MEETINGS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 13833, 20 August 1908, Page 8

MEETINGS.

TRADES AND LABOUR COUNCIL. The ordinary meeting of the Auckland Trades and Labour Council was held last evening. There was a large attendance of delegates, and the president (Mr. A. Roaser) occupied the chair. Duty on Timber: A long letter was rei ceived from the North Auckland Timberworkers' Union, complaining of insufficient protection of the industry amongst other matters. It was resolved to bring under the notice of the Government the fact that the provisions of the 1&03 Act, imposing a duty of 5s per 100 superficial feet of baulk timber, was not being enforced. One delegate suggested a further increase in duty. Affiliation: The Butchers' Union was affiliated to the Council. The Fishcurers' Union, on the other hand, wrote giving notice of its intention to withdraw. It was decided that a deputation should wait on the fishcurers and endeavour to dissuade them from this intention. EPSOM ROAD BOARD. A meeting of the Epsom Road Board was held last evening. Mr. W. Reid Bloomfield presided, and those present were: Messrs. A. McDonald, S. Hesketh, and T. Granger. A deputation from the ratepayers, consisting of Mr. Richards and Mr. Stehr, waited upon the Board to present an extensivelysigned petition asking the Board to give its attention to Albert Road. After a shower of rain the water, it. was stated, lay on certain portions of the footpath to the depth of 18in, the path being considerably lower than the main portion of the road. The opposite side of Albert Road, it was pointed out in the petition, was high, level, and in every way more adapted for the formation of a footpath, and the Board was asked to form a path on the north side of the road. Mr. Bloomfield stated that the Board were agreed as to the necessity for the work, and the matter was referred to the Works Committee with power to act.

SCHOOL COMMITTEES. At t-lio monthly meeting of the Parnell School Committee on Tuesday evening, which was presided over by Mr. W. Speight (acting-chairman), tho headmaster (Mr. Scott) reported that the attendance during the past month had been very satisfactory, the average being 595. The attendance during Fleet Week, with a roll number of 652, was 536, which was also most satisfactory. During Fleet Week the cadets wore, taken, by special invitation, aboard the U.S. battleship Vermont by tho captain of the company, and were shown the various sights of interest. The senior pupils had been given opportunities this week to attend the Industrial Exhibition, teachers being in attendance with them, and explaining the various displays. The Rev. H. Simpson expressed tho opinion that it was time that tho Board of Education made tho muchi needed alterations and improvements to the ' infant classrooms of the school. Ho was | afraid that, with the present crowded state j of the infant department of tho school, an epidemic was liable to break out at any time. The acting-chairman promised to bring the matter under the notice of the chairman (Mr. R. B. Lusk) for him to interview the Board of Education. Tho monthly meeting of the Newton Schools Committee was held last evening, there being present: Messrs. C. H. Sexton (chairman), J. W. White, R. James, H. Schofield, F. Brinsden, C. Bottrill, G. E. Read, and E. Healey. The report of the Newton East school showed the roll number to bo 9+4, and the average attendance 873. Tho headmaster (Mr. Metge) has been seriously ill for some weeks past, and the committee decided to forward to him a letter of sympathy. The headmaster of the Nowton West school stated that the school was working satisfactorily, and that tho attend-, ances were good, the average being 700 oat s of a roll number of 780. Tho headmaster of the Grey Lynn school forwarded a satisfactory report, showing that there were 225 names on the roll, the average attendance being 192. Accounts to the amount of £31 16s lOd were passed for payment. ST. STEPHEN'S CHURCH. The annual meeting of St. Stephen's Presbyterian Church, Ponsonbv, was held last evening in ,he church hall, Jervois Road, the pastor (Rev. AJacaulay Caldwell) protiding over a large attendance. The several reports in connection with the various spheres of work in which the church is engaged wore presented, and all showed that most satisfactory progress is being brought about, mention being made in every instance of the splendid work being done by Mr. Caldwell.

The report of the Management Committee mentioned that a new hall had been erected during the year at a cost of £870, while one of the members of the congregation had generously offered to have placed in the church at his own expense a double-manual pipe organ. It was anticipated that the instrument would be installed In a short time. The treasurer's statement showed that the revenue during the year had amounted to £893 17s lid, the principal items being: Collections (ordinary) £512 16s 9d, and special £129 8s Fd; pew rents, ,£202 16s 3d. After meeting the expenditure there was a balance in hand of £11 10s 4d. The receipts in connection with the church building fund amounted , to £3452 13s 3d, which included subscriptions amounting to £1080 and a loan from the Auckland Savings Bank of £2300. From this amount there was a balance of £44 6.3 7d to be carried forward to the hall fund, the receipts for which amounted to £1038 8s 7d, £489 17s 4d of that amount having been raised.by the ladies of the congregation. The new hall had cost £870, and from the fund there was a balance of £168 8s 7d, which amount, coupled with unpaid subscriptions amounting to £313 ss, made a total of £481 13s 7d to be carried forward to the manse fund. The Sunday-school report was read by Mr. A. F. Bennett, and it stated that the total membership was 199, the average attendance being 128. There were 19 teachers.

On the motion of Mr. Thos. Peacock it was unanimously decided to approach the Presbytery for a loan not exceeding £500 with a view to erecting a manse in Cameronstreet. There is practically £481 13s 7d in hand at the present time.

Messrs. R. J. Ross. W. .T. Roes, and J. C. Dickenson were re-elected to the Management Committee, and Messrs. Houston, Milne, and Paterson were also added to if.

In replying to the encomiums which had been passed upon him during the evening, Mr. Caldwell said that in all his experience he had never met with a congregation which responded so liberally to the calls of the church and attended so carefully to the comfort of the minister as that of St. Stephen's. A vote of thanks was then passed to all those who had assisted voluntarily in the work of the church during the past year, and after a short musical programme had been gone through refreshments were handed round.