MEETINGS AND AMUSEMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4259, 8 July 1875, Page 2

MEETINGS AND AMUSEMENTS.

Tho ordinary monthly meeting of the members of the Auckland Institute was held on 1-ltli June, in the Council room, Princes-street. Several papers of a scientific character were read. The President, Mr. J. C. Firth, announced that there was £1700 promised towards the new building, that they anticipated .£3OO more ; making £'2000. There were two plans to choose from, one to cost £2000, the other £3000. They had suggested to Sir George Grey to introduce a bill into the Assembly, for the setting apart a fund for scientific purposes. If they could get nothing from this source they must fall back on the less eligible plan. At tin- half-yearly meeting of St. James's Literary .Association, the report and balance sheet we re read, both being most satisfactory, after which the meeting proceeded to elect ollicers for tho ensuing year with the following result : President, i!cv. I«. F. Macniciil ; Vice-Presidents, Messrs. W. Gorrie ami J. Crawford ; secretary and treasurer, I). K. Caldwell.

The first of the annual winter series of lec tnres in connection with the Young Men's Christian Association, was given on the 11th June, in the large hall, by Mr. Josiah Martin, "On Sound," —Capt. Dahly intliecliair. Air. Turrell performed a series of selections upon the pianoforte, and Mr. Impey, of the City Band, on the clarionet. The lecture was thoroughly illustrative. The lecturer proposed, by the sounds of the piano, the clarionet, and the violin, to give such explanation as, in conjunction with a description of the anatomy of the ear and atmospheric vibrations, would impart a notion of what he called the "mathematics" of music. Tho lecturer concluded by describing the effects of natural sounds, or sounds connected witli associations, the bell of the village church, the song of the busli bird, the low of cattle in the field, fall of water, or the sighing of the wind. Several anecdotes were told to illustrate these. The illustrations afforded a great deal of interest and amusement. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Impey and Mr. Turrell for their kindness in providing tho instrumental illustrations. A vote of thanks was also passed to the Orpheus Glee Club (Messrs. Harden, Battlcy, Henderson, and Skinner) for several glees, &c. On tho motion of Mr. Conplanfl, a vote of thanks was passed to the lecturer by acclamation.

The Rev. K. S. Hassard delivered on June 25, tho second of the winter series of lectures at the Young Men's Christian Association Rooms, on "Tho Customs and Traditions of Palestine." Mr. Thomas Macflarlano occupied the chair, and introduced the lecturer. Mr. Barton engaged in prayer. There was an excellent choir in attendance, under tho conduct of Mr. Joseph Brown, and rendered before the commencomcnt of the lectin e, " I will Oreatly Rejoice." Tho rev. lecturer, who was warmly received, said the substance of his lecture was taken from a recent work by an architect (M. Ermete Pierrotti), illustrative of tho manners and customs of the modern inhabitants of Palestine. During the lecture, Mr. Brown played upon the harmonium " An Ancient Hebrew March," and tho choir sang, " There is a Spirit," both being well executed. The Rev. Mr. Turner, seconded by Mr. Ewington, moved a vote of thanks to the lecturer, which was carried by acclamation. Mr. Ewington m<j>'ed, and Mr. Coupland seconded, a vote of thanks to the choir, which was also earricd by acclamation. The benediction was pronounced by the Rev. Mr. Hassard, and tile meeting separated.

The travelling agent of the Australian Mutual Provident Society (Mr. Thompson) fave a lecture, on June 22, at the I'arnell la.ll. The walls of the room were covered with diagrams, making the whole mysteries and advantages of life assurance plain to the dullest comprehension. There were tables exhibiting the differences between the risks of temperate and intemperate lives, in which the latter were shewn to involve OUO per cent, more risk than the former; tables exhibiting the respective mortalities of male and female lives at all ages ; tables exhibiting the capital of the society, its gradual growth, and the profits of insurance to policy-holders during various periods of life; tables, in fact, on every point of interest to insurers, or calculated to make life insurance intelligible. One of the most clear was a diagram shewing the actual result on a policy of £1000, in which the bonuses had been applied to a reduction of the premium. The net result was, that in twenty years, the policy-holder hail paid only Jl'tilO, the profits making up the balance of £1000, to which, at the next division of profits, a further bonus of £34 1 Is 6d was

added, making the gross profits in 25 years nearly £500; while the representatives of the assured would have been entitled to the original £1000 had he died at any timeduring the 25 years. The lecture was interspersed with amusing anecdotes, keeping the audience interested throughout. The chair was occupied by TV. H. Kissling, Esq., and the lecturer closed amid loud applanse. Mr. \V. L. liees gave a lecture oil tha 22nd of June, on the subject of " Modern Materialism, —Rev. J. T. Warlow Davies, M.A., in the chair. The proceedings commenced with the usual devotional exercises. Mr. Rees, upon commencing his address, was received with general applause. He said the question, " \Vhat is truth ?" had been asked in all ages. There was the troth which lay at the bottom of the investigation of material facts in their relation to each other. There was the truth of sense and observation, there were the trnths of the intellect and understanding, the truth of history, and the truth of the Bible. These truths bore testimony to each other, and illustrated each other by making more apparent the providence of a Divine Omnipotence. The lecturer concluded with some eloquent passages from Chevalier Bunsen's " God in History." A vote of thanks wa3 passed to the lecturer by acclamation, and the proceeding concluded with the benediction.

A German Club has been started in Auckland, having for its object the promotion of gooil fellowship amongst the Oerman residents. Mr. TCucholz was elected president, and Mr. <>. Von der Heyde, M.H. R., vicepresident, Mr. Schwartr.e treasurer, and Mr. Butsclikove secretary. A committee, consisting of Messrs. Bucholz, Von der Heyde, Diethelm, I. Alexander, and Schwartze, was ap2>ointed, with powerto add to their number, to prepare a code of rules and regulations. The subscription was fixed at 7s 6d per quarter, payable in advance.

A concert was given on June 24, in the High School, Symonds-street, by the young lady pupils of Mrs. Shayle George, the proceeds of which are to be applied to laying down a croquet-lawn in the play-ground, ana to obtaining other means for the out-door exercise of tho pupils. The cone ;rt, which was under the direction of Madame Moller, was given under the patronage of Sir George Grey, K.C.B. There was a very numerous attendance, the room being crowded before the concert commenced. The programme consisted of choice selections of vocal and instrumental music of a very pleasing character, aud several good readings. A grand vocal and instrumental concert was given in the Catholic Institute, Wel-lington-street, on June 28, and passed cfL° very successfully. The building was well filled, and the andience testified their approval of the different pieces, rendered at frequent intervals, by loud applause. The Hobson Band rendered several selections at intervals during the evening in a creditable manner. A very pleasant evening's amusement was brought to a close -with the National Anthem. Dancing was commenced at the conclusion of the entertainment and kept up with spirit till an early hour next morning.

A concert was given by the members of the Choral Society, in the Society's Hall, Sy-monds-street, on June 22. There was but a moderate attendance of performing members, but those present were acquainted with their parts, and the orchestra, though not large, was thoroughly efficient. Mr. Joseph Browne was the conductor, and acquitted himself with his well-known ability. The performance of"Acis and Galatea" comprised the first part of the programme. Miscellaneous selections concluded tho oonccrt.

The winter musical and literary entertainment of the Wesleyan Mutual Improvement Class was given in tho Pitt-street Schoolroom on Friday. The attendance, as upon former occasions, was very large, the room being filled, and in every other respect'the entertainment was successful. The chair was punctually taken by the Rev. A. Reid. The programme consisted of speeches, readings, and recitations. The choir performed several lively selections of music in an admirable manner. Tho National Anthem having been sung, the Rev. Chairman pronounced the benediction, and the assemblage dispersed.

On June IS that charming soprano vocalist, Miss Christian, gave her farewell concert in the Choral Hall (prior to her departure by the s.s. Cyphrenes for Australia), before a brilliant and fashionable assemblage. The concert was one of the most successful of the season—the Hall being tilled long before the hour of commencement, —and under the distinguished patronage of Sir George Grey, who was very warmly greeted by the audience on his entering the building. Mr. J. Browne acted as conductor. No lady vocalist that lias yet visited our province has been so deservedly popular with the music-loving public as Miss Christian ; and in leaving our shores she bears away with her the best wishes of all classes for her future prosperity and happiness.

The Thames Miners' Accident Relief Fund received, on lltli June, a benefitat the hands of the Thames Dramatic Club. The performances were good, and the audience enjoyed the entertainment, evidencing by the numerous attendance a determination to assist in the laudable objects contemplated by the fund. The new committee of management have fairly entered upon their duties successfully, and realised some £30 by the performance, all the actors giving their services, for which Captain Richards moved a vote of thanks at the close of the play, and which, of course, was unanimously carried.