SOCIAL GATHERING AT WINCHESTER.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2039, 29 April 1890, Page 3

SOCIAL GATHERING AT WINCHESTER.

On Friday evening a social gathering in connection with St. John the Evangelist’s Church, was held at Winchester, in the new schoolroom recently presented to the parish by Mr H. J. Gladstone. The building, which is not yet out of the contractors’ hands, is of spacious dimensions, measuring 46ft x 23ft, and will be described in detail on the occasion of its formal Opening, which will probqbly be in juue. In the ! meantime it must suffice to say that it proved admirably adapted for social purposes, being of more convenient character than the public school, which has generally been used. Although barely a fortnight’s grace had been given them the ladies of the congregation had worked hard and a very sumptuous tea was provided. There were four tables under tpe charge of Mesdames A, Sarjbr, Barrett, Hamilton, Twigg, E. Smithi Hart, Moore, and Curtis, and the Misses Ifoung (2), Wills, ffifollard. and Gimpsoh (2), and the fair hostesses took care that full justice should be done to the good things provided. Some 100 persons having partaken of tea the tables were pleared and a number of fancy goods were displayed and' soon found flurcfiaserd; A'bullock presented by M'p W-HeEenzy was disposed of by grt union for £5, and was won by M r Eyan Tallender, fortune on this

occasion making an appropriate selection. Mr Gimpaon was the lucky winner of a pony given by Mr Eobert Smith, while fortune, to re-establish her fickle character selected a single young man as the recipient of a case of tomato sauce kindly given by Mrs Young. An iced cake and several other articles were disposed of in a similar manner, after which a gift auction of produce took place, Mr A, W. Gaze officiating as auctioneer. A pen of 5 tat wethers presented by Mr H. J. Gladstone, was the object of keen competition, Mr DeEenzy becoming their purchaser at 14s 6d each. He also secured two pairs of purebred Langshans given by Mr H. Smith, for 225. Fowl wheat, oats, potatoes, etc., all fetched full market values, and the result was the netting of between £3O and £4O. This will be augmented by the price of a bullock given by Mr Budd, and which will be sold at the Winchester yards next Saturday. When all had been disposed of the Eev. T. A. Hamilton in a brief speech thanked the ladies for their exertions which had resulted so successfully. He also desiied to thank Mr Girason for the loan of crockery, and all who had assisted in any way, especially those members of other denominations who had contributed to their gift auction. The gathering then dispersed. It may he mentioned that 1 the general arrangements were superintended by the Rev, T. A. Hamilton, ably assisted by Messrs R. and H. Smith, and W. DeEenzy, all of whom worked strenuously to make the affair a success. The proceeds will be devoted to the asphalting of the church walks, and to the erection of a stable, etc,, for the accommodation of the horses of those members of the congregation who attend from a distance. , The church and grounds will then he the most complete of any in the colony.