SOCIAL AT SEACLIFF.

Otago Witness, Issue 2202, 14 May 1896, Page 20

SOCIAL AT SEACLIFF.

[ A social of the merabew of the Anglican Church i iv Seacliff was held in the asylum ball on tka | 6th inst. There was a very large gathering, i about £50 being present. Amooj; the visitors were Bishop at d Mrs Nevill and the Rev. Messrs Richards and JYaer. Mr Bro/rno opened tho social with a few chosen words welcoming the bishop and the strangers. A very «ojoyabla musical programme was provided, tho instrumentalists and Vocalists boing Mesaames Anderson and Neihon, Misse* B'jyd, Downes, Herbert, and King, Messrs F. a»d W. Cashmao, Blacklaw, and Buckley. The asylum band also rendered some cood music. Tho hall was very artistically and tastefully arranged, and decorated with flag?, Bhrub?, and flowers. Light refreshment*, providod by the ladies of 'the dictrict, were handed round during the evening, and everything in- the way of S'iciulintß'rcour_pe'was'enji)yed ;,the bishop being very happy, moving -bom ?imong his people and renewing thur acquaintance. In the course of tho evening the Bishop gave an address, and expressed 'hi* pleasure at seeing such a large gathering, which' he took to be an evident token of the'interest taken in the proposed church to be erected in Seacliff. He encouraged them to perseveie with their good work' in the way of raising funds for the building ; and. they should reslina that every individual effort, though perhaps not: great in itself, would undoubtedly strengthen tha hands and means of tho.s-j prominently engaged in the work. He was pleased to be able to announce that the site for the building was now conveyed to the church authorities, and tbis was the first and essential step. lie thanked Mr Smith for' the presentation of this site. A certain R.um of money was in hand, hut he would wish them to have at leaH two-thirde, if not the whole, of the required »urn before *hey commenced to build. He was suro that that amou t would be forthcoming this year, and r :u sh.irny a fitting temple for the wor»hip of Almighty biod would be erected in their midst. The Rev. I Richards, priest in charge of tha district, spok* briefly in tones of thankfulness for the encouraging sigu3 of c.hu-ch life in the district. He desired to thank Dr King for putting the hall at their di«pr>sal, and for his gre*t kindness and courtesy shown to the bishop and visitors ; and he expressed bis tharfes also to all those who had helpod to make tlw eviniug so enjoyable. Oaa of the mo3t successful gatherings ever held in the district was brought to a close »t 12 o'clock. • The proposed church is to be large enough to accommodate not only the • residents of the district, but also the convalescent patients arid those inmates of the asylum (nearly 200 in all) who regularly attend public worship. This will -be a great booa to the patients who attend the weekly service in the hull of the asylum, whore every kind of aoius^eti' a >»l ei.U.t i. m,. r m held, there being no chap;l in con ci. >-.n wiih - this otherwise very complete institution. Such a building ought to receive the suppoit not only of the people~of the district at>d those connected with the aas'lum, but also of those who appreciate the efforts of the Anglican Church iv this direction. It is proposed to hold a bazaar shortly t« augment the funds already in hand.

Mr J. A. Millar, M.H.R., lectured on " Unionism " at Dennistou on Saturday, and Vita entertained a& a banquet subsequently.