PRESBYTERIAN TEA MEETING.

Kumara Times, Issue 3130, 15 November 1886, Page 3

PRESBYTERIAN TEA MEETING.

One would scarcely have expected to see so large an attendance at the Presbyteaian tea meeting at the Theatre Royal on Friday evening, considering the exceeding unpropitiousness of the weather for the occasion; but a meeting of this kind is one that requires some days' preparation, whilst a concei t or dramatic entertainment does not; henee many persons' minds were made up before the day came to be present; moreover the managing committee were fully alive to the expediency of the disposal of tickets before the actual time arrives, as by so doing, many friends are impelled as by some magnetic attraction to throw in their lot with the ladies and their numerous assistants who cheerfully give their time and means to make a tea meeting a hearty welcome for all who may choose to avail themselves of their hospitality. We are greatly pleased also to notice that on such occasions cerlaiu ladies are in the habit of throwing aside all differences of creed and sectarianism, and joining to assist each other in making all visitors welcome and happy. There were six large tables set out, which, had they not been of a very substantial structure we should have been disposed to borrow the phrase that they "groaned" under the weight of the good things provided ; and, notwithstanding the lateness of the spring and ihe unpropitiousness of the season, the tables were profusely "domed with flowers of the most varied and delicate colour and fragrance. Mr Donald Shaw's consignment of Scotch heather, all the way from Glenavon, was carefully preserved in an hermeticallysealed glass case, and preserved its wonted native tint. Some savans declared they could procure " the real Mackay" even in Knmaia; but it was "not in bloom." That was the difference. However, the flowers were an after consideration. It must be interesting to know, first of all, who the good people were to whom we have referred. Without classifying them to any particular table, save the bachelors', the names of the ladies who gave and presided at the tables were—Mesdames Hamer, Bohmann, Wade, M'Brearty, Pearn, Harvey, Lawrence, Johnsen, Nicholson. John Caldwell, T, Jamieson, Tait, Fraser, J. Jamieson, Olsen, W. Brown, Benyon, and the Misses Wood, and Gibson, and Tait, and the bachelors' table, the Misses Stenhouse, Preston, Benyon, and Isabella Nicolson. Some three to four hundred people, including children, having partaken of the good tea, sandwiches, cakes, and fruit to their hearts' content, tho tables were cleared and removed, the forms rearranged, and The concert and addresses commenced at about eight o'clock. The Rev. Mr Douglas, of Hokitika, presided, and he and the Revs. T. Hodgson and P. Ramsay addressed the Meeting. The Rev. Jas. Hosking, who was announced to do so, had to attend a Wesleyan District Meeting at Nelson, and was on the way. The concert was of sacred and secular music, and consisted of an " Organ solo," by Mrs Williams; Chorus, by the company, " Beautiful Spring "; Solo arm, ye brave !" Mr Wilby ; duet and chorus, "We shall meet," by Mrs Shiifes and Miss Stenhouse; chorus " The March of Life." by the company ; duet, " Albion," by Mrs Williams and Mr Wilby, accompaniment by Miss Seddon ; solo, " Stranger," Miss Howe; chorus, "The Glorious Sunlight," by the company; solo "O, let me!" Mr Weir; chorus, " In the strength of the Lord," by the company; solo, " When the Lord shall bnild up Zion," Mr Wilby; and a "Parting Song" by the company. Mrs Williams, organist at the Presbyterian Church, played the accompaniments, with the exception of the one referred to, and the instrument used was the one in use at the Prcsby. terian Church. It is needless to say that all went well; applause followed the rendering of every solo, duet, and chorus, and though the pelting rain considerably interfered with the pleasurable strains of the music the audience was not slow to ovjrjce iN appreciation of M)e efforts of the !-'d ; o.« and gentlemen n'ho fr>'me fl the ."V*ir. Th(? speeches of the. veverei:.. 1 . tpntlo.'.oon were considerably maned by *.V htv.w showers of vain rhicb fell a l , ir>!>:!'"Hi": during the meeting, and they wsre wisely "cut short." On the motion of Mr W. Nicholson, Totes of thanks were given to the. ladies who had given :-•.:? d presided at the tables ; nhso to the choir ; vm-'c!. were carried by acclamation; nnc a vote O p . thanks to the cbairma". concluded :i very sociable nil se? K < <md parties b-sng w<,U .■^•-e^-tei 1 , :vid ..'.': dispersing apparently well pleased with the evening's entertainment.