AUCKLAND SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11199, 20 October 1899, Page 6

AUCKLAND SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION.

ANNUAL MEETING.

| The annual meeting of tlio Auckland Sun- ! day-school Union took place last evening in ! the Tabernacle, a teachers' tea having token ' place previously in the schoolroom, at which a goodly number sat down. At the public mooting in the Tabernaclo the Rev. Hugh Kelly, M.A., presided. There was a large attendance. Among tho olergy on the platform wero tho Revs. Joseph Clark A. H. Collins, J. T. Pinfold, W. Day, W. L. Salter, W. J. Williams, Drake (Thames), and a number of officers of tho union. Among the apologies were those from the Rev. Mr. Dewdney, of Thames, Canon Calder (owing to attendance at the Diocesan Synod), and Mr. F. Battley, expresident of the union. The Chairman, on behalf of the union, <rave a hearty welcome to tho delegates present, especially those from the country, who had attended tho meetings of the week at some inconvenience to themselves. Messrs. Bishoprick (Te Puke) and J, I* Badly (Kamo appropriately responded, and expressed their pleasure at being able to attend such helpful and instructive meetings. Mr. H. C. ttase - den read the 35th annual report of the union for the year ending June 30, 1899, of which tho following is a synopsis: — Tho review of the union's operations was necessarily of hut a fragmentary character as it is impossible to refer .all of the van ous matters that have occupied the attention of your committeo during the jear. ine monthly meetings of the committee have been well attended throughout, the average for the year being 40 per meeting. The utmost good fellowship has prevailed. Fourteen schools have joined the union during vear. They -Stratford Primitive Methodist,. Wailii Primitive. Methodist, Waipawa (H. 8.) Wesleyan, Hampden (H. 8.) Undenominational, Pakiri Undenominational, Upper Waiwera Wesleyan. Jericho Undenominational, Waikiekie UndenominationiU, Pougakawa Undenominational, Golden Cross (Waitekauri) Undenominational, le Puke Undenominational, Waihi Wesleyan, Minniesdale Baptist, Snnnyside (Devonport) Wesleyan. Three schools have ceased to exist, and have therefore been removed from the roll or affiliated schools. They are the Taupaki and Dome Valley Undenominational, and the Kaurihohore Presbyterian schools. The schools named hereunder have taken advantage of the privilege of augmenting their libraries: Anglican, Pukekohe; Baptist, Thames; Congregational, ■ Baglan, Maungaturoto; Presbyterian, Devonport, Hawera, Waipu; Primitive Methodist, Pitt and Edwin Streets and Stratford; Wesleyan, Archhill, Bayfield, Napier, Paniell, Takapuna; _ Undenominational, Hampden, Hikurangi, Kuaotunu, Kopu, Tokatoka No. 1, Waikiekie. During the year the Union revived the scholars' examination, and has been much gratified with the result, and hopes to be ablo to make these examinations an annual fixturo in future, and that there will be a growing interest in them. The number of teachers who presented themselves for examination was slightly less than last year, and the work done was in the majority of cases distinctly good. The visitation branch of tho union's active work has been well attended to during the year. Mr. C. Bpttrill, the union visitor, has been very active in visiting the schools of the union, and it is gratifying to hear that his visits have been much appreciated. Mr. Bottrill reports having paid 38 visits. The secretary has also done a considerable amount of visiting, and has been well received as the union representative wherever he has gone, and as the result of his visits to some 28 schools in the country districts the workers there have learnt something of the union and its work. In all the secretary paid 41 visits. Your committee hopes to have another visitor at work during the coming year. International Bible-reading has been a prominent feature of the union's work during the year. The appointment of a special committee to look after this department of work has .been productive of much good, and Mr. J. L. Bycroft, the secretary of that committee, has entered heartily into the work. During the year 3000 cards liavo been sent out from the depot, and we trust they have helped not only the scholars, but the teachers also. At the early part of the year the demand was beyond our supply, and to meet this we had 1000 copies printed locally, but even this augmentation of supply was not sufficient for the requirements. We are extremely sorry to have to announce that, owing to some circumstance with which your committee is unacquainted, the books for the circulating loan libraries have not yet como to hand, notwithstanding the fact that tile correspondence secretary of the London Union wrote, on August 15, 1898:— " The council, on the recommendation of the secretaries, have agreed to make a free grant of the books applied for, on the understanding that they are to bo used for circulation in the districts referred to." Since the union's year closed a series of three conference has been held. The financial position of the union, as shown by the accounts and balance-sheet, continues to be a matter for congratulation and deep thankfulness. The volume of trade has been fully sustained, the receipts from alt sources showing a slight increase over that of last year. The stock remains about the same as last year, and is replete with every necessary requirement for tho Christian worker in all departments. The statistics are incomplete, owing to some returns not being furnished by certain schools. The following are those for 1898 and also for 1899, to show the progress made: 1898: 175 schools, 1877 teachers. 17,727 scholars 1899: 196 schools, 1893 teachers, 17,791 scholars. Increase: 11 schools, 16 teachers. 64 scholars. One hundred and forty-four scholars have joined the churches. The treasurer (Mr. W. H. Lyon) read the balance-sheet, the receipts for the year ending Jnne 30 last being £4737 14s 6Jd. This included cash sales, £2054 16s IOJd. and cash from schools, £2309 7s 3d. After defraying all. expenditure, there was cash m bank on June 30 last, £225 15s 9d, and m hand £53 03 7Jd. The balance15S the amount to profit and loss as if.% I „ sa oa' , Aie . assets are estimated at £6162 2s 2d, of which £4774 123 lOd is stock

The Chairman moved the adoption of the report and balance-sheet. He stated that it showed progress all round, and suggested a Colonial Conference of teachers, to diswork qUeStl pertaining t0 Sunday-school Mr. G. Abridge seconded the motion, m? as camecl unanimously. Tho Rev. Mr. Drake (of Thames), who came from the goldfields district instead of the Kev. A. Dewdney, gave an excellent adYn, S L 01 Tif o f%? £ 01 ? that Threaten the Young Life of tho Colony: Intemperance, Gambling and Impurity," and the Eov. W Day another n ll " The Responsibilities of Work-" 16 in ° nnectlon with Sunday-school

The election of the officers for the ensuing year resulted as follows:-President, p m n Ma ' th ® ws ; vice-presidents, the Revs. W Day, J. T. Pinfold, W. L. Salter Vhvr' W T arr and Wm Hogg; treasurer, n'n v ~ yon; genoral secretary, Mr. H. I/. Haselden; assistant secretary Mr W Cooper; visitors, Messrs. Bottrill and Townshend: committee, Messrs. Aldis, J. C:w----r m F „ tit l 8. Frith, and W. Jackmau; director, H. M. Smeeton (re-elected); depot secretary to directors, Mr. H. C. Hasolden. Mr. S. H. Matthews returned his thanks to the teachers for placing him in the honourable and onerous position of president. Ho referred to the formation of the union, and to tho two men with whom lie had been associated at the first meeting to formulate a plan for the establishment of a Sunday-school Union, and who had aided in putting it on sound Messrs. F. Battley and J Ellyett. Mr. Haselden then read the reports of the examiners for the Sunday-school examinations (the Revs. J. T. Pinfold and W. L Salter), after which the certificates and prizes were presented to the successful recipients (scholars and teachers) by the ohairman, in appropriate terms. There wore 93 first, 87 second. 60 third, and 36 pass certificates. Also book prizes, 12 of which '.vent to scholars, and nine to teachers. During the evening the choir, under the conductorship of Mr. Hall, rendered a couple of anthems, and Mr. Robertson sang the "Star of Bethlehem. Mr. Wells presided at the. organ.