ST. JAMES' CHURCH ANNIVERSARY SOIREE.

Auckland Star, Volume VI, Issue 1711, 12 August 1875, Page 3

ST. JAMES' CHURCH ANNIVERSARY SOIREE.

The anniversary soiree of St. James' Presbyterian Church, Wellington-street, was held in the Church last evening, and was largely attended. The trays were furnished by the following ladies, and were bountifully provided with all the good things of this life :— Mesdames Macnicol, A. Craig, P. Mackie, McKenzie, McNab, Goldie, W. Gorrie, Alexander, W. Stevenson, and Misses Chalmers, Oxley, "Kennedy and Pollock. After doing full justice to the hospitality of the ladies the meetins proceeded to business, and the Rev. R F. Macnicol, pastor, who presided called upon Mr A. Brock, aecretary, to read the report. Special reference was made to the death of Mr William Rattray universally lamented. Tfae congregation had also lost Mr J V Stevenson (elder) Mr James Hardie, (c'ommitteeman), and Mr J. M. Clarke who had been one of the best supporters of the Church since its formation, and to whom thanks were returned for presenting the congregation with the fine harmonium now in use These members had formed a Church at Remuera, and it was a matner of congratulation, while regretting their withdrawal from St. James', to see Presbyterianism extending in the province. The ordinary contributions for the year were £713 19s lOd, being £71 18s in excess of the previous year. The committee of management had resolved to bring the question of the debt on the man Se before that meeting. The babbath-school continues under the able superintendence of Mr Peter Mackie, and baa a fair average attendance of 200 scholars under the instruction of 34 teachers. Forty-three new scholars were admitted during the past year. Over 60 new volumes of books were added to the school library during the year, which enabled the superintendent to give twenty volumes to Captain Daldy for the Chancerystreet Sunday-fechool, leaving 380 books still on the shelves of the school library, lhe children have contributed during the year the sum of £52 12s. Bd. for missionary purposes and school expenses. The committee desired to thank Mr. McCoskie for gratuitously accompanying the children's singing on L tne

harmonium for seme time past. Your committee were enabled, through the liberality of the congregatkn, to vote the sum of £50 as a contribution from this Church to the Home Mission Fund, being about £11 more than the amxrunt voted last year. This fvmd is for the support of ministers in scattered out-districts, and was earnestly commended for their support. The number of Church members on the roll is 228. A weekly congregational prayer-meeting, ministers' Bibleclass, young men's improvement association, and a teachers' fortnightly prayer-meeting continued to be well supported. Mr Thomas Macky, treasurer, read the statement of account?, which shewed: — Eeceipts : £785 15s 4d. Expenditure :To minister's stipend, £350 ; Mr and Mrs Mitchell, £50 ; gas, £1G 15a ; church officers, £40 ; insurance on cbnrch and manse, £19; interest on manse, £32 ; poor, £20; Home Mission, £50 ; Foreign Mission, £25 ; Aged and Infirm Ministers' Fund, £ S ; Widow and Orphan Fund, £6 10s ; t-abbath-school, £10 ; cleaning and painting church, £74 14s Gii ; miscellaneous expenses, £30 7s 9d. Balance in hand, £52 8s 7d. On the motion of Mr Thomas Smart, seconded by Mr J. P. Oxley, the reports were adopted.

JUThe election of a committee was then proceeded with, and resulted in the reelection of Mr W. Gorrie, Iv>r Thomas Smart was chosen in place of Mr. Goldie, retired, and Mr. John Alexander in place of Mr. Hardie, resigned. Messrs. Smart and Morton were elected auditors. Mr. Thomas Macky urged the Temoval of the debt from the Manse by weekly subscriptions. He said that a suiplus of £JSO was expected, and if subscribers could be procured, forty of 2s 6d a-week. forty of Is, and sixty of 6d, the debt would in twelve months be a thing of thf past. He moved and Mr. W. Gorrie seconded that such an effort be made, the ladies assisting the committee. This was carried. Mr. P. Mackie urged the appointment of a City Missionary connected with the congregation.

The Rev. D. Bruce also addressed the meeting in a humourous speech and Mr. Brock proposed the vote of thanks to the lad ie.~.

During the evening the Church choir, under Mr. and Mrs. Mitchell, rendered various musical selections in a very excellent manner. Mrs. Mitchell sanar "Consider the Lillies," Mr. McKoskie, "Be thou Faithful," Mrs. Mitchell and Miss Kennedy the duet "Lovely Peace." These selections served to relieve the drier details of the business, and the gathering w&r brought to a close with Messrs Moody and Sankey's famous hymn "Hold the Fort," vhich was rendered by the choir io a manner that made the enthusiasm of vast congregations in Great Britain easily understood.

Mr H. H. Ltisk was the next speaker. Holding out the bills in his hand, he stigmati'p'H 'he Abolition as a gross abortion He considered it was an illegal measure ; but th;o was a slight objection, as many illegal enact nents were passed. But it was not for t is r a«i>n thac he did not wish to see the Bills passed, it was because they ought not to jas i- f »hey could do so. (Cheers.) He tad declared himself in favour of abolition, but he was confident that, though the time had come, the tiun had not, nor the measures. (Rf i ewed cheers.) He should like to know "What tht- Cen'ral Government had done which tht- Piovincial system bad not done— » Voice : How about the railways ?

M l.usfe : The railways ! Are you safc'sfi- d with the railways (no and laughter) What were the promises of the General Govefement in inspect to the pound for each pound of <axation? Whose money were th«y gmuQ to make a virtue of givius* them. Why. their own. (Cheers) With Mr Dar, gaville the question seemed to be a personal one to psy off a spite against Sir George Grey (hear, he*r.) It was not so with himself. If he could see in the measures anything calculated to improve colonization and encourage settlement he would support them. In looking at the two bills they would see that there was one big bill and one little bill. The big bill wasn't worth a rush without the little bib, because there wa3 no money in it. } Voice: "It isn't like a lawyer's bill, then." (Laughter.) The speaker, in continuation, said the Government proposals were about to attempt a clean swoop of institutions under which they bad lived for over twenty years. Mr Dargaville : " Lingered," you mean. Mr Lusk said he thought Mr Dargaville didn't care about lingering : he always aeemed to jump too soon. (Laughter.) He was about to say that the Provincial system had developed many defects, but they were not to be remedied by measures which in the very free of them bore the impress of falsehood. Why their very supporters told them so: they said the Bills would enable them next year to t ke advantage of the South, and get possession of the Land Fund. After pointing out many of the deceptive fe-tnres of the bill, Mr Lusk said he could not see the great harm which, according to Mr Wrigley, would result from waiting six months. Mr Besder Wood, like himself, was not a Provineialist, and when he came back would no doubt give them his views of what should be done. Sir George Grey would do the same, and even his friend Mr Dargaville would have to do the same. (Laughter). But if he pinned his faith to such a rag he had better try-and find another constituency. (Cheers). They had no doubt seen telegraphic despatches in. the newspapers, but he would tell these despatches were carefully prepared by the Government, and had a purpose to serve. It was all very well to hold hole and corner meetings, and for men like Mr Dargaville to get up and speak all on ihe one side ; and besides, as Mr. Wrigley said, it was so vice for the pocket. (Laughter.) They mighc depend on it that all that was promised in the Government measures was either moonshine or their own already. (Cheers.) He was never so much ashamed of the Provincial Government as when they proposed a tax on kauri gum (laughter). It was rushed through the Council, and sent down to Wellington as the act of the Council. When it came before the House, Mr Dargaville was the fin* man to ask the House n»t to press it o'h!Oh !) He was wise, but hi« wisdom cawa rather late. He had decided m the first place without thought, and he had done so in zhe present instance (cheers). The speaker concluded an eloquent speech by a reference to the pressing wois of tne_Piovince He sat down among enthusiastic

anivUusie. . , .. Mr Hughes attempted to speak to the amendment but w*s not allowed a hearing. Mr W H. Kiss.ins? said he was not going into the provisions of tbe Bill, but called the attention of the meeting to the fact that the baa features of tbe Bill wonW be excised in comm-t'-ee. Mr Lusk some six months ago seconded a resolution at tbe Choral Hall m favour of the time having come for abolition. (Cries -So he said just now). Mr Kisshng s further remarks were not all favorably received. The road through Parnell which had been alluded to by Mr Lusk as the work of the troops was not made by them, but by the General Government, t Mr B. McDonald, in a humourous speech, likened the proceedings of the General Government at Ohinemuri to the snmmary proceenings of General Grant in Ireland fafty years ago. Mr Dargaville rose to speak on some personal remarks which Mr Lusk had let drop, but the meeting would not hear him for a loug while. When silence was restored, Mr DargaviUe denied that he had any connection with tbe education tax, and explained his reasons for introducing and withdrawing the gum tax. . Mr Staines having made a few remarks, The Chairman read the resolution and the amendment. On the amendment being put to the meeting, about a dozen hands were held up in its favour. The original resolution was then put, and a regular forest of hands held up for it. The Chairman.declared Mr Staines motion carried by a large majority, an announcement which was received with tremendous apA vote of confidence in Mr Header Wood having been called for and responded to with peals of cheering, the meeting came to a close with'the usual vote of thanks to the Chairman.

Are you about to be married ? Have you built a house? Dp you wish to furnish economically 1 il so, there is, without exception, the best and largest variety of carpets and floor-cloths in the province to choose from at the City Hall, furnishing and drapery establishment. Holloway and Garlick furnish banks, hotels, offices, and private residences cheaper than any other house in town. In addition toßrusael, tapestry, Kidderminster, ana hemp carpets, they have flax, coir, and china matting, hearthrugs, woolma's (in all colois), door-mats (every requisite size), union and wool damasks, quilts, blankets, sheetiDg, curtains, etc. Before buying, inspect the stock at ffce City Hall. "We are still selling gents' umbrellas at reduced rates : Silk at 7s 6d, 9s lid, 12s 6d ; alpaca, 4s 6d to 6s 6cl ; ladi<s' silk, 5s lid and 6s lid ; alpaca, 3s lid to ss. Drapery, clothing, and millinery at prices to suit the times —Holloway & Garlick, City Hall, 230, Queen-street. —[Advt 1 ;