SOCIAL GATHERINGS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4836, 21 September 1876, Page 3

SOCIAL GATHERINGS.

The third of the, series of Assembly balls took place on September 4tb, and passed off successfully. Hia Excellency the Governor and the Marchioneia of Normanby and suite were present.

A meeting was held in the schoolroom, North Makara, on Monday night, for the purpose of establishing a public library in the district. The following committee was elected for the purpose of carrying it out: —Messrs. K. Robinson, H. Cook, J. Bowlor, H. Border, J. S. Premleirlee, and G. Monk. It was resolved that the committee make'a canvass for books and subscriptions. Over 200 volumes

have been promised in the district. All pre- | sent became subscribers. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the business of the evening. Mr. Palmer's concert at St. John s Schoolroom on September 4th was a decided success. The overture to " The Barber of Seville" was well rendered by Mrs. Palmer, Messrs. Manning, Schwartz, and Woledge. Miss Palmer then sang " Love Not," and in response to an encore, gave " Driven from Home." Several duets and solos followed, which were well received, and in more than one instance encored. In response to an encore for the " Gipsy's Warning," Miss Palmer sang " Home, Sweet Home," which was the piece of the evening. Mr. Jupp then gave "Ruby," which was also encored, and after a comic duet and some other pieces, " God Save the Queen" brought the proceedings to a close. We understand that the Freemasons of the Scottish Constitution of the North Island have taken steps to form a Provincial Grand Lodge. The name of Mr. Frederick Whitaker has been mentioned for the position of first Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, and that of Dr. Alexander Johnston, R.W.M., of Lodge Waterloo, Wellington, as first Right Worshipful Deputy Provincial Grand Master. We are glad to see this mark of respect to the father of Freemasonry in the colony, Mr. Whitaker having been the first Worshipful Master of the Lodge Ara, Auckland, and hope that the members of the fraternity will be successful in their efforts to establish the new Provincial Lodge on a good firm basis.

An entertainment was given in the Ghuzneeetreet schoolroom on August 28th, by the choir of St. Peter's, in aid of St. Mark's Church. It was a success in every respect, the attendance beingvery numerous, and the programme was a varied and well-selected one, the songs, duets, and choruses which it contained being got through in a very creditable manner. A few of the pieces rendered deserve special mention. Two piano duets, "Fairy Queen" and " Home Sweet Home," were rendered with exquisite taste. The choruses by the choir were all sung in a manner which reflected great credit upon their leader. A clarionet duet from "Norma" was given in fine style by two gentlemen, and the two song 3 "Esmeralda" and "Beauty Sleep" were capital efforts. The entertainment was brought to a close by the singing of the National. Anthem.

The choir of St. John's Church gave a musical and literary entertainment in the schoolroom on August 28th. There was a large audience, not only every seat being occupied, but numbers of those present having to stand. The entertainment was very successful, the most noticeable portions being the three glees, •'Don't I Love the Bonny Broom," "Good Templars' Festival Song," and "Lightly Treading." The solos, duetts, and readings were also very good, the lady who took part in "Home to our Mountains" rendering her share of the well-known duett with much taste and expression. For "Sing, Sweet Bird" a fair singer received a merited encore. The readings were also above the average in merit. The annual ball in aid of the Widow and Orphans' Fund -ociety, 1.0.0. F., No. 20, took place at the Odd Fellows' Hall on the night of August 26. There were about fifty couples present. Mr. Hoskins' excellent quadrille band played a fine selection of dance music, and Mr. Thomas provided the refreshments, which were of the best description. Quadrilles, galops, waltzes, and other dances followed each other in quick succession until half-past eleven o'clock. During a short interval that then took pUce the hon. secretary addressed a few remarks to the company, thanking them for their patronage, and giving a brief outline of the society's operations during the past twelve months. The society had been in existence for upwards of twenty-seven years, during which time no opportunity had been lost of relieving the wants of tlm widow or assisting the orphan. Notwithstanding the demands upon its funds, the society's exchequer had gone on gradually increasing, until it now had reached £723. After enumerating other interesting facts, dancing waß resumed until early morn, when the company separated to their several abodes, expressing their extreme satisfaction at the delightful evening they had spent.

A complimentary dinner was given to Mr. C. R. Carter, in the Town Hall, Carterton, on September Ist, which passed off with great eclat. Notwithstanding Mr. Carter was in the coach at the time it fell down the hill, and like many others was severely bruised about the head and other parts of the body, he appeared in excellent spirits ; and in reply to the toast of the evening, he made an eloquent and feeling speech, which was frequently applauded. He announced his intention of shortly proceeding to England for the purpose of settling some private business affairs in London, after which he bhould return to the colony and take up his residence on his Taratahi estate for the remainder of his life. He said had he been returned at the last election, nothing would have induced him to abandon his post on private affairs however urgent; but as he had not been elected, there were no public reasons why heshould notreturn toEnglandforabriefperiod. He thanked those friends who had supported him in his absence. He said he was astonished at the progress the district had made during his a wnce, more especially the township of Carterton. Other speeches followed in the course of the evening, when the munuficent gift made by Mr. Carter to the Carterton church was gratefully and gracefully referred to. The proceedings were wound up with a ball, which passed off in the moat agreeablo manner.

The anniversary services in connection with the Manners-street Wesleyan Church came to a concla-ion on Monday, Sept. 19, by a tea and public meeting. On Sunday special sermons were i preached, and collections were taken on behalf o£ the trust funds, amounting in all to £l3. The financial success of the tea meeting last evening waa militated asjainst by the bad weather; but still all who were present very much enjoyed the meeting and the excellent tea which had been kindly provided by ladies of the congregation. Tea over the assemblage adjourned from the schoolroom to the church, where the public meeting was opened by prayer. Mr. Joseph Nancarrow took the chair; and some very interesting addresses were delivered by the Revs. J. Paterson, W. H. West, Redstone, Mb Worship the Mayor (Mr. Hutchison), and Mr. Thomas. During the evening the annual report was read, reviewing favorably on the whole the operations of the various agencies in the church work. The financial responsibilities of the circuit were reported to be greater than they had previously been, owing to certain circumstances ; but the congregation had been most liberal in its efforts to meet its responsibility, and it was hoped that if the proceeds o£ the anniversary were up to the average, .£IOO would be paid off the church debt. Tho balance-sheet of the trust fund showed that there had been items of extraordinary expenditure amounting to £BS os. 2d.; £3O had been paid off loan, and there was a balance in hand of £23. The income had been £356 3s. lid. The proceeds of the tea amounted to £lO, and there was a small amount taken as a collection at the public meeting. Votes of thanks to the ladies and the choir, proposed by the Rev. Mr. Dewsbury, and to the Chairman, proposed by the Rev. Mr. lleid, brought the business to a conclusion, and after the benediction had been pronounced by the Rev. Mr. Reid, the meeting separated, well satisfied with the pleasant evening spent, and which had been rendered all the more enjoyable by reason of the bcautiful selections of sacred music tastefully rendered by tho choir.

The opening of the now schoolroom in Courtenay-place for public worship, in connection with the United Methodist Free Church, was celebrated on Sept. 20, by a tea and public meoting. The building is erected in the shape of a parallelogram, measuring sixty feet by thirty. It can seat about 300 people, and is well ventilated and lighted. The cost of the building is estimated at between £450 and £SOO. About 250 people sat down to an excellent tea provided by a number of ladies. The public meeting which took place afterwards was presided over by the Kev.: Mr. Bedstone, who explained that they wore unable to present the meeting with an account and balance Bheot regarding the

finances of the church, owing to accounts relatirig to the building of the schoolroom not having been made up. He also stated that the reason why the building in which they were at present assembled had been erected was that they had received notice that they could not have the use of the sideroom at the Odd Fellows' Hall (which they had been using) any longer. They therefore, seeing that a church could not be erected in so short a time, determined to build the room in which they were assembled, and hold worship there until such time as a suitable church could be erected. The present building would also be used as a schoolroom. He was pleased to see the progress which the church was making. The first time he had held service here, some seven months ago, there were only seventeen people present at the morning service, and about twenty-two at the evening service. Now there were twenty times that number. Addresses were delivered by Mr. Read, Mr. Hutchison, and the Rev. Mr. Reid, and during the intervals a number of hymns were rendered by the choir. A collection was made during the meeting, which together with the proceeds derived from the tea meeting amounted to £l4 4s. Votes of thanks to the ladies, choir, speakers, and chairman brought the proceedings to a close. Other services are to follow, to further the same object for which the tea meeting was held. ■