OPENING OF THE NEW CHURCH, LITTLE RIVER.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 3, Issue 263, 24 January 1879, Page 2

OPENING OF THE NEW CHURCH, LITTLE RIVER.

The day fixed for the opening of the new church at Little River, viz., Tuesday, the 14th inst., was unpropitious, and the day following was devoted to the ceremony. An. early hour had to be appointed, so that the Bishop might, after the opening, proceed to Christchurch. These alterations of necessity could only be known to the settlers near, hence the attendance was spare. Soon after 11 o'clock Bishop Harper, the Primate, with the Rev J. Stack and E. A. Otway, reached the church, which is situated on a knoll at the base of the ridge which separates the western valley from the central. The site is an attractive one, and the church has a pleasing and picturesque aspect. The building is erected of wood, and the whole of the external timbers consist of heart of totara. There is a strong cornice moulding fixed round the whole of the building; the roof is framed upon the open principle, diagonally boarded, with a cornice.

The church is lighted with sixteen Lancet lights, of various sizes, and glazed with glass of a greenish tint. Ventilation is obtained in the side walls from seven swing casements, and one Venetian ventilator in each gable. On the western gable is fixed a neat hell turret, surmounted by a metal cross. On the apexes of all the gables there ore crosses fixed of various designs. The church was designed by Mi Mountfort, and built by Mr Noah Walters, who was also the builder of the Maori Church at Little River. These churches form agreeable and interesting additions to the attractive features of the village. As soon as the congregation had assembled, the service for the ocasion was proceeded with by the Rev. gentlemen present, and thereafter the Bishop delivered an address suitable to' the occasion, which was followed by a collection in aid of the building fund. In the afternoon the settlers and their families assembled at the school, where an excellent tea was provided by Mesdames Coop, Fitten, Tyson, Walters, and Westropp. After tea the reports of the Secretary and Treasurer to the Church Building Committee wore .read as follows : — "Your. Committee, before reading lo

you the interim financial statement, thinks it desirable to give you a short history of the building of the church which has been this day so successfully opened by his Lordship the Primate of New Zealand, and we may mention at first that, the site has been our greatest difficulty./NAs far back as December, ,Mr Win. White promised, under certain conditions, ! a site for a church, but, -althbugli gladly accepted by the Committee;, it was' not,in the end available. Some time theri elapsed before the Committee got an offer of a site. At last, Mr Win. Coop kindly eonsensed! to give one on his'land wliich adjoins the" Maori Reserve, but as there was a difficulty about i the surveys it was thought better to look round for a more suitable position. Mr F. Stanbury then kindly offered a site on his land near the mill, but unfortunately there was no suitable road to it, so this had also to be abandoned. Mr Win. Wilson, of Cliristchurch, was then asked to sell an acre of his land which adjoins "the" cemetery, and this gentleman, with his characteristic generosity, .gave,lh&., land, jwhich was shortly after conveyed to the Church Property Trustees. When yotir Committee came to select the on this land, it was -found that .the church would be-nearly, liidden .fi;om view— a" most undesirable thing. It was thought.that if the present site could be obtained this defect would be remedied, arid the result is the-present'siter Before this exchange of land could be completed, it was necessary, to have the , authority oi: Parliament, and our representative, Mr was asked to get a Bill passed through'Parliam'ent empowering the exchange," but the specifiad time within which ■ ft- was to be effected, viz., six .months, elapsed through'a mis- ! understanding, .^d_jcpjseguentlyj,nqthe.r >i application had to be made to the Legislature through our honorable member for this district, for an extended period. This Aot was passed through both Houses during last Session, and your Committee cannot allow this occasion to pass,-by; without thanking him for the.trduble, zdali,and promptitude which. , he has taken in this matter. The deeds have not yet been completed, but the matter is in the hands of the Crown Solicitor in Christohurch, who is taking the necessary steps in connection therewith.

" The question of the site having been fixed, the rest was comparatively easy-. Mr Mountfort was appointed architect, and I think you will all agree that a prettier little church cannot be found on the Peninsula. It reflects great credit on Mr Mountfort, and ia only one "of the many gems in church architecture -turned, put by him. Mr Noah Walters, of Little River, was the contractor, -and his tender of £197 17s includes everything—timber excepted—which has been supplied, partly by Mr W. Coop, and partly by Mr Wm. White. Great praise is due to Mr Walters for the pains he has taken, and for the excellent work throughout the building. He has given great satisfaction alike to the Committee and Architect.

" The interim financial report will show a considerable deficit, but your Committee hope the district wall give them their hearty support to reduce the debt at once. ! The church, which has been-erected amid no small difficulty and delay, will, it is hoped, be well attended by those for whom it has been erected ;" arid by "the "blessing of God become what Bethel Was to the Patriarch Jacob—'None other than the House of God, and the very gate of Heaven. , " ■ The Treasurer in account with the' Little River Church Committee :—, ,;., BECEIPTS. £ fe. 'd. To subscriptions 103 7 6 Architect's subscription ... 10 0 0 Offertory at opening service 17 19 0 £131 6 6 EXPENDITURE. By amount paid on account of . contract ... ... 100 0 0 Clearing land 7 15 0 Advertising ... ... 1 19 0 Insurance... ... ... 3 12 0 Balance in hand .. "... 18 0 6 £131 6 6 Interim statement of accounts of the Little River Church :■ — • ; AMOUHT TO BE.BECEIVED. • ■. ■ "-. :' , £ s. ;d. Church Property Trustees ...8613 4 Outstanding-subscriptions ... "12 0 0 Cash in hand ... ... ... 18 0 6 Balance 168 0 2 £284 14 0 LIABILITIES. . Balance of account for build- ' . ing church ... 87 17 0 Timber account— Messrs W. White and Co. 46 17 0 Mr Coop 95 0 0 Architect ... 35 0 0 £264 14 0 Probable,liability ... £168 0 2 Addresses were delivered by the Revs. Otway and D. O. Hampton. ■ ■ ■ Afterwards an entertainment was given, and the following items were very well rendered :—Piano overture, Miss A. Coop ; song, " Still I love," Miss Birdling; reading, " Pass it on," (a passage in the life of the Duke of Brunswick) Mr H. E. Tyson ; piano overture, Miss Birdling ; song, " Write me a letter from home," Miss Coop ; song, '■ When you and I were young," Mr Win. Birdling, jun.; piano overture, Miss Disher; song, '-Thy voice is near," F. Tyson; reading, "Darby Doyle's voyage to Quebec," Mr G. W. Westropp; song, "Rocked in; the cradle of the deep," Mr F. Birdling ; piano overture, Miss Disher ; song, " Bell Mabone," Mr Win. Birdling,- jun.; song (instrumental) "Rose of Alandale," Mrs Buchanau ; piano overture, Miss A; Coop.

A vote of thanks was passed to the ladioH who provided the tables, to the Chairman (Key. Otway), and to those who had sung and played. " God save the Queen "was then sung by all assembled, and the proceedings terminated.