PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, PIGEON BAY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 4, Issue 389, 27 April 1880, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH, PIGEON BAY.

• The annual tea- and public meeting of this congregation was held last Thursday evening in the school house. The attendance, though not so large as on some occasions, was nevertheless exceedingly good, the house being filled in nvery part up to its fitting capacity.

Tables were provided by the Misses Hay, Miss Pitcaithley and Mrs Stewart, Mrs Smith and Mrs M'Kay, Mrs Innes and Mrs Gillespie. There was also a batchelors' table given by Messrs D. M'Kay and 11. Savage. There were others that assited, as Mrs Alexander (who supplied all the tables with grapes), Mrs Gissick, Mrs Pettigrew, and Miss Pettigrew.

The spread was all that the most fastidious could desire, and was done full justice to. ' After tea the public meeting was held, Rev. W. Douglas, pastor of the congregation, presiding. The meeting was opened by singing the 100 th Psalm.

The Rev. Mr Douglas gave a general report of the work of the Church during last year, similar to the one given the previous evening at Akaroa.

Mr Pitcaithley, Secretary of the Financial Committee, read the financial report for Pigeon Bay ; and also, in the unavoidable absence of Mr Innes, for the Head of the Bay.

The report from Pigeon Bay showed a gross income of £143 lis 2d, in addition to £9 raised for a Sunday School Library. The expenditure was £131 3s 9d ; leaving a balance, in addition to the £9 for Sunday School Library, of £12 7s sd.

, Mr Pitcaithley explainsd that the balance had been reduced somewhat by a charge for transfer of the properly of the Church in Pigeon Bay to the trustees. He thought, considering the times, this was a highly satisfactory report he had to- make. He hoped the Congregation would go on steadily improving as it had done year by year for the last six years, when it was thought that £60 was all the Bay could raise for the support of ordinances—a sum which had been, as they saw, now more than doubled.

The report was received with applause. The sum raised by Head of the Bay district was £20 15s.

Mr Stewart, on being called upon to say a few things in connection with the Sunday School, excused himself as having been taken at unawares, and by a few humorous remarks got out of the task imposed on him.

The Rev. Mr Hill gave a very interesting and profitable address on Christian usefulness, stating that by example, conversation, and liberality the religion of Christshould be manifested byitsprofessors, and interspersing several anecdotes illustrative of his remarks.

Mr Gissick addressed (he meeting, after reporting of his work,* on the subject of " observing that they ought to be Willing, Orthodox, Righteous. Kind, Earnest, Ready, and Sympathetic. This address, which was vigorous and ingenious, was well received.

Mr Gillespie, to whom Mr Douglas referred , as, in age and other respects, a father amongst them, on being requested to make a few remarks, said, as Chairman of the Financial Committee, he thanked the people for. their liberality, and counselled them to persevere in the good work an<| be at peace with one another. He excused himself for not making a long speech as it did not lie in Iris way. The choir, under the direction of Mr Stewart and Miss Seager, who ably discharged the duties of harmouiumist for the occasion, gave a selection of hymns, and it was observed that the singing was never more successful than on the present occasion. Altogether, in spirit and tone, this tea meeting was one of the most satisfactory ever held in Pigeon Bay. After passing the usual votes of thanks to the ladies and others who provided and aided at the tables, to the retiring Financial Committee, to the ladies Who, as collectors, assisted the Committee during the past year, and making special mention of Miss, Marshal] in this " connection ; to the choir, and especially to Miss Hay who acts as harmoniumist to the congregation ; to the speakers, and to the Chairman, the meeting was brought to a close by the Dismission Hymn and the Benediction.