S. ANDREW'S, CAMBRIDGE.

Waikato Argus, Volume III, Issue 174, 24 August 1897, Page 2

S. ANDREW'S, CAMBRIDGE.

On' Fiiday evening last a unique gathering of the workers connected with the above church was held in the Sundayschool.when they partook of " high tea" at the invitation of a number of the lady members of the congrcpa'.ion. The gathering was a most successful one, and we believe will be productive of much good, for the church-workers who had attended to their duties well wou'd feci pleased that their efforts met wilh approval, while those who had been negligent would feel ashamed and resolve to be more vigilant in the future. Those invited embraced the numbers of the vestry, the guild of lingers, the choir, the Sunday-school (« icherf, the verger, and all who in any way assisted in th« work of the church. The invitations were issued by the vicar on behalf of the donors, and all we could gather from him about it was that it was got up solely by some of the lady members of the church ; we therefore presume the donors do not wish their names mentioned. Whoever they may be, the inspirat : on was certainly a happy one, and their efforts wore crowned with success, for everyone present appeared to thoroughly enjoy themselves. The repast was most recherche, including all the delicaties of the season, and os the who'c of the comestibles had been prepared by the fair donor-, we need hardly sa\' they could not be surpassed. We heard one of the guests remark : " Why, this is another Jubilee banquet," and so it was, for the tables were tastefully decorated with flowers, av.d racli guests' serviette contained a lovely button-hole bouquet of violets, ferns, etc., that must have taken considerable time to prepare. Owing to the hea/y rain several of those invited did not put in an appearance; but, notwithstanding the bad weather, there must have been fully sixty who partook of the ladies' hospitality. The tables were arranged acre ss the top and down each side of the school, and after the Archdeacon had asked a blessing the delectable viands thereon were attacked with vigour, the guests being waited upon by Mesdamcs Willis, Buekland, Wells, Hally, Richardson, McCullagh and others, assisted by a uunilcr of young ladies. When the church-workers were satisfied, those who had been waiting sat down and their guests waited upon them. The tables were then cleared, the white cloths withdrawn and coloured ones substituted, and various games, such as cards, chess, etc., were indu'ged in during the rest of the evening, a number of musical selections also being excellently rendered at intervals. Amongst the vocalists were Mies Peterson, who sang "Autumn Flowers "ami "There's a Path by the Piver ; " Miss Willis, who gave an excellent rendering of " The Tin Gee-gee ; ' Mrs Chitty sang "Ruby,'' and Mrs Lowe "Some Day" both songs old favourites, and MIS 3 Fisher joined the latter in the duet, " I Would That My Love ; " Miss Willis and Mr Lusk gave a pretty duet, "Life's Dream is O'er, Farewell"—a transcription of the well known "Alice, Where Art Thou?" and the latter also sang the spiiited song "Marching;" Mr T. W. Simpson oaug "Shipmates" and "The Longshoreman." The instrumental music was supplied by Mrs Pilnher, the Misses Wells and Fisher, and Messrs C. Stewart and Hart J the last-mentioned was uproariously encored for his performance on two small whistles. Archdeacon Willis made a short speech, explaining how the gathering had originated, and, on behalf of the guests, Mr Dyer thanked the donors of the feast. This very enjoyable evening then terminated with the singing of the National Anthem.