HOSPITAL BENEFIT.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2177, 27 December 1875, Page 2

HOSPITAL BENEFIT.

Postponement of the Demonstra- . • : ■ ; , tioa. :... ' ;

To-day was the day forwhich so many preparations had been made, and from which so much, was expected of benefit to the funds of "the Hospital. Unluckily, however, the weather, which on Christmas day had been unusually close, and oppressive, broke up, and the rain of yesterday evening caused gloomy forebodings in the minds of many whpwere looking forward to the festivities and sports announced. The morning broke so unfavorably as 'to 'confirm : these fears, and the rain, which .set in at an early period, soon made it manifest that all hopes of carrying'out the programme as intended would have to be abandoned. The Eechabite and Protestant Alliance Societies accordingly met at an early hour, and determined, as far as they were concerned, to renounce all intention of going with the demonstration, and sent a suggestion to the General Committee that it had better be postponed until Saturday next. The Central Committee met at the rooms of the Loyal Waikato Lodge, Richmond street, at 10 o'clock, to consider the matter. Mr L. J. Bagnall, Chairman of the Central Committee, being in?the chair.

Mr Bull said that in consequence of the unfavorable state of the weather the Protestant Alliance and Eechabite Societies had held a meeting, and had sent a suggestion that the demonstration be postponed until Saturday. He therefore made a motion to that effect, and subsequently, at the suggestion of the chairman, added the words—" provided the sub-committee could arrange with the lessees of the : Parawai gardens to have the use of the . ground;6h that'day_i; '^:i :• ' .'| The chairman said they all were aware why they had met. The weather was so unfavorable that even if they walked out through the mud to Parawai they could not expect the public to do so, consequently the benefit would not be unsuccessful as theyi expected; andjthe|efolfe it would be, better'to have a sub^conimittee to arrange with the lessees and have posters out announcing the postponement. \ Mr Angus Campbell proposed Thursday as a more fitting day than Saturday,, but haying .first-pf-all proposed ;simply "■ that ithe demonstration, be ;p!ostpph^d> -and then added the wprds "until Thursday," his motion came to be regarded as the original motion and Mr Bull's as the ! amendment. '\ :

Vv^lsngrdiscttSM^ the '• pros "and '' cons "" "of "TliSirsday and Saturday, another amendment naming Friday as the day being withdrawn, when the matter had been fully discussed; The chairman put.,Mr Bull'sy amendment, which was carried by a majority of aide to seven. !

The demonstration, therefore, is postponed until Saturday, and Messrs Ba|nall, Bull and Nodder are appointed a sub-committee to arrange matters with the lessees.

Another long discussion then arose as

to the diaposal of the provisions already i ordered, and after various proposals had been made of holding an evening's entertainment, an afternoon luncheon, selling ■ them, to thtf holders of booths at the races, >&c:, Mr Robinson made such satisfactory offers as rendered it probable that the matter would be satisfactorily arranged if left to the booth committee. This!was accordingly done.