in their midst. In the past year one or two of the teachers have passed to their rest, their works following them, " Yerily they have their reward." We are not sure if any of the scholars have died during the past year, but we labour on so that they may nave at last an abundant entrance administered to them with all the sanctified. " The statistical returns from the schools show tin following results, viz.:—Schools in Union, 7; teachers on books, 94; ditto attending morning, 60; ditto attending afternoon, 75; scholars on the books, 797; average attendance morning, 367; ditto afternoon, 514; scholars joined the church, 10; the schools have volumes in thoir libraries, 1520; Union library, vols., 500. "It is an encouraging fact for those faithful laborers who toil on ' bearing the burden and heat of the day' (sometimes almost wondering whether indeed their harvest time will ever arrive), that Sabbath Schools are now really self-supporting, fully ninetcen-twentieths of the teachets In our Schools have been teachers either here or in our fatherland. In our associated schools about 10 teachers have been received from the ranks of the scholars during the year. We hare not had that decrease in our schools which we might fairly have expected from the depression of the times. We have not suffered to any appreciable extent in the numbers attending. And we have the happiness of knowing that in many cases the scattered seed has brought forth fruit to the honor and glory of our Redeemer, whose servants wo are. The following is the General Treasurer's balancs sheet. I may just say that this fund is kept up by a per-centage from each school, on their gross annual receipts. 1867. Dr. £ a. d. To cash received from Pitt-Btreet School 18 6 Ditto ditto High-street school ... 1 0 0 Ditto ditto Parnell school 0 3 6 Ditte ditto Union-street school ... 0 4 6 Ditto ditto GTafton Road school ... Oil 0 Ditto ditto Shortland Bchool O 5 0 Ditto ditto Whau Road school ... 0' 4 0 Balance 1 8 6 Total £5 5 0 Cr. £ «• d. By Printing Rules, &c. ... ••• 5 5 0 £6 6 0

" In conclusion, your committee feel that there is much to be done, both by the several schools individually, and this association*. It is a lamentable fact, so far as we can ascertain, that not one-third of the children in this province attend Sabbath Schools. Can we not bring them within range of the teacher's influence? How is it to be done? Who will doit? There are hundreds and thousands who are heirs to Heaven going the broad road to destruction., Are there none who care for their souls, to warn them of their dange>, and point them to the ' Lamb of G-od who taketh away the sin of the world.* Is their not much need for more prayerfulness, and greater consecration. * "Who is sufficient for these things ?' The work is mighty. ' The fields are white unto the harvest,' and the laborers are few. We pray that God who called ub to this great work, may give us grace to labor on more earnestly in the future, than in the past, trusting alone to' Him who hae said, 'Be not weary in well-doing, for in due season ye shall reap if ye faint not.'" The Bev. J. Hobbs proposed, and Mr. J. L. Wilson seconded the adoption of theßeport.— Agreed to. . The Rev. J. Waiijs then proposed that the following he the officers for the ensuing year, viz., Messrs. W. Thome, treasurer; Thomas Buddie, secretary; and James Miller, librarian. This was seconded by Mr. John Fibtoheb.— Carried. . _ . Mr. Atkin, Superintendent of Union-street school, spoke at some length, advocating the advantages of Sunday-schools, and the certainty of their ultimate success. He also spoke of the necessity of general education, and thought that the authorities were making a very serious mistake in curtailing the means of properly educating the rising generation. He spoke very warmly against the counter attractions which were being attempted by those who were endeavouring to legalise music and dancing in public Mr. Welsman and Mr. E. Abthttb addressed the meeting. „,, , . Mr. T.'Bromas proposed a rote of thanks to the ladies wKo had preside at the trays. This was seconded by Mr. Hbmus and earned. The doxolbgy was then Ber. Mr. Buller pronounced the benediction, «nd the meeting oloied.