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Ashburton Guardian, Volume XIV, Issue 2905, 22 February 1893, Page 3

The harvest thanksgiving services were held in the Methodist Church on Sunday last. Willing workers had very tastefully decorated the church with flowers, evergeens, grain, etc., whilst a fair amount of garden produce was also displayed. The hymns aunj{ were suitable to the occasion. The preacher in the morning was Mr Twentyman, who preached an interesting sermon, specially adapted for the time, Rev J. Cocker preached in the evening and the cjjurch was full on both occasions. On Monday evening, a social gathering was held, when the chui'ch \yas nicely filled and an interesting programme was gone through, The choir sang anthems ; Mr Marsden gave a number of secleetious on his:i bells; Mr Mr Aston . gave an address; solos were given by Mrs W. Marsden and Mr R, E. Dowle ; Mrs Davies presided at the organ ; and the circuit minister was chairman. The meetings were successful. The " Marton Mercury " thinks that Hastings will, in future, have to be called the Chicago of New Zealand. It remarks th&t though on the Thursday morning half the town was burnt to the ground, on Saturday nearly the whole of the burnt.out j business men were ready again for customers." Our contemporary then adds ;-—rJne enterprising chemist boldly advertised on Saturday, " Fire don't stop us." A large clothing company were ready with au entire new; stock by Saturday morning. The two banks were again open, and business went ou as usual, although the heaps of debris in the street Were still alight, with the engines playing on them. There is pluck and energy in Hastings, reminding one of the enterprise in Chicago ia,their great fire in the •'Seventies,' when the largest retail draper drew up plans fora new building and let the contract while the engines were yet playing on his fast reducing premises.