PAPAKURA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4667, 28 October 1876, Page 6

PAPAKURA.

Tue soiree in aid of the building fund of the Anglican Church, Papakura Valley, took pluce in the Papakura Hall, on Thursday evening, and was a great success. The trays, on which were creature comforts to satisfy the appetite of the yeoman equally with the fastidious townsman, were provided by Mesdames Middleton, Sinclair, and Glover, from Papakura Valley; Mesdames Mellsop, Willis, and Smith, from Papakura ; and Mesdames Bnrnside and Smith, from Ardmore ; and "nothing was left undone by tlio presiding dames of the tea-table and theic fair assistants to satisfy the cravings of the inner man. Two hours having been occupied thus, the tables were removed, and the hall was arranged for l'art 2. The Hev. Mr. Hall then moved that, in the absence of Bishop Cowie, the Rev. John Selwyn take the chair.—Tho Rev. J. Selwyn, on taking the chair, said he had to assure them that it w&s with very great regret the Bishop had found himself nnahle to bo present that evening, and he had sent him there to make apology, for him. The fact was that the Rev. Mr. Hall had looked at the almanac to have the.moan, which was an essential element in a country gathering, bnt had no thought of its being the week before the opening of the Synod. His Lordship was occupied with the business of the Synod—had committees at hie house every night—and this was the reason he con Id not be present at this gathering. He 'had now to tell them what Mr.' Hallfs ambition was—it was that the new church- should be opened free from debt, and,; and though the large gathering before him represented a great many 2s 6d's, yet that amount would I not build the church. But do not ho discouraged, do not"'wait for the big subscriptions, the £10 and £5; look after the small pnes, the sixpences, and'they will mount op. Hβ might mention that last year the Wesloyan Mission raised £20,000 more than they had done any year before, and it was done by tho childreVi of the Sunday-school. Each 'scholar w;is given a book, and instructions to collect six halfpence a-week, and that was the result. He was in receipt of £22 10s ayear, collected by thd children in the school of the parish of which ho was a vicar at home. He epoke of'those things to encourage them, and he would not be his father's son if he did not take an interest in the continuance of his father's work. After some

furthw remirks mileulogy of the tadiej who had conw'from town to help theiinuaicjrt.por. tion of the. evening's programme, the rey* gentleman introduced the performers, ana the following pieces were goneJthrdrigbi' The names of the performers will supply the.best guarantee for the manner in whichjthe selections were : rendered:—Part' Ist, dttet,. piano, "Wedding March,".Miss 'J. Maunsell and Mise Kempthorne; duet 'vocal, " Pulaski'e Banner," Misses Maunsell; song,' "Murmur of the Shell," Mr. Shanaghan; songi ■ "She wore a Wreath of Rosea," Miae J. Maunsell; song, "Tobias and Biancas," Mr. Wyhyard. Part 2nd: Duet piano, German Waltz, Miss Kempthorne and Miss J. Maunsell; song, "Three Fishers," Miss A. Maunsell; duet vocal, " Swiftly o'er the Waters," Miss Kempthorne and Miss A. Maunsell; song,, ".Return of the "Wanderer," Mr. Wynyard; song, " Major Cayenne Pepper," Mr. Phillips.—The Rev.' Mr. Hall moved a vote of thanks to the ladies and all who had helped to make the soiree a success, and the Anthem brought Part 2 to a close.—The Hall was then closed, and dancing was kept up with great spirit until si;-»s of •weariness, and the advanced perioH of the morning warned the dancers that it was time to be going, and thus ended without a. hitch a most enjoyable evening. It is expected that the proceeds of the soiree will be about £40. The preparations for the concert to mark the completion of the public school-room for Papakura are well advanced, and, as considerable interest is being taken in the matter by the settlers, the gathering of Friday next will possibly be one of the largest—if not the largest, that has been held in Papakura.

The first cricket-match of the season was played on Saturday at Papakura, between two elevens—the Veterans and Juveniles — and resulted, much to the surprise of the onlookers, in a victory for the Juveniles. The totals made were:—Veterans, first innings, 66; Juveniles, 50. Veterans, second innings, 40; Juveniles, 63; the Juveniles winning by 7 runs. The Juveniles will have to look to their laurels, as the Veterans claim to have their revenge, and intend to put forth all their power in the next contest.