BRANCH REPORTS.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume V, Issue 6, 1 December 1914, Page 67

BRANCH REPORTS.

S. AUGUSTINE'S. We closed our meetings last year on November 19th with an entertainment, and jumble sale, work, flowers, sweets and produce stalls, after paying expenses, were able to give to the G.F.S. Building Fund j£is, to the Melanesian Mission £$, to the Branch Sick Fund £$, and S. Augustine's Vestry for gas j£i ; total £30. Miss Ruby. Cane kindly gave pianoforte solos during the afternoon. In the evening the pupils from Hukarere Girls' School sang prettily. Mrs Sunderland played accompaniments for the Rev. Noel Robertshawe, of Hastings, who came to assist, also for Mr Ronald Williams. Their songs received many encores. We opened our meetings this year on March 16th, with a Branch Council Meeting. Rev. Canon Tuke was present and opened the meeting. After prayers we discussed the syllabus for the season's opening meeting. We were fortunate at this meeting: to have Mrs Tucker, of Weymouth (England) present. Mrs Tucker had been sixteen years Branch Secretary of the G.F.S. Branch m Weymouth, and is now presiding Associate of same. Mrs Tucker gave us a most interesting talk on G.F.S. work, and some useful hints. We feel grateful to her for giving us one evening of her short visit to Napier. Miss Mildred Mannering took up a candidates' class on April 2nd, and is doing most important work with twelve members. It is very necessary to keep up a candidates' class, and we are very grateful to Miss Mannering. S. Augustine's held an admission G.F.S. service on April 2nd, when twenty were admitted. Canon Tuke crave a short and inspiring sermon. On April 28th we held a social evening and jumble sale, and, m spite of a very wet day and stormy evening, we had a fair attendance, and cleared £8, which was given to the ■ GiFVS. Iyodge building fund. Miss Neville, Miss Clarke, Mr Sims, Mr and Mrs Ward, Mr Razel Wood all kindly gave valuable assistance with music and songs.

Miss Winnie Morris : (Wellington) and Miss Retemeyer gave one evening a nursing demonstration and instruction to members. Miss lyeslie one evening gave a lecture on China Missions and showed curios. One other evening, Mrs Duncan McNeil (Melbourne) and Miss Marett gave a musical evening. We had Miss Raine from Dunedin for one meeting, who gave a most interesting talk on G.F.S. work. On 13th October, we had a social evening, members of S. Oswald's Guild being present. On 19th October, Deaconess Esther Brand gave u$ a very helpful talk on woman's, w^rk and G.F.S. work which listened to by a large meeting'; of Associates and members and friends with, much interest. | We have held nineteen meetings this season, and will close ab|>ut November 25th, with an entertainment and jumble sale, and hope to be. able to hand a sum to the G.F.S. Lodge fund, Belgian fund, Melanesian Mission and Sick fund. It is splendid to know we soon shall have a G.F.S. Lodge m Napier where lonely girls will find a comfortable home. The annual festival evening service was held m S. Augustine's Church on rßth June. Yen. Archdeacon Herbert Williams was the preacher, and gave a most uplifting address on the G.F.S., its aims and objects. . . . ....'. Our meetings this year have been well attended ; the Associates and members are keen for the success of the G.F.S. At all meetings we have light supper provided by the Associates and. members m turn. Meetings close with prayer shortly after 9 p.m. With God's help, we look forward; hopefully to the future work at S.. Augustine's Branch. I thank Canon and Mrs Tuke for great help and sympathy m the G.F.S., also Associates and members. We have lost some members by removal, but have gained ten new ones. Our members are :— Associates, 14 ; Married helpers, 3 ; Members, $0 ; Candidates, 12; Total, 89. the Magazines taken are :— -Associates' Journal, 5 ; Friendly Work for Friendly Workers, 5 ; and Friendly Leaves, 12. In addition to the sums above mentioned, the G.F.S. subscribed £2 towards the. Relief Funds m connection with the war. Working Associates :~Mrs Tuke, Mrs Hooper, Mrs Poley, Mrs Me.

Farlane, Mrs Jenkins, Miss B. M. King, Miss E. Retemeyer, Miss M. S. White. Honorary Associates: — Lady Whitmore, Mrs Waterworth, Mrs Burt, Mrs Lake, Mrs S. B. Wright, Mrs Stock. (Signed) M. S. WHITE, Sed S. Augustine's Branch.