ST. MARY’S MERIVALE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2166, 3 February 1881, Page 2

ST. MARY’S MERIVALE.

The anniversary services of the above church were celebrated yesterday (Feb, 2nd). A well attended communion service wan held in the church at half-past seven in the morning, the Bev. T, Flavell being the celebrant. The school picnic took plaoe at 11.30 a.m., when the school children, to the number of 200, wore conveyed by the tramcars to the grounds of the Bev. F. Q. Britton, Fapanui, where various games were indulged in, and a plentiful supply of tea and cake provided for the'fyourgsters. The outing was a most enjoyable one, alike to the scholars and children of a larger growth. The Evensong services in the church were well attended. His Lordship the Primate delivered an address applicable to the occasion, the subject chosen being founded on the Apostle Paul’s exhortation to “Provoke one another to good works.” The service was fully choral. The first lesson was read by the Bev, F. Knowles, Mr Glasson read the second lesson, and the Bevs. P. O. Anderson and T. Fiavell assisted iu the service. The offertories of the day were devoted to the parochial branch of the Church Work Society. A conversazione was hold lit 8.15 in the schoolroom, Papanui road, which was tastefully decorated with fl ips and evergreens. The tables were loaded with a profuse collection of works of art, stereoscopic views and mounts, photographic albums, bound views of New Zealand ecenery, by Barraud ; rare engravings, and a collection of artistic ait photographs lent for the occasion by residents of the parish. Mr Gray, of the Philosophical Institute, had a busy throng round him viewing the wonders of the microscope, the elaboration of New Zealand woods being very beautiful. The musical portion of the conversazione was very enjoyable—glees, part songs, solos, and duets following each other in rapid succession, and, as is always the case with Merivale music, leaving nothing to be desired but a repetition. Daring an interval the Bev. T. Flavell remarked that the 2nd of February was the first anniversary of the Merivale Branch of the Church Work Society. In the absence at Wellington of Mr Gibbs, the secretary, he read the annual report, which stated the number of its members to bo fiftysix. Daring the year two general and three devotional meeting* had been held, when addresses wore delivered by the Dean of Christchurch and the Bevs. A. Davidson, H. B. Cocks, and E. A. Lingard. The year's receipts were £7 16<, of which sum £6 2s hod been handed to the Sick and Needy Fund of the parish, and the balance given to the Hospital Chaplain Fund. Messrs. Mearea,Mann, Stringer, and Gibbs wore elected at a committee for the year. Tea, coffee,, md light refreshments were handed round, the room at intervals during the evening.