Social Entertainment.

Waikato Times, Volume XXI, Issue 1746, 13 September 1883, Page 2

Social Entertainment.

A socnii entertainment in connection with the al)O\e association was held in the schoolroom of S. Andrew's Church, Cambridge, on Tuesday evening last. There was an unexpectedly large attendance of friends, the weather being favourable, and the chair was occupied by the piesident, Mr W. L. C. Williams. The entertainment, which took the shape of a musical tieat combined with an exhibition of objects of ait and cuiiosities, was of a somewhat unusual chuiacter, inasmuch as the audience was privileged to move about dining the intei vals, and inspect the \arious interesting objects anangecl on the tables, winch had been kindly lent by members and friends for the occasion. The principal contributors to whom the association were indebted for assistance in this respect were Mr F. J. Brooks, Mr Hyatt, Major Wilson, Mr Moon, Mr Hawley, Mr S. Richardson, Mr T. Hicks, Mr W. A. Richardson, Mr Dixon, and Mr Rowc. The objects contributed by Mr Hyatt wei'e very various, exceedingly interesting, and valuable. Among the most noticeable of these was a picture by Guido, the great Italian painter and one of tht Bolognese School (1C30), of Mary Magdalene, on ivory, and for which a large sum of money lias been offered to Mr Hyatt. A number of fossil ferns belonging to the same gentleman also attracted considerable notice. Another object of much interest was a large bed quilt, the property of Mr T. Hicks, which was composed of nearly 8000 different pieces. Among the coins on e<hibiton we noticed several curious olil pieces, one being of the reign of Alexander the Great, making it 2000 years old. The stereoscopic views, photographic and other pictures, also the microscopes and galvanic batteiies, excited much attention. Theiewas an admirable collection of kiwi and other native mats. The musical and literary portion of the evening passed off very successfully. The most noticeable items were Mr Moore's song, f< Alice wbere ait thou" ; Mr A. Cohen's recitation, "The Curfew " ; Mr Hawloy's recitation from' the Lady of Lyons, a duet by the Misses Selby, " The wind and the harp" ; and a song by Mrs Smith. These, with the following, constituted the programme i — Readings by Col. Lyon and Mr Hyatt, song by Miss Selby, piano duet by Mrs Chitty and Miss Wilson, song, '" We Tars," by Mr Faust, recitation by MiBrooks, song by Mr Moore, and trio by Messrs Moore, Evans and Hawley. The accompaniments were contributed by Mrs Chitty, Miss Wilson, and Mr M. Keesingin a pleasing manner. During the evening Mr J. P. Campbell delivered a very appropriate speech ou the objects of the association. Mr Keesing also delivered a few remarks on the same subject, inviting the co-operation of the Cambridge public afc their meetings. The president, on behalf of the association, thanked those present for their kind attendance. The National Anthem brought a very enjoyable evening to a close. * ' '

Rats and Mice. —lf you wisb to destroy them get a packet of Hill'sll.VGic Vermin Killkr in packets, (Id, 9d, and Is, to be obtained of all storekeepers, or from T. B. Hill by enclosing an extra stamp. ' i Lifk in the Bush— Thes and Now.— It is generally supposed'thatin the bush we have' 1 to put up ■with many dis'coinforts and, privations in the shape 1 ot food! Fornierly it was so, but now, thanks .to T. B. Hill, .who has himself dwelt in the bu«h," if food does cojjsjst chiefly of( tinned meats his Colonial Saugk gives, to ,them - a most delectable flavour^ makipff theip as 'well' of the plainest food mostecjbyable; and instead' i as ham bisqutts and ii^dtgeitiole damper his" Ih- , pkovKD CoLO.v'tAL^ Baking ,Po\VD^R, v ,makes the very best bread, scories.'c'akes, arid: pastry far superior ''and more wholeiome; 'than yeast or leaven. > Sold by aH'.storftkoflpi.rs%ho;e»n cib- r tain it from any merchant tjrAuckland.," ' . ' mra,'iVtb y B*ma^ft^ejofij|p^coloifre^

yFIItES INj^AMf£w^. s

The Old Congregational Church 1 / ' Burned Down. At* about ,hal£ past t&ijyesterday /indrning the residence j^f the vV ftey. H.i S'" JDayies? toithe bjjUdMg formerly? used as 'a Congregational church, caught on fire tnrough the agency of a stove pipe and in a short time the whole structure was destroyed. At the tjine.i>f the occurrence Mr Da vies wwavs v sitting in the room used', as a kitchen, 'engaged in writing/a letter. He heard a' crackling sound which he at first supposed was caused by the blue gum pods falling on the roof, but as it grew louder he proceeded to make enquiries. To this end he went into the parlour, and afterwards outside at once perceived that the shingles of the lean-to were in a blaze. Withoutjtlods of time Mr Davies ran across the road to Mr Coohrane's wheelwright shop, and procured the assistance of Mr Cochrane and hid employes. From the first it was seen that nothing could bs done to save the building and the efforts of the party were consequently directed toward rescuing as much of the furniture and other contents a<- possible. Mv Davies large and valuable collection of books were nearly all taken out uninjured, together with most of the furniture down stairs. The harmonium, seats, desks, &c, weie also taken out of schoolroom, but everything on the tipper floor, including a number of books, papeis and a magic lantern and slides, valued at £20 were lost. Owing to the age of the building the file ran through it with gieat vapidity so that within an hour after the alarm was given nothing reinaiued but a bea.p of embers. The church and dwelling hoime, which were the property of the Rev. Mr Davies were with their contents insuied in the New Zealand Office for £000, but this sum will not cover the loss. The old church had a .somewhat chequered history and played many parts. Piobably the first wooden building in Hamilton, it was originally designed as an hotel, and the fire discloses what was intended for a beer cellar. Afterwards it was converted into a store, and served in that capacity for some time. Then it was purchased by Mr Davies and used by him for several years as a congregational chapel. When Mr Davies entered into holy orders as a priest of the Ohuich of England, the chuich awvj u^ed once or twice as .in Anglican place of woiship and also for a length of time during the recumbency of tfie Riv. William Calder and of hi^ .succession the late Archdeacon Lush, it was used as a Sunday-school. For a long lvuinbor of y»ars Mr Davies conducted there a private Classical and commercial school. Of late it has not been devoted to any specific pui - povj.