Stockton Herald, South Durham and Cleveland Advertiser. — 1882-05-06 (Stockton-on-Tees, Cleveland, England)

BREAKFAST AT MIDDLESBROUGH.  The annual May-morning breakfast in ccunection with the Queen's-terrace Congregational Church, Middlesbrough, was held on Tuesday morning in the eohool-room Tinder the church. Breakfast waa announced to been the tables at six o'clock, and promptly at that hour the room was well tilled and the first sitting took place. The tables were well supplied with simple yet wholesome food, and were decorated with a variety of choice cut flowers, plants, dm., being in charge of the following ladies :—Mesdames Warner, Henderson, l'smaby, Southcote, E. Close, N. Clone, Musther, Pride, Uethank, Peareon, M. Poilitt, Smith, and Shepherdson. A. number of canaries were suspended ' in various parts of the room, and sang beautifully, adding mach to the enjoyment of those present. When the tables had been cleared away the Rev. Mr James ascended the platform and took the chair, , being supported by the Rev. A. Halliday, M.A., the Rev. R. H. Roberts, Mr J. S. Calvert, and Mr Shepherdson.—The Chairman began by explaiuieg that the May or (Alderman Archibald), who was advertised to preside, had been prevented from attending owing to pressing business in London. His sympathies, however, were with them, id had it been at all practicable he would have boon amongst them. (Applause,) Alluding to May-morning bres,klarts, the Chairman remarked that they were first originated by Dr. Britton, of London, wilo used to gather his young people together at nix o'clock in the morning in the church for the purpose of delivering a sermon to them. Whether the sermons were dry— (laughter)—or what was the reason, he (the Chairman) did not know, but in course of time it came to be a feeding of the body as well as of the mird. He referred to the great interest taken in the movement in his church, and congratulated the audience on the fact of the morning being so fine.— Miss Jesey Close then gave a pianoforte solo with accuracy, taste, and skill, after which the Rev. Mr Roberta, being called upon for a spoech, gave a recitation as a substitute. He was warmly received, as was Mr and Master Hilton for a pianoforte and violin duet.— Mr J. B. Calvert, being called upon, commenced by remarking that it was not without somewhat of an effort that he managed to rise at so early an hour, but that hiid not always been the case, for he once belonged to the original Early Rising Association at Middlesbrough. (Laughter.) The members had'to take a solemn promise—and they all knew his partiality for solemn promises—to rise not later than 5.30 and present themselves under what was now the Albert Bridge at six o'clock precisely, when they took a walk to what was now the Park. Many, he held, laid the foundation of early rising from that A.ssociation, and one advantage had been that they obtained a knowledge of the ancient footpaths, which had been very useful to the recently-formed association for the protection of the ancient footpaths. (Applause.) --Mr Parkinson gave , a most enjoyable pianoforte selection, and ' the Rev. Mr Halliday made a short appro. 1 . 1 priate speech. Votes of thanks to the ! speakers, the performers, and the ladies who had (Marge of the tea closed the proceedings, which were highly succeeof al. The choir , added to the enjoyment by their singing.  On Sunday night, about eight o'clock, a farmer named John O'Keeffe, about 70 years of age, was shot dead while on hid way from King William's Town. About twelve months ago he took a farm from whioh his brother, Denis Keeffe, was evicted. Since then the brothers have not been on friendly terms. Timothy Keeffe, Denis Keeffo's SOD, has been arrested on suspicion.  A Coventry telegram states that a signalman at Siding, between Attleborough and Rugby, reports the finding, at 4.40 on Tuesday morning, of a large sleeper firmly secured to the metals over which the Iriso mail would have passed seven minutes le,ter. He immediately removed the obstruction. At Manchester City Police Court on Tuesday J. S. Rogers, J. S. Shakespear, Wm. Evans, and McKenzie were brought up charged with defrauding persons in the nextof-kin agency, and were remaLded for a fortnight. On Saturday a daring robbery was corn. mitted at the Midland Bank, Birmingham. A bag of gold containing about £5O, was planed on the counter, and while the owner was talking to the clerk someone walked off with it. At the Central Criminal Court on Tuesday John Baker i 24), labourer, was charged with the wilful murder of Enoch Clarke. To this he pleaded not guilty, hut to a further indictment charging him with burglary be pleaded guilty. The trial was deferred.