Society ON DITS.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVII, Issue XXIV, 12 December 1896, Page 175

Society ON DITS.

That the Rev. Canon and Mrs Calder, who have just returned from a trip Home, were warmly welcomed back to their parish of All Saints’, Auckland, by a social one evening last week. The Rev. E. M. Cowie, who has

been Vicar-in-charge, received as a mark of the respect he had won during his stay

at All Saints’, an illuminated address and set of books. The ladies gave him a beautiful set of silver spoons, etc., explaining (through Mr Boardman) that these were anticipatory wedding presents ! The infantsand teachers gave Mr Cowie a large travelling bag, which was carried by an infant about the same size. A very pleasant evening was spent. The Primate was present. Unfortunately, Mrs Calder was ill, and could not attend. That the Picton prizetakers at the Horticultural Show held in Blenheim last week were Misses Mary Seymour, N. Allen, Belle Allen, Jean Rutherford, M. Jackson, E.’ Philpotts and H. Dart. That the Taranaki Agricultural Society is one of the oldest in New Zealand, it having been originally started on February 28th, 1852. That the Auckland Society of Arts are discussing the desirability of holding a camp for members and friends at some suitable locality for sketching.

That the Maoris consider that the coming summer will be a hot one. They are guided in forming this opinion bv the abundance of white bait in the creeks and rivers.

That Gisborne people have determined to proceed systematically with prospecting operations at the back of the Urewera country, between Nuhaka and Opotiki ; in fact, two parties have already been sent out fully equipped for a thorough investigation of the country lying between the two places mentioned, and the members of these parties are reported to be confident of being able to discover gold in the metaliferous belt known to exist at the back of the dividing range.

That Miss Andrews, assistant teacher at the Tauranga No. 2 School, has received a testimonial and gold brooch as a token in recognition of the esteem in which she was held by the Flat Bush School Committee and residents, of which school she had been a teacher for five years.

That they are still fishing for tools which fell down the bore at the Petroleum Company’s works at New Plymouth.

That Mamaku, near Rotorua, is distinguished as being the loftiest railway station in the colony, being i,SBB feet above the sea level, or over Soo feet above the lake level at Rotorua.

That Mr G. W. Harden, of the Bank of New South Wales, who has been removed from New Plymouth to Wellington, was presented with a purse of sovereigns by a number of ladies and gentlemen in recognition of his services in connection with the cricketing and lawn tennis clubs and other social matters in New Plymouth.

That in the account of the Auckland Floral Fete, Miss Ware’s exhibit fa black horse) should have been described as the exhibit of Mrs Robert Ware, Randolphstreet.

That the anniversary tea meeting of the Presbyterian Church took place in Blenheim on Monday evening, and was largely attended. In the evening there was a meeting in the church, at which the Revs. McAra, of Kaikoura, McKenzie, of Nelson, and Allsworth. of Picton. gave addresses. Songs were sung by Miss Kate Ball, Miss Hutcheson, and Miss Simson, who was encored for her singing of 'The Star of Bethlehem.’ and Messrs Sturrock and Orr, the latter being encored for the ‘Land o’ the Leal.’ Some anthems were also sung by the choir.

That fruit, it is said, will not be very plentiful in the Tikorangi (Taranaki) district this year.

That Picton’s favourite candidate, Mr C. H. Mills, M.H.R., was being greeted everywhere with floral tributes. At Tua-Marina one evening the stage was literally strewn with bouquets, amongst them a lovely one composed of roses, shamrocks, and thistles, tied with red, white and blue ribbons, emblematical of the joint efforts of Mr Mills’ constituents to return him to Parliament.

That diphtheria and measles are prevalent at Hawera,

That the bouquets of native flowers and grasses exhibited bv the Picton children at the Show in Blenheim were greatly admired, especially the one sent in by Miss Belle Allen, which gained first prize, and had in the centre a large lily-like blossom of the gege parasite.

That Mrs Banks, of ‘Sefton.’ Onehunga, gives a large garden party on Wednesday, December 16th, on the ocsion of her daughter's marriage (Miss Edith Banks) to Mr T. Morris McLaughlin.

That fossil remains of a huge saurian monster have been found embedded in the bank of the Waitara River by Mr Hertzog. It was from 30 to 40ft in length.

That the Picton Anglican Church choir are practising industriously anthems and Christmas hymns to make the services attractive. The choir-master, Mr C. C. Howard, is devoting a great deal of time to the practices, and the choir has been reinforced lately by lady and gentlemen choristers.

That a new lodge of Freemasons, to be called the ‘ Lodge Moa,' is to be opened at Inglewood (Taranaki) shortly.

That it was so windy on the day the Agricultural Show was held in New Plymouth that the photographers who were on the ground could not get a single view taken.