SOCIAL GATHERINGS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 4860, 19 October 1876, Page 3

SOCIAL GATHERINGS.

The tallin aid of the funds of the Star Boating Club, held in the Provincial Hall on Sept. 25th, to a succ'ess in every respect. There were about 140 present, including the Marquis and Marchioness of Nonnanby. Refreshments were provided on a most liberal scale by Mr. Levoi. An excellent band was in attendance, and dancing was kept up with great spirit till the small hours of the morning. On. September 25th the CentralFireßrigade celebrated the opening of their new premises, Brandon-street, by a grand dinner. Sir Julius Vogel was to have been present, but there was ■great disappointment when it was found that owing to a severe attack of illness he was unable to leave home. A number of other gentlemen also forwarded apologies. , Nevertheless, there was a very good attendance, and a most enjoyable evening was spent. The first picnic (which is intended to be an annual affair) of the English High School took place on October 4th. The scholars and friends to the number of 200 were conveyed to Lowry Bay by the s.s. Moa, which was found to be capitally adapted for such purposes, Every attention to the comfort of the _ passengers was paid by Captain Mclntyre, and ■ ‘ a most enjoyable day was spent, the party retuming.to Wellington in good time for tea. Mr, Ancell, who has been for many years ; managing man for the firm of Messrs Kemp- . thorne, Prosser, and Co., of Dunedin, is about to. take charge of a new branch lately opened by the same firm in Wellington. Before he left for Wellington, according to the Guardian, Mr. .. Harrison, on behalf of the employes of Messrs. .Kempthorne,’Prosser, and Co., presented Mr, 'Ancell with a handsome souvenir as a mark of the esteem and respect in which he was held by all in the same employ. In making the • . presentation, Mr. Harrison spoke in the highest i terms of the recipient, and wished him every prosperity in his new appointment. 'On Tuesday, October 10, the juvenile Christy Minstrels connected with the Order of Good

Templars gave an entertainment at the Mount View Asylum'for the edification of the patients. : 'There was also a large number of. visitors present" The programme was a varied and long one. We take this opportunity of suggesting to, our sable friends not to make their dialogue and what was termed .farce so long., At the conclusion of the performance the room was cleared, and those present, with a few of the indulged in a dance. A jig by several gentlemen, with,female..patients as partners, was provocative of great fun. Every kindness and attention was paid to the visitors by Mr. , Ingwersen and Mrs. Seager. . There was a social gathering at the Bank Hotel on Sept. 28th to celebrate its re-opening by Mr. J. Mclntosh. Messrs. Roxburgh, R. J. Duncan, A. Young,. Captain Sellars, and a number of other gentlemen were present to wish the host success in his new venture, and the proceedings passed ' off in a very happy manner. The change of ownership has really effected wonders in the shape of improvement, ■ and’anyone who was in the house a month ago would be surprised ; at the transformation. The building has been almost entirely gutted and re-arranged, the ground-floor having been lowered about two feet. On the ground- ■ floor are Cobb’s booking-office, dining-room, commercial-room, sitting-room, bar, snuggery, billiard-room, and kitchen and appurtenances; ■ and upstairs there are a parlour and 14 lofty and commodous bed-rooms. . The upstairs /parlour is intended for the use of permanent ' visitors only, and the billiard-room is fitted ■ very handsomely, , comparing favorably with ■ the other rooms in the town. The furniture throughout the house is of a superior description, the accommodation being altogether firat•class.. The outside of the building has been .renovated and redecorated, and presents a, handsome frontage , to Manners-street. The , proprietor deserves every credit for his enterprise, and we hope he will meet with the success , he .deserves. Mr. Turnbull was the architect and Mr., Taylor the builder. At the new schoolroom, Courtenay-plaoe, on October 3, the Rev, S. Macfarlane delivered a lecture on " The Art of Opening and Shutting the Mouth ” There was a very good attendance, the Mayor occupying the chair, and the Rev. Mr. Redstone was also on the platform. The chairman having made' some humorous remarks by way of introduction, the lecturer proceeded with his subject, which he handled .'well, and succeeded admirably in amusing the audience by introducing funny anecdotes and amusing remarks. He first treated of the for- : mation of the mouth, and then went on to' show that unless proper care were taken in the use of it, consequences more; or less disastrous must necessarily follow—men and women •being oftentimes unpleasantly affected physically by reason of not studying the matter, and morally, too, from a similar neglect. The lecture appeared to give great satisfaction to those present; The postponed entertainment by the choir of St. Raul’s Church, in aid of St. Mark’s, was held in the Sydney-street schoolroom on October 3rd, and as usual obtained a large number of ‘supporters. Mr. Clapcott gave two of his excellent readings, one being a scene from Sheridan’s “ Rivals,” and the other.,, poem entitled “ Beautiful Snow.” We missed several of our old friends who formerly assisted to make these entertainments so enjoyable, but their places appeared to be excel'ently filled up, and it was pleasant to see that the great want of gentlemen’s songs hitherto felt has at last been remedied, several songs being excellently' given, especially “ The Will of the Wisp” and the “ Englishman,” by one of our well-known baritones, both being rapturously redemanded. “The Goodbye at the Door” and “ Shu Wore ~a Wreath of Roses” were also rendered in a very natural and pleasing manner by a young .. .lady who has hot hitherto ! been heard here.

“Flowers of the Forest,” “ Vashti,” and “ The Vagabond,” were also respectively well: sung bv three well-known amateur • musicians. A pianoforte solo entitled “ Britannia; ’ which rer nuired considerable execution, was played in a very dashing manner by a young lady, who also accompanied ip° 3t o£ the P Mfc "° D = a ’ 1 &c '! ament' which we may mention “ The Cloud Capped Towers,” “Daughter, of Error,” and “ Hail Smiling Morn.” The choruses as usual .were rendered in a very creditable manner; but there is still considerable want of confidence to be overcome. The entertainment as a whole was, wo think, a decided improvement on former ones, the programme being much more varied.; Financially the result of the entertainment will prove a sensible- addition to the funds of St. Mark’s Church. The musical and literary entertainment held in St. John’s schoolroom on October 9th was a brilliant success, the attendance being larger than it ever has been previously at these entertainments. Everyone present. enjoyed themselves thoroughly, the performances being of a very superior character indeed. An overture was the first oh the programme, and was very effectively performed, and a glee followed, after which a song, “The Bonny Hills of Scotland,” was given, and met with applause. . A clarionette solo, “La Sounambula,” was specially pleasing, and earned for the player flattering commendation. A selection entitled “ The Attractive Young Lady” was productive of piuch amusement, as also a sc ng, “ Peter Piper,” by a well-known amateur, who was loudly applauded, and in response to an encore sang a comic song about a trip to the West Coast and incidents on the road of a funny character. The gem of the evening, however, was a song, “Up to the Forest hie,” by a lady. The applause following the conclusion of the performance was hearty and prolonged, and none of it was undeserved. Thera were many other excellent songs, duets, etc, and generally the entertainment was a success, reflecting great credit on Mr. Raymond, the choir-master, and promoter of the affair. The proceeds go towards the organ fund.