CAMBRIDGE. WESLEYAN SOIREE. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1193, 19 February 1880, Page 2

CAMBRIDGE. WESLEYAN SOIREE. [FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.]

v soieee was held in the Wealeyan hurch on Tuesday. The tab.es, seven in number, literally groaned under the weight of the good things provided by the ladles for the occasion, .he ladies who supplied tables were — Mesdames E. B. Walker, it. Reynolds, A. Gane, Ualey, dall and Bridgman, Clark and Bull, and Miss Brown. Tea was made at 6 o'clock an i the tables were at once filled, and the ladies were kept employed making tea for the numbers that sat down until 8 o'clock, i he spread on every table consisted of the richeat delicacies that could be made from butter, eggs, and preserves, and other dainty confections. After all had fully partaken of the sumptuous viands, and the tables had been cleared away and seats arranged, the buildinsr was completely filled with a large audience. The Rev. H. Ball announced the hymn, " Hold the Fort," which was sung by the choir, the audience joining in. i\lr John oughton, junr., presided at the harmonium, and rendered the accompaniments excellently. The Key. W. Evans was then called j upon to engage in prayer; after which Air Gane, senior circuit steward, took the chair, and explained that the object of the soiree was to pay off a debt of £46 on the building. Th : proceeds from the sale of tickets would help, but other help was needed. He himself would give £5 towards it ; vJr Walker said ha would give another £5 ; others promised smaller amounts. he Chairman here announced a song by Mrs Mackintosh, ♦« ired," which that lady sang in her usual good style. •he Key. Air Martin was then called upon to give a short address. In commencing he thanked the people for the cordial hospitality to which he. had been

entertained while in the district. He then gave a very instructive and eloquent address oa " Singularity." The ohoir, under the leadership of Mr 0. D. Mackintosh, rendered the anthem " O ITiou Whose Power." Rev. W. Evans then addressed the audience, and in a very interesting* «ud amusing speech, in whioh he repeatedly called forth roars of laughter by his anecdotes, sought to show how great results were achieved by little steps. Miss Caley then sang " I love to think of Heaven," with sweet expression and in excellent time. Rev. H. Bull after relating an unsung anecdote showing the folly of making too long speeches, gave an account of his trip to Dunedin. He said that he was sorry to say the conference at Danedin was not so successful a one as those he had before attended in New Zealand. At Dunedin with iU 3500 ) inhabitants, the conference was nots<j good as regards the number that attended, or the result they arrived at financially, as that held at Cambridge last year. Mr Bull said he had reoeived a telegram from the chairman of the Home Slission Committee, saying that if the floating debt; was paid off at once, he would guarantee a cheque for £12 10s. They had incurrftj no debt last year, taw debt was from the proceeding one, and it w.ts a matter for con ratulation that they hud been able to tine the churoh and par* chase a handsome and valuable organ without incurring? any fresh debt. He hoped when the flouting debt w»h paid off they would be able to go on from quarter to quarter without incurring farther liabilities. The gl c " Forgive blest shade f ' wai next sung by the ohoir with great success. Mr Griffiths, lately from l&agland, then srave an aooount of hw voyage out, what he thought of the colony. The nnthem " The foe behind, the deep before" was sung next, then votes of thanks were curried by aoclnrarttion to the ladies providing the tables, the members of the choir, Mr Mioiotoeh, to those who had given addresses, and the chairman. After antther hymn the benediction was pr m > meed by >tev. V7. Evans, and the audieooe disp? sed.