LE CERCLE FRANCAIS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1842, 30 August 1913, Page 3

LE CERCLE FRANCAIS.

- 3 An cnjoyablo evening was spent last_ . nigiiD by moinOois 01 the 1/reach WuD ab ineir weeiUy ineeiing. 'iho procueuj nigs wero \> t <uiicil by a violin solo, r uoud»rU's "J>erceuso ao Jocelyn," very 1 Uainuly reimereu by iliias Ooralio 3 iiniyuioon, tho accompaniment being r pk'.y'eU by luiss iSmyDnson. ino preai- ' Uoito (M. L. Uui'lou) (.lieu .introduced the 0 itcv. A. V. ii. Compton, who delivered - an extreuieiy interesting lecture, 011b titled "La uaio dea lies—berceau do ia 1 civilisation dans la nouvedle Z-elande." r Alter brieil) tracing liio earlier history 0 of tiio Dominion generally, the speaker r led 011 to a more detailed and very instructive dcvjciiption ol tlio settlement il of the Bay of Islands district partieu- " lariy, paying due tribute to the courago " of those missionaries, notably Marsden, " Selwyn,. and Henry . Williams, whose names are so closely associated with tho " story of our colonisation. Passing from 5 the historical aspect, Mr. C-ompton ? dwelt on the scenic boauty of tlio district, and aptly concluded a most pleas surablc address by a reading of the splendid "Kxtaso" of Victor Hugo. Hie lecture was illustrated by lanternviews of tho various places mentioned, both of their early appearance and that of the present day, thus adding a further interest and charm' to tlio address. A* bright dialogiio, entitled "Ma Tante," followed, the title role being admirably, taken by Mine. Dnilou, while Mr. J.*H. Chapman was equally delightful as M. .Mayran, tho nephew-suitor. During tho evening the president took occasion to express tho club's appreciation of tho services rendered by Mme. Seville as secretary, and to wish her a pleasant sojourn in Australia, where 6 she proposes to spend a few weeks. . A cordial vote of thanks to-tho Rev. j Compton and the other contributors to the evening's enjoyment concluded tho 1 meeting. .