MEETINGS AND AMUSEMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XII, Issue 4375, 20 November 1875, Page 2

MEETINGS AND AMUSEMENTS.

The annual meeting of the Auckland Rifle Association took place on Nov. 5, in the rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association, Wellesley - street. Captain Morrow was voted to the chair. The'usual annual election of officers then took place, when the following gentlemen, -were elected : —President, J. C Firth, Esq.; vicepresidents, Chas. Stone and H. Brett; secretaries,- Lieuts. Kitchen and Kelly; treasurer, Lieut. Payne ; auditors, Messrs. T. Cooper and Hay; committee, Captains Morrow, Isaacs, Mowbray, and Dignan, Lieutenant Skinner, and Messrs. Darlington, Macdonald, W. Thome, Soall, and Kohn. The annual tea meeting in connection with the Edwardes-street Primitive Methodist Sunday-school took place on Ist Nov. It was very well attended ; between three and four hundred persons sat down to tea, which as usual had been well and abundantly provided. The public meeting was held in the adjoining chapel. Mr. T. H. Smith took the chair, and the meeting having been opened with singing and prayer* the chairman delivered a short address. The report was read by the secretary, and shewed that during the past year there had been a very fair attendance of scholars. The minimum attendance had been 16, and the maximum 113 scholars. Large additions had been made to the library, which now contains 474 volumes. The sum of £35 had been expended in alterations and additions which it had been necessary to make to the school-room. Of the staff of teachers, two had retired, and others .were wanted to fill their vacancies. The Treasurer's statement was read by Mr. D. G oldie. The receipts for the year were £131 lis, and the expenditure £131 8s lid ; the balance in hand being 2s id. The Rev. Mr. Harris addressed the meeting upon the subject, " Knowledge is Power. Mr. George Hemus re.-delivered his speech upon the " Importance of Time," and the Rev. Mr. Williams and other gentlemen also addressed the meeting.

The Protestant Alliance Society (Thames (Goldfields) held their second anniversary on Tuesday, the 9th November—the Eev. James Hill presided. There was a great attendance, and it was a most successful meeting, with singing, recitations, and speeches. In the course of the speeches it was shewn that the Society was flourishing, having expended £75 in payment to sick members, and it still had £350 in hand. The present number of members.was 142. A tea-meeting in the interests of the Wesleyan Home Mission was held at Onehunga on Wednesday evening. About 100 guests sat down at first. There was a later accession of numbers. The public meeting began at 7.30. Mr. Watkin took the chair. The Eev. J. Crump, in hia speech, expounded the objects of the fund, and gave some happy reminiscences of labour in the early days of the circuit. Revs. Hoani Waiti and Wiremu Patene, Maori ministers, spoke of their work in Kaipara and Eaglan circuits. Eev. W. Eowse, of Hokianga, was interpreter. Rev. W. G. Thomas, o£ Wangaroa, spoke of God's work in nature and grace. The Eev. E. S. Bunn moved a vote of general thanks to helpers of all kinds, and especially to the choir of the Otahuhu Wesleyan Church, who rendered effectively some pieces from Sankey's selection. A collection of £2 9s 3d was taken. A meeting of St. Andrew's Society was held on Nov. 5, at the office of Mr. Brock, Wynd-ham-street, Mr. James George, president, in the chair. The minutes of the previous meeting having been read and approved of, Mr. Bell proposed, and Mr. Wright seconded, that Mr. George Fraser be treasurer in the place of the late Mr. Eattray, deceased. Mr. Fraser moved, and Mr. Brock seconded, that it in no longer desirable to continue the St. Andrew's Society. It was agreed that the balance of the money in the bank, amounting to £80 5s Sd, be divided into two equal parts, and that ono-half be given to the improvement of the Presbyterian burying ground and ono-half be applied to assist deserving poor,—the latter half to be placed in the hands of Messrs. Fraser, George, and Brock, as trustees, to be disbursed at their pleasure. The band of the German ship of war Gazelle gave a concert on Cth November, in aid of the various local charities. The large hall in Lome-street, although not crowded, for such an occasion, was, nevertheless, numerously attended. The windows of the hall were handsomely draped with the German, English, and American ensigns. The platform was similarly decorated, the drapery being festooned with considerable taste. The Gazelles deserve the thanks of the public for their thoughtfuluess in respect of the local charities. During the intervals Horr Klein and Grossman played on the zither, an instrument novel in this country, but well-known in Germany. The lower notes of the instrument are extremely sweet. After defraying all expenses the sum of £15 10s. remained, which was distributed among the city charities. The members of the St. James's Literary Association of young men entertained their friends with a musical and literary entertainment, at the Albert-street 11 all, on the 11th November. They were assisted in the musical portion of the programme by the choir of St. James's Church, and by Mrs. Woolley, who not only obligingly accompanied the singers, but performed a pianoforte solo in her well-known excellent style. The chair was occupied by the Eev. E. F. Macniccol. A varied programme of readings, recitations, and songs was gone through, the audience warmly applauding the efforts of the amateurs. Among the most noticeable were two recitations, "The Maniac" aud Hood's " The Lost Breeches," by Mr. A. McCulsky ; "Angels ever bright and fair" and "Jessie's Dream," by Mrs. Mitchell; a comic song, " I should like to," by Mr. J. McCoskie ; and a duet, " Hearts and Homes," by Mrs. Mitchell and a lady amateur. Mr. T. Hanna also created great amusement by reading Mark Twain's description of married life as experienced by Brighara Young. The choir, conducted by Mr. Mitchell, sang three choruses, " Great Bashaw" (Mozart), "The Hardy Norseman," aud Balfe's well-known "Gipsy Chorus." The performance concluded with " Auld Lang Syne." During the interval refreshments were provided, and seemed to be well appreciated. The hall was filled to the utmost, several perspns being unable to find Mats. Mr. W. L. Eces, according to announcement, delivered his lecture on lGth Nov., upon the question, "Is the British Nation a portion of the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel ?" On the motion of Mr. Batger, Captain Daldy was called to the chair. The lecture occupied two hours in delivery, on the affirmative side of the question,—aud Mr. Eees concluded his lecture by an eloquent peroration, in which he enlarged upon the importance of giving to the subject a patient, a deliberate, and dispassionate attention.— Mr. Farnall moved a vote of thanks to the lecturer, which was seconded by the Eev. Warlow Davies, and carried with acclamation.

„ A grand Volunteer'concert took place on TS'byl''9; at the Choral Hall, to celebrate the seventeenth/ anniversary of the Auckland Volunteers," and' -which was under the patronage of Major Gordon,'officers and members the, district. -There was .a very fair attendance on tbe'cccasion, and a number of the officers and belonging to the various Rifle Corps were, present in.iuiiform.__Tjhe. programme was of ~ a _ ~very varied~character:"God Save the Queen," by the Artillery and Engineer Bands, brought a very agreeable entertainment.rto a -close. ; t The fourth anniversary of the Hobson Band .was celebrated in the Catholic Institute, Wellington-street, on Nov. 9, by : a grand dramatic and negro entertainment, given by the Hobson Band Minstrels, assisted by Miss Amy Thornton. The entertainment was pretty fairly attended, and the different performers each received a fair meed of applause. The quadrille party to the "Gazelles" on Bth November, was a greae success, and, indeed, no trouble had been'spared to render the welcome to the foreign guests as hearty as possible. Forty-one officers and petty officers from the vessel were present, and the party altogether numbered about 400. Dancing was commenced at 9 o'clock, and was kept up with spirit till about 11, when a short adjournment was made for supper. Mr. Dornwell made a most efficient M.C., and the band-requires no comment. Altogether, Auckland will be imprinted on the minds of the " Gazelles" in a very pleasant manner. •On Saturday forenoon (the 6th November) the captain, of the Gazelle, Captain Von Schleinitz, and a number of officers belonging to the vessel, visited the Waiwera. They were much pleased with the waters and the baths. In the evening a ball was got up in their honor by the visitors to the Hot Springs, which was a most enjoyable affair. On the following day, the party : went in the Bteam-launch up the Puhoi river to the German Settlement, where they were received by about a' hundred settlers, who were much gratified at the visit from their countrymen. Before leaving, one of the settlers made a speech in German, welcoming the captain and officers. Captain Schleinitz made a suitable reply. The party then visited the settlement of Te Hemare, where they were muchamused at observing " ye manners and customs" of the aboriginals. On returning to the "Waiwera, some of the officers made a collection of the ferns, ascertaining the native names. They then left for Auckland.

A farewell ball was given on Nov. 10, in. the Choral Hall by the citizens of Auckland to Baron von Schleinitz (Captain) and the officers of the German ship-of-war Gazelle upon the eve of their departure from this city. The notice was short, and the organisation of the affair was somewhat hurried; nevertheless the arrangements were very complete and satisfactory. The large hall was draped with admirable taste, the glare of the bright and positive colours being relieved by floral and other decorations, the distribution of which must have exercised considerable ingenuity. The committee comprised the following names : —E. L. Bucholz, Ezq.; G. M. O'Eorke, M.G.A. ; Hon. Dr. Pollen; F. Whitaker, Esq. ; Dr. Campbell; A. Heather, Esq. ; S. Morrin, Esq. ; W. H. Kissling, Esq. ; L. D. Nathan, Esq. ; T. Henderson, Esq. ; D. B. Cruickshank, Esq. ; A. Isaacs, Esq. ; Dr. Hartman; A. H. Diethelm, Esq. ; F. Kummer, Esq. ; H. Kohn, Esq. The committee certainly performed the selfimposed duties of the office very efficiently. The dancing commenced at 9 o'clock, and at 10 there were upwards, of a hundred couples present. Refreshments were provided in the northern side-room. A little before midnight supper was served in the south sideroom. About 200 ladies and gentlemen sat down to the tables.. Mr. E. L. Bucholz, German Consul, occupied the chair. The position of honor was given to Baron von Schleinitz, the other officers being distributed at the several tables. After the more formal toasts had been duly honoured, the chairman said: The last toast upon my list is one which I am sure we will all delight to honor. I hope you will give me credit for not having kept you very long with the toasts I have had to give. I will be brief on this occasion, as upon the last, and give you " Our Guests." (Loud cheers.) Baron von Schleinitz, upon rising to respond, was received with renewed cheering. He said : I have to thank you very much, ladies and gentlemen, for the manner in which you have received the toast. Fortune, I am very sorry to say, has not allowed us to stay very long hero; but during the short time we have been here we have been received everywhere so kindly—so much generous and genuine hospitality has been shewn to us, that I can assure you we would only be too happy, if circumstances would allow us, to make our stay longer,—aye, even two or three times as long. (Cheers.) The hospitality shewn to us has been crowned to-day by this splendid entertainment. I have only to assure you again that we leave this fine country —this most interesting colony—with, a vivid remembrance of what we have seesi and heard, and a sense of your kindness. We will never forget the pleasant days we have passed here. With these feelings I now ask the officers of the Gazelle to drink " The Health of the Citizens of Auckland—our kind Hosts." The officers rose and drank the toast with cheers. Mr. Whitaker, in obedience to loud calls, responded on behalf of tho citizens of Auckland.