TRINITY LITERARY AND DEBATING SOCIETY.

Greymouth Evening Star, Volume XXXI, 25 May 1901, Page 2

TRINITY LITERARY AND DEBATING SOCIETY.

The fourth session of the Trinity Literary and Debating Society was opened on Thursday evening. There w r as a large and enthusiastic gathering, the llev. Mr York occupying the chair.

In his opening jjpmarks the Chairman referred to the good work done by the Society in the past, and briefly outlined the suggested syllabus for the coming session.

Mr J. J, Rogers then read the following report, which had been received from the secretary and ran as follows: — “It is with great pleasure that your committee presents its third annual report for the session ending 1900. “ The past session—a most successful one —opened on May 10th and closed on September 6th. In all sixteen meetings were held, comprising seven debates; three popular entertainments, three lectures, two literary evenings, and one evening devoted to papers. “ The attendance at the meetings was good, the average for the session being 31—a conclusive proof of the popularity of the Society. “During the session representatives from your Society debated with the the Wesleyan Society of Greymouth and twice with the Hokitika Society—once in Hokitika and once in Greymouth. Your representatives desire to place on record their appreciation of the hospitality* extended to them by the members of the Hokitika Debating Society, and to suggest that these “inter-society” debates be continued.

“The Treasurer’s report showed a substantial credit balance—a fact that shows, perhaps, more than anything else the flourishing condition of his “It is perhaps a fitting place here to refer to the loss the Society lias sustained hy the departure of Mr Kirkpatrick from Greymouth. This gentleman was one of the promoters of theTrinity Debating Society, and has ever given his time and talents to further the welfare of the Society.

‘•Your committee feels certain that it only needs the objects of the society to be raadelknown in order to double the roll number for the coming session. The prospects are of the brightest, and given a good syllabus the society’s career this session ought to eclipse all previous ones.”

-Mr E. B. Mabin, the treasurer, then read the balance-sheet, which showed a satisfactory sum to the credit of the Society.

The report and balance-sheet having been adopted, the following gentlemen were elected a Committee :—-President, Rev Gr. W. York ; vice-president, Messrs C. J. Berry and J. Henry; committee, Messrs W. D. Edwards, Peglar, and Fredk. Foot; J. J. Rogers, secretary; and E. B. Mabin, treasurer.

The rest of the evening was devoted to music and song. Miss Myra Blackmore having arranged a capital programme, almost every item of which was encored. The ladies and gentlemen taking part were Misses A, Smith, C. Yarrall, Oxenham, Griffiths, Chapman, and Mrs Ormsby; Messrs Staples, Peglar, Mabin, Kendall, M‘Kittrick and Chambers. Mr H. D. Edwards, in an excellent speech, proposed votes of thanks to the retiring officers, giving special praise to the energetic secretary, Mr de Berry, who had per force to resign on his removal to Ahaura. He thanked Miss Blackmore for the concert arrangements, Miss L. Smith for type writing the programmes, and the performers for the items contributed, notably Mr Chambers, a stranger amongst us, who sang no less than four songs with great acceptance to those present. The Rev R. Stewart, President of St John’s Society, who was present, congratulated the Trinity Society on having succeeded in making such a favourable commencement of its session and for its large roll of membership, and referred in high terms to the good work done by the different Societies in the town, advising all the young people to cultivate the art of public speaking.

The President announced that already the Society numbered 56 gentlemen and 14 ladies, with a prospect of a much larger increase.

The singing of the National Anthem and the Benediction brought a pleasant evening to a close.