Anniversary Soiree.

Thames Star, Volume XI, Issue 3670, 29 September 1880, Page 2

Anniversary Soiree.

One of those social events that help us to mark the flight of time was the soiree at the Rolloston street school last erening, in commemoration of the 12th anniversary of St. George's Sunday School. The building was crowded, and an excellent tea was provided by the following ladies:—Mesdames Payne, Kenrick, Huxtable, Hollis, Banks, H. Phillips, Hall, Lush, West, and Misses Chitty, Day, and Haselden. After the tea had been cleared away, the rer. incumbent of St George's Church took the chair, and after a few remarks appropriate to the occasion, announced that the committee of the Sunday school had made arrangements with Mr Haywood to exhibit his New Zealand Panorama in the school house on Wednesday (this) evening. He then called upon Mr Gerring, Superintendent of the school. Mr Gerring, after apologising for bringing up two annual reports within nine months, read the report as follows : —•The report of St. George's Sunday school, which we have to read to you this evening, covers but a portion of a yearnine months,—but they have been, we are thankful to say, nine months of considerable prosperity, though chequered with Borne losses which have given us sorrow and regret. We have t« record the loss of three pupils by somewhat sudden deaths, and our regret at losing four teachers—Miss Whitaker and Miss Bacon, Mr Gribble and Mr Puckey, the last two by leaving the Thames. Mr Gribble, our indefatigable secretary and librarian, has gone to Maraitai, and Mr Puckey to Auckland. On their departure each received a small memento of our esteem, and we take this opportunity to express our hope that wherever they go they may have " Good luck in the name of the Lord." The number of children attending the school has not decreased, and the average attendance still keeps up to about 350. Mr Worsley (of the Union Bank of Australia) who has had considerable experience in SundftjpScbool work, has most kindly consented to supply the

vacancy caused by Mr Gribble's loss, and we trust some other member of the Charch may come forward to take Mr ■ Puckey's class. Three of the senior scholars, Misses Probert, Brown, and Burns, have been promoted from the first class to the position of teachers teachers of the younger children, and they are likely to make useful and efficient teachers. The two large classes of boys and girls, which occupy the two side rooms, are still managed by their respec* tive, efficient, and deservedly popular and beloved teachers. —Mrs Phillips and Mrs Osbaldson. On behalf of the treasurer Mr Gerring i submitted that gentleman's report, which < showed that from the 31st December to the 24th inst. the receipts had been £39 4s 3|d, and the expenditure £36 Os 2d, leaving a balance of £3 4s l^d. The musical portion of the programme was then introduced by the Choir of St.

George's Church singing the glee, " The S«ft Winds." Mr Coney, who, however, did not appear to be in good voice, acquitted himself fairly in " The Tillage Blacksmith." One of the gems of the evening was Mrs Corrigan's song, " The Lover and the Birds." This lady's Toice is not a large one, but her singing gives evidence of high culture. A. duet "Flowonthou Shining Bivqr" by Mrs Macky and Miss E. Day followed, and was exceedingly well received an encot^^^ being demanded. They complied by sing^^ ing very sweetly that grand old Scotch lament, " The Land o' the Leal." Mr Airey had to repeat the last verse of his humorous song "Cheap Jack." He was succeeded by Miss A. Lush, who rendered a solo very sweetly. The pretty little trio " Moonrise/' by the Misses and Mr Steward, elicited warm plaudits. After a song by Miss Murrish, Miss and Master Coney gave a piano duet "The Pinafore Quadrilles," introducing all the principal airs of Sullivan's favorite opera. The song " Waiting " was sweetly rendered by Mrs Kilgour, who, on being <• encored exceeded her previous effort in another song, the name of which we were

unable to ascertain. The " Three Chafers " a quartette by Messrs Catran, Brown, Steward and Weston highly amused the audience. Miss Proberfc, singing with taste and feeling, gave the song " Apart," after which Mr Catran sang "I fear no foe," in which his fine voice was heard to advantage. Miss Coney's song, "In the gloaming," was duly appreciated, as also was the duet by Miss Belcher and Miss Probert. After a quartette and a song by Messrs C. Brown, the programme was brought to a close by the singing of the glee "Huntsman's Chorus." Votes of thanks having been accorded to the ladies who had supplied the tables, the choir, and to Mr Trewhella, who superintended the musical arrangements, the assemblage dispersed. \...• . ,