NEW HEBRIDES MISSION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9269, 3 August 1893, Page 3

NEW HEBRIDES MISSION.

ANNUAL MEETING.

Tin-', annual meeting of the Auckland Ladies' New Hebrides Missionary Association was held at the Young Men's Christian Association Rooms yesterday. Mr. 8. C. Johnson presided. Mr. J. J. Ker read the annual report as follows : —

The first annual meeting of the Association was held on August .'ltd, 1892, when T. Peacock, F.sq., presided. There was a large attendance of ladies, and most of the ministers of the Auckland Presbytery were present. The report and balance-sheet for the year were submitted mid unanimously adopted. At the September meeting the election of oli'tee bearers for the ensuing year took place, and resulted in the reappointment of the same ladies. Meetings have been held monthly on the first Wednesday, excepting January. The members desire to tender their hearty thanks to the Young Women's Christian Association for their continued kindness in placing their rooms at the disposal of the ladies. The number of members has increased from 4!) to Cti), and the average attendance has been 24 at each meeting. In November a work committee was appointed to superintend the cuttingout of garments, and all the needlework done by the Association. Two letters and two journals have been received from Mrs. Watt, wife of the missionary at Tatina, and two replies have been sent, to her. One letter lias been received from Mrs. Lamb, wife of Dr. Lamb, missionary at A'nbiym, and three letters have been sent to her. It is one of the objects of the Association to maintain a native teacher, and in October i'li of the funds were voted (o be sent to the Rev. W. Watt, Tanna, for this purpose. At the same time the handsome donation of £1S was sent from Mis. Somervell to Dr. Lamb to support a native teacher to assist liim in his work for three years, A mission box, for which the ladies have been working for over a year, was packed and sent to Mrs. Watt in November. Through the kindness of Messrs. Mucky, Logan, Steeu, and Co., who supplied a packer, the box was forwarded to the wharf, and put on board the steamer far Sydney. The Union .Steamship Company carried it free of freight, and it. was insured for .i!."iU. A letter from Mrs. Watt, received in January, stated that the box had safely reached its destination, and that it was greatly appreciated. The ladies are now working at the meetings for a mission box, to be sent to Mrs. Lamb as soon as possible, and have given regular contributions in money. The Association desire to gratefully acknowledge the donations towards their funds from several ladies in the city and province, who are not able to attend their meetings. An extra meeting was held in April, to take steps for sending immediate relief to the missionaries, who had lost so much in the hurricane of March .>. The Association unanimously voted the sum of £15, the whole of their funds in baud, to be devoted to this object. The expenses towards the purchase of material for the mission box is still very light, owing to the continued handsome donations of Mrs. A. Clark, sen., the honorary president, and Messrs. A. Clark and Sons. A branch Association is being formed at Te Awainutu, under Mrs. Maodonald, and it is hoped the ladies will be encouraged by seeing their work prosper. The members feel that the meetings are very helpful in keeping up a warm interest in the New Hebrides Mission, and are also stimulating to themselves, as they experience the truth of the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, " It is more blessed to give than to receive."

The Rev. It. P. Macnicol, in an .able address, moved the adoption of the report, which was seconded by Mr. M. (dark, and agreed to. Addresses were also delivered by Mr. George Niccol and Rev. J. Hill.

The Balance - sheet, which was read, showed a credit balance of i"4 14s 7d. The collection in aid of the mission realised £2 12s 3d.

After the meeting refreshments were provided by the ladies, to which ample justice was done by those present.

The treasurer of the Women's Home, Farnell, begs to acknowledge the following sums received in July:— J. Matthews, 10s; Mrs. Baton, 10s: Mrs. Williams, ss; Mrs. Wigmore, 10s: Mrs. Cowie, £1; Mrs. Haderman, £2; Mrs. -Watting, lbs 9d ; also vegetable marrows from Mrs. Lush ; boots and shoes from Mrs. Yeoman ; parcel of babies' clothing from country friend; earthenware from Mr. J. L. Wilson, Queenstreet ; large piece of unbleached calico from Messrs. Savgood and Son, through Mr. Tewsley; parcel of clothing from Mrs. Wigmore. Any contributions, however small, in money, clothing, or household requisites will be thankfully received by members of the committee, Archdeacon Dudley, Rev. G. Mac.Murray, Mr. Walker, Mesdames Cowie, Kenderdine, Kinder, or by the matron, Miss O'Grady, May Cottage, Parnell, to whom orders for washing can be sent. The home is dependent on voluntary contributions, and the work of the inmates. There are at present, ten women and six infants in the home, and it is a great difficulty to meet necessary cxpcnscSi