MEETINGS AND AMUSEMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 4900, 31 July 1877, Page 2

MEETINGS AND AMUSEMENTS.

The half-yearly general meeting of the Uniou Steam, Moulding, Sasli and Door Co., was held on July 23, at the oiliec of Mr. T. L. White, Insurance Buildings. The affairs of the company were shown to be in a very satiefactory condition, and a dividend at die rate of 20 per cent, per annum, and a bonus equal to 5 per cent, per annum declared. Mr. Hughes was unanimously re-i-lc'ted director, and Mr. Buchanan auditor for tho ensuing twelve months. A meeting of shipowners of this port was held on the. IOUi July, at the Wait.omaU Hotel, for the [impose of forming an association for their mutual protection. Captain Anderson was duly nominated to (lie chair, and Mr. Xs'iccol consented to act as secretary. The Chairman stated that the object of thi! conveners was to enable the .shipowners of the port to act iu unison with each other in bringing before the General Government the excessive imposts under which they laboured. By the formation of ,v Shipowners' Association they would be able to bring an iiillueucu to bear that was beyond the power of a single individual. The meeting, however, was only a preliminary one, called for the purpose of passing a resolution which lie would lay before them. A variety of matters would engage their attention, such :it pilotage, light duties, port charges, insurance, the relation between masters aud men, &o. The meeting had a long conversation on these subjects, each of which would be discussed at subsequent meetings. Ga.ptD.ildy moved, and Mr. Harris secouded the following resolution, which was passed, and tlie gentlemen then dispersed: "That it is desirable to form a Shipowners' Association for the protection of the shipping interests ol the port, and that a committee be appoiuted to draw up rules for the guidance of the Association, to be submitted to a future meeting, such committed to consist of C.iptaiii.s MoKenzie, And-.'rson, Daldy, und Mr. C. A. Harris." The annual meting of subscribers to the Auckland Dispensary w;n held on "JOth July, in the dispensary of Mr. Ball, chemist, (,'uccn-stret-t. Mr. Linabury occupied tho chair. The preliminary budness having been satisfactorily disuosed of, tho secretary, Mr. 11. B. Shalders, read the report. The annual medical rcpoit for the year eiidiug tlie 30th June, 1577, was then r\d by Dr. Hooper. It stated -" There li.'.-i been a diminution iu sickness generally, as compared with former years, also an Tho unilaiuilly wet .summer may probably account for this in a great measure, the heavy rains clearing away organic mutter

which ordinarily in the summer lies festering in the hot bud, and thus preventing diseases of a zymotic character which are too prevalent in our hot weather. Tho total number of now cases admitted is 070; the number of prescriptions dispensed 3110.'' The meeting then proceeded with the eliv.tion of olb'eers for tho ensuing year, the result being as follows : President, his Worship the Mayor ; treasurer, Mr. Coupland ; secretary, Mr. K. I! Shalderj ; committee, Mitsrn. r.iiriburv, O. OiiicksliMiil:, Wise man, K.-.ttray, .V.eMasters, Bennett, Waters, I'. 1.. i'riine. Swamon, Larkius, Mason, Arthur, mid ' Major. This being all the br.-iinfiSH, votes of thanks wore accorded to Ihe secretary and treasurer for their past labours in eoiiiKcti'i.i with the Dispensary, and the meeting dissolved. A meeting of tho committee previously appointed at'l he Thamp" in reference to the Thames Valley Kailv.ay, was held at Grahamstown on the IGth of July. Dr. Kil,'our occupied the chair. It wan stated that an offer had been made by Mr. T. Murrin to construct the lino, provided a guarantee of •I.J per cent, on the the outlay be secured, but that owing to Mr. Morriu's absence from Auckland the offer had not been doiiiiitcly given in writing. After a lengthened discirnion, during which H was stated that the Government had 150,000 acres of land in the Thames district, it waa resolved "That it l>o an instruction to the sub-committee; to draw up a memorial to the Government cm--1 ndying all the statistics possible, with a request that tho scheme be put on the list of works ta ho done this session." Dr. Iviliroiir said they ought now to settle the length of the line. If it were taken from the bend ■>f the navigation there would be but 2-t miles to const -rucfc. Mr. Kowe Sf.id his iV.-line was decidedly iu favour of asking for a I'm.: from the Thames to the Waikatn — Hl'mr Cambridge or Hamilton—">7 miles. Mr. W. J. Speight moved, "That it bo an instruction to tho sub committee to ask that tho line be constructed from Grahamstown to Waikato." Carried. Mr. Brodie said it would bo well if it were ascertained what private owners would do. Mr. itowe proposed, "Tliat the sub commit tec consist of Dr. Kilgour, Messrs. Dean, Spei'dit. W. Davies A. Porter, L. KhreufrieiC A. Hrodio, and W. Souter." Mr. MeCnllough, seconded the. motion, which was carried. It was then resolved that the submittee be further instructed to bring up their report, with a draft of memorial, at a moctim: to be held on a futnro date.

Mr. "J. C. Firth delivered a lecture on " Luck," on the 27th July, in the hall of the Young Men's Christian Association, before a large assemblage. Mr. F. Larkins occupied tho chair. A vote of thauks was passed to tho lecturer by acclamation. The .Vewton East School, the lirat built under the auspices of trio Board of Education, waa formally opened by the Chairman of the Board, Mr. H. H. Lusk, on the sth July. The Rev. Mr. Dudloy and the Rev. A G. Purchas also addressed the meeting. Tho concert portion of the entertainment was very agreeable. It was opened by a by a glee by the choir, "Can a bird help singing?' , Mr. Henderson following with a bass song, " Thus goes the world around." Mrs. Mitchell then sang that beautiful air, " King 00, Sweet Angi-lus," with crrcat feelini: and expression, and"was deservedly applauded, for this was in f.ict the gem of the evening's entertain inenc. The choir also sang the chorus,

".n;, , , the Moonlight Be.iras," "The Warsong of the Druids," and tho "Huntsman's Chorus" from " Dor Frk'sehutz." A duet, the "Elfin Call," by the Misses Purchas, war, sung very sweetly, and, in reply to an i > ii'-orr, one of the ladies sang " Pretty Fairy." Mrs. Sue!! played two piano duets, the second being in response to a persistent i-m-orr. Mr. Ciliiliau sanrf "Old Friend John/' and Mlrf. Mitchell the "Queen's letter," in her usual finished manner, aud with all her customary expression.

The third of the series of entertainments arranged by the officebearers of the; North Shore Wesleyan Church, with the object of n.iMng funds to .1.-fray the cost of tho new ..n.;.-ui-harir.onium, was held on the 4th of July. It .if umed the form of a miscellaneous I'.in'c'CTfc, w:'.s well attended, and passed off in a highly .".grc-eablft manner. Mr. Wiiiiam Atkin acted as" chairman. During the evenin:' vocal duets were given by Mr. and Miss Harbutt, Mr. Philcnx and Mrs. Taylor, and Messrs. Howden and Philcox". Instrumental selections were executed id first class style by Messrs. Lambert, Howden, and Birtley ; and ponys were suu;; by Miss Harbutt, Messrs. Spry. Martin, Taylor, and Harbutt. On the motion of Mr. Cox, seconded by Mr. I'Ms-on, a vote of thanks was accorded by acclamation to tho ladies and gentlemen who had eiven their services that evening.

A musienl :vvl literary entertainment was held on the 27th of July, in the Franklin Road Primitive Methodist School-room, the proceeds being in ai lof tho trust fund. The nf'ondanee was rather sparse, a fact, however, which in no '.vise appeared to militate against th : success of tho entertainment.

The progrrinnp. was divided into t*vo perlinii?, sacred aud Selections ot mii:>ic were sung by the choir, speeches were d-livered by several gentlemen, while a few readings were interspersed, and gave variety to the proceedings. Mr. David Goldie I'liiciated' as chairman, while Mr. Charles Pjirker presided at the harmonium, and Mr. Kooth acted as leader of the choir. The evening was ploasruiily spent by the .indi-

A musical and liter.irv entertainment in aid ol' tho funds of the Devonport Literary Club, was held on the ] 1 tli July, in the Dovon-p-irt Hall. It was largely attended both by residents of the Xorth Shore and visitors fr.im .Auckland. It passed oIT with much C'-lal. The chair was occupied by the Rev. Mr. Bates, who delivered a brief but pleasant opening speech. A highly interesting pro•'rainmc \ras then gone through, songs being given by Miss Dmler and Messrs. Gradwell, Harding, F.dmistou. Nairn; glees by the Orpheus Glee Club No. 2 : duets by Messrs. l.HidcT and Moylcs, and Messrs. Spry and ITanneken ; an overture on the pianoforte by Mr. T. Turrell, jun. ; a reaitatior. by Mr. Alison, and a stumpj oration, "Our Girls," by .Mr. Harry Nieco!. This last item wan much appreciated. The. speech bristled with local hits, and was givon iu tho orthodox manner, viz., with umbrella acoompaninivnt. The entertainment was brought to a close shortly after 10 o'clock by the representation of a new farce. Tho room having bren cleared, dancing was commenced, and kept up with vigour till midnight. Mr. Turrell, jun., presided at the pianoforte during tho evening, and fulfilled his duties in an etlic'l'ut. manner. The choirs of St. .Matthew's and St. Thomas's Churches gave n musical entort-iin-mont on tho 2:>rd of .Tuly, at the .Mission Church, Uninn-stroet. assisted by other ladies ami gentlemen. 'I'he Kev. If. S. llnssard occupied the chair. The church was erowde.l, chielly by adulU. The; following programme was submitted, and executed generally with suc-cess-—Pianoforte solo by Air. Jones; rcadin.,-, "The Freeman's Bay llaby," by Mr. Mhickman ; soug, by Miss A roll : "My Old [■Yieud John," by Mr. Henderson; glee, by the. Orpheus Glee Club No. 1 ; " March of the Men of HnrlecV by St. Matthew'.) Choir ; " Ring on, sweet AngeliiH," by Miss Collins; reading, "The Execution" (liyioldsby), by Mr. s r. L. White: "Nil Desperandum," by Mr. Folder: "The merry, merry sunshine," by Mr. "lVobb's Choir; also, '"Gathering llowers," and "See our oars ;" pianoforte solo, by a lady ; " A Caudle Lecture." (.lerrold), by Mr. Blackman; "The Gipsy .Maid," duet, by Miss Collins and Mr. 'Forder ; and "Tramp, tramp," by the latter. The whole concluded with the National \nthom.

A. pl.-.viint; .-nti-rtamment took place at". tlio Lunatic Asylum on Friday tlm 27th .Inly, :;t which the minstrels of the in';i.itutio:i ton!; tho prominent part, and s!.,:n- thai "iiH-'i tin-;:- last public r.pp-ara.-ee tlit-y have mate coni-iderablo progress. U'u have not siv.lv to [iaiticiilai-i.se, 1.-ir, can say that eiu-h .lid well, and choir sonys an.l choruses were well liked l.y V.ie company. Mr. iVascr (:•. -entleman of the dUriel) [ilayed on Ihu much to the ploasuro of many o ; those present. Mr. Fainveathe.- and Mr. Tilly gavo a soiij; and ilauce, and wero l"U.Uy'eneorc«l. The patients then partook of refreshment, and a fow dances brought the entertainment to a elose. <>n the 19th of July, Mr. an.l Mrs. J. M. (J!:il'k ijave ;; hall to"a imu-.bor of our eiti-x.-.\i at their rcii.U nee, Ueuiuera. The ball, ro.iju was erect', d on :•. p ■ition of tile cr.ujuet 1-. ■.•.-,:, au.i c.iveied ovor (villi cnrrugatcit i: hi. The jiut'sts numl)oiTd liundvods, and i niDSfc ciij..y.-.lilo iii"ht was .spent. Uoth Mr. ainl Mrs. Clark U-ave shortly for Eiuv.po. ■an.l the. bull was eivi'ii aa a kindly frtrotv.-- , ,! to a iiumbor of their liitiuU. We wish tbxia

bolh a pleasant home voyage ami a speedy return to the colony. 'I'liuro are very many poor persons who will greatly regret the ai)M-ilou of Mrs. ClarU, as we know that duriii" her residence n<. 0110 has bceu more considerate or kinder t'j a nmiibcr of poor dc.-erving persons. There was an unusually large attendance ~f the Auckland Skating Club an:l other fri.-ud.i at Ch'.ral 11--J1 on 25Ui July, lie oc-asion was a special on-, vi/ , a rrcseiltati..n to Mrs. J. M. l"'larU. on the occasion, nf !.»•■ leaving the colony K>r Ku-I'iw. A )>r.-.-.s !>:snd pk-yd a MiitaM,- accompaniment of marches. When order v.-as cMI-d :.rr. M:K--hnio read a highly complimentary addrcsa on behalf of the 01-.b' to Mrs. Clark on h-r departure for Knropn, t>. wi.ieh Mr?., Clark suitably rei.lied. Mrs. Whifak.r, the president ot tli'>-c:ub, th.;n pr<-!--. ! t. , d tin; <Wo ration -a ii.-i-.-dsoinc gold bracelet set with a coronet of ■I'amoii'U, ami tlio monogram of thy recipient scrolled with diamonds. Loud cheers w.T.: then μ-iven. when the proceedings and the meeting' ireto brought to a close. A dinner was given to Captain Ilicliards, late manager of the Piako Gold Mining . Comp-inv, at Krahamstown, on Saturday, the 14th July, previous to liie leaving for Wellington. .Mr. J. K Mae lonald occupied the chair. Upwards of fifty person-, attended to d<i honour to their guest. There v.M.-i a unanimous expression ot gooil will and regret at his leaving. The cnpt-iiu, in replying, sail he regretted having, a.H lie had made many friends, and was attached to Ukui a.-id the pla-.-e. Towards his brother mine-managers he fi.H deeply. In no place had he experienced such uniform kindness and a==i-tancc-. lie trusted to return to the Tha-.u.S and depr-rled with friendly feeling t'« .'.ll. If he had hurt anybody's feelings atany time ho was sorry and would make reparation.