ENTERTAINMENTS AND MEETINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11198, 19 October 1899, Page 6

ENTERTAINMENTS AND MEETINGS.

AUCKLAND HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

A committee meeting of the Auckland Horticultural Society was held on Tuesday evening, at the Criterion Restaurant. There were present: Messrs. Hosking (chairman), Handley, Harvey, Collins, Marriner, Jacka, Wright, Mrs. McKean, and the secretary (Mr. Wm. Satcliell). The action of the secretary in engaging the Choral Hall for the. flower show on November 24 and 25 was confirmed. The secretary announced that a communication had been received from the Department of Agriculture, renewing the Government offer of prizes of £5 5s for apples packed for export. A similar offer was also received from Mr. Bavins,' on behalf of the Auckland Freezing Company. After considerable discussion, it was resolved, "That a letter of acknowledgment and thanks be sent to Mr. Bevins, and that the prizes offered by the Auckland Freezing Company be reserved for competition among the growers whose exhibits went astray last year." The secretary reported that Mr. Bevins was willing that this should be done. It was understood that no further action would be taken by the exhibitors or the society with regard to the lost exhibits. Judges and stewards were elected for the November show. With regard to the mysterious disappearance of the nine cases of apples exhibited at the Auokland Horticultural Society's autumn show, and which wore subsequently to have been stored at the Freezing Works for three months, tho secretary reported that all efforts to trace the fruit have failed. Courteous assistance was rendered by Mr. Buckleton (Bank of Now Zealand) and Mr. Bevins, present manager of the Auckland Freezing Company, and an exhaustive inquiry was held in the manager's room at tho Freezing Works. The proceedings were marked by a great deal of conflicting testimony, and nothing definito was elicited. IVY SOCIAL CLUB BALL. The season of tho Ivy Social Club ivas fittingly terminated with a plain and fancy dress ball at St. George's Hall, Newton, last evening, when there were between 60 and 70 couples present. . Tho interior of tho building was tastefully decorated with greenery, while suspended from the ceiling were strings of Chinese lanterns, with hero and there a Japanese umbrella. An enjoyable dance programme of 18 numbers, exclusive of extras, was gone through, dancing being kept up with great zest to the excellent musio of the Druid's Band until two a.m. An adjournment was made to supper shortly after eleven o'clock, the catering being in the hands of Mr. R. Barber. Messrs. J. Beuth and B. Noble proved most efficient M.C.'s, and great credit is due the lion, secretary (Mr. B. Wright), and the committee, consisting of Messrs. W. Wright, W. Davidson, J. Rowe, R. Noble, and J. Beuth. for the completeness of tho arrangements and conduct of the social. CONCERT AT COSTLEY HOME. A concert to the inmates of Coslley Homo was given last night by the members of the Newmarket Wcsleyan Christian Endeavour Society. Every item of a well-varied programme of vocal and instrumental music was given in suoh a manner as to evoke loud applause from the largo assemblage of old people present. The Rev. J. T. Pinfold presided. At the close a coffee, cake, and fruit supper was provided, there being an abundance of good things, which was done ample justice to. The managor of the Homo, on behalf of tho inmates, proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the chairman and tho entertainers for their generosity and thoughtfulness, which was responded to in a most enthusiastic manner. FRANKLIN ROAD CHURCH SOIREE. Tho anniversary soiree of the Franklin Road Primitive Methodist Church took place last evening. The tea tables were presided over by the ladies of the congregation. At the after public meeting, Mr. Ceo. Fowlds (chairman of the Congregational Union of New Zealand) m-osided. Addresses were delivered by the Revs. La.veock and Buchanan. The various speeches were of a congratulatory character on tho progress being made.

AUCKLAND SUNDAY-SCIIOOL UNION.

Oxe of the series of meetings connected with the anniversary of the Auckland Sundayschool Union look place last evening in the Pitt-street Wesleyan Methodist Church. There was a fair attendance. Aftor devotional exercises the Right Rev. D. J. Steele, M.A. (Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand), delivered an address to teachers and parents. He based his discourse on Proverbs xxii. 6, " Train up a child in the way ho should go, and when lie is old ho will not depart from it." The preacher spoko ol the Sunday-school teacher's mission, its power, usefulness, and impelling force. As wo look into the future, and think what this land will be, a great desire springs up in our hearts that New Zealand may prosper —that a strong, sturdy, worthy race may grow up and flourish here; a race worthy of our Fatherland, worthy of our fathers, and of the great race from which we sprung: and as wo observe the dangers which beset our youth in this new land—the tendency to neglect God's Word and God's house— grow up ignorant of the Bible, of religious truth— of country speaks to the heart, and says, for the sake of our country, for the sake of our children, in the hope of a fair and prosperous future, let us try and mould the young mind to store the memory with wholesome truths, to elevate the motives and the purposes, and to purify the heart. A young people growing up without a knowledge of God is a menace to true civilisation, and is a people, moreover, without character and without stability. The preacher closed with a reference to parental control of the home, and the children within it, to parental duty, and the necessity for filial piety and obedience, if the home were to bo a centre of happiness and usefulness. A united communion look place after the address, the Rev. W. L. Salter presiding, and was assisted by the Revs. D. J. Steele, W. J. Williams, R. F. Macnicol, and Drake (Thames). Mr. George Fowlds had issued a number of invitations for a garden party at his residence, Mount Albert, but the inclemency of the weather prevented the function being carried out. Instead, ho entertained a number of delegates at the social room of the Y.M.C.A. He spoke el the advantages of such institutions as tho'Sunday-school Union. Mr. S. H. Matthews (president), and Mr. Haselden (secretary of the union), responded, and on behalf of the guests thanked Mr. Fowlds foi his hospitality. The closing meeting of the scries will tike place this evening, when there will be a teachers' tea in the Tabernacle schoolroom. The annual meeting will take place in the Tabernacle, at the close of the tea, when the Rev. Hugh Kelly, M.A. (a vice-president of the union) will preside, and addresses will be delivered by tlm Revs. A. Dewdney (Thames) and Day. Then will follow the presentation of prizes and certificates to the successful recipients in the various schools, annual reports, election of officers, etc. The floor of the church will be reserved for members of the union, who are the ministers, officers, and teachers of schools affiliated to the union. The gallery will be available for parents of children attending the schools, together with the children and their friends.