YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION CONVERSAZIONE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIII, Issue 7788, 6 November 1886, Page 5

YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION CONVERSAZIONE.

A most attractive conversazione in aid of the building fund was held in the Young Men's Christian Association, and was an unqualified success in every respect, and creditable to all concerned. There were upwards of 1500 people present, and as the rooms were so crowded that many were unable to notice some of the various attractive items on exhibition, th? committee have deoided to open again to day from five to half-past nine p.m., when the charge for admission will be a shilling. In visiting the various rooms we noticed the secretary s room, occupied by , Mr. ' Shackelford, of Queen-street, where an exhibition was given showing the various stages of hat manufacture, and a considerable sum was added to the building fund by a charge of one shilling each to those gentlemen who had their hats vellumed. Passing on, we come to the social room, which is occupied entirely by photographs and paintings lent by Mr. R. H. Bartlett, amongst the most prominent being a life-size painting of Captain Cook, which is over the mantelpieae, and there are also good likenesses of such celebrities as Judge Mailing and Bishop Selwyn. Through the kindness of Mr. F. Larkins, who lent a carte-de-visite for the purpose, Mr. Bartlett was enabled to exhibit a large likeness of Geo. Williams, the founder of Young Men's. Christian Associations, and this attracted considerable attention. Along the centre of the room were some excellent stereoscopes and a large number of views lent by Mr. J. L. Wilson, Mr. T. Buddie, and Mr. W. C. W. McDowell. The next room, the readingroom, was devoted to curios, the principal collections being sent by Mr. Vogan, Dr. Bodle, Mr. W. S. Wilson, and Mr. C. 0. Davis. Microscopes were lent by Dr. Pnrchas and Mr. R. Arthur, the latter also supplying a case of old coins and another of New England birds. Messrs. W. Mc Arthur and Co. lent specimens of I'oulton ware, and Japanese vases and pictures, Miss Kenderdine a considerable number of oil paintings, and Mr. T. Spurgeon specimens of splash work and wood engraving. Mr. L. R. Steele, R.A., provided items of conj siderable interest, amongst which were I Spanish needle work and North American I curios, an etching by Sir Edwin Landseer, and a book of autographs. Two handsome oil paintings were supplied by Mr. Atkinson, a young artist lately from England. Passing upstairs the visitor comeß to a large hall con-, taining cork-making appliances and work, specimens of glass ware, a wood-turning lathe, and a knitting-machine lent by Messrs. DuttoD, Cook and Son, Holroyde, and A. Clark and Sons. In this room refreshment* are also supplied by the ladies free of 00-t to the association. A considerable amount was taken at this very necessary and attractive stall. In the large hall Mr. Culpan, with an excellent chorus, and Rev. J. S. 1J ill and Mr. Josiah Martin with limelight views, added greatly t<) the profit and pleasure of the entertainment. Mr. Murray also attended with a stylograph, and supplied programmes of the proceedings during the evening, and Messrs. Hoffman and Son and T. Webbe lent the pianos which were in use. The warm thanks of the committee are due to the large number of ladies who deoorated the whole building with beautiful flowers.

On acoount of the conversazione being continued in the Young Men's Christian Association now building the usual Saturday night meeting will not be held. A meeting for special prayer, preparatory to the Rev. H. Langley's mission, will .be held in the lecture hall on Monday night at half-past seven.