METHVEN NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1396, 1 November 1884, Page 2

METHVEN NOTES.

(From ocr own (Correspondent.) Most ot you? will remember that last May our district was visited by a very heavy gale of wind, which did great damcge to property and wrecked our Anglican Church. The vestry lost no time in making arrangements to replace the building, but considered it more beneficial and less expensive to the parish to remove the church from the thinly popula ed district of Sherwood to the site of the one destroyed than to erect a new building. Tenders were accordingly called for the removal of the church, and that of a local builder was accepted, who decided to remove the building on wheels, for which purpose he .provided all the nece’s ry appliances and three traction engines. After surmomting many difficulties and vexatious delays, and well as weathering seve-al terrific gales and severe storms, he has at last succeeded in securing the building on i s new foundations, and repairing any damage done to it in the course of transit in such a manner that the “ sacred edifice ” looks none the worss for its long andjperilo is journey. Tne church is a very neat and substantial building, with » vestry and porch attached, and a belfry 10 feet high! on the top of one end, in which is fixed a good sounding bell, which ought to boa great convenience to churchgoers as hitherto they had to depend on their respective timepieces for attending divine service a style which never does conduce to punctuality. The whole building rests on concrete foundations. The size ot the main portion is 40‘t by 25ft and 35ft high to the top of the ridge, and is also very nicely and comfortably furnishedThe Church is a creditable addition to the architecture ofj the township and a very marked improvement on the building that was destroyed, so that the inhabitants may truly say “ it is an ill wind that blows no person any good.” The funds necessary for the removal of thi building were princ pally raised, by subscription! and a g ant from the Church Property Trustees, but in order to supplement ihe funds a number of the members of the congregation, assisted by several friends, gave a concert in the schoolroom last evening. The room was most uncomfortably packed with adherents of all denominations in the district, including many leading settlers from Barrhill, Springfield, and other distant parts of the parish. In the unavoidable absence of the incumbent (Rev W. Chambers) Mr E. Chapman (Churchwarden) discharged the duties of chairman, and a programme consisting of solos, duets, songs, readings and recitations, which has never been excelled by any previous entertainment given in the district, was rendered to a very appreciative audience As all who kindly assisted were amateurs it would be invidious on my part to make comparisons; suffice it to say that each individual renas to merit an encore. Amopgst the dered bis part in such a perfect manner many there are a few who deserve more than a mere passing notice. Prominent I amongst them were our ever ready and obliging friends from Corwar. Our “ new chum ” townspe'ip'e also deserve a meed of praise for the valuable assistance they rendered, and last but not least our two well-known and respected town’s ladies who made such a very successful debut with the popular duet “Caller Herrin” in costume. After singing “ Auld Lang Syne ” and “ God Save the Queen " rhe company dispersed at 11 pm. I understand that the entertainment was as great a success financially as otherwise.