MAESDEN CENTENARY

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2328, 9 December 1914, Page 10

MAESDEN CENTENARY

CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICE.

. One hundred years ago, on Christ-mas'-Day, the. Rev. Samuel Marsden and his little ba;nd of missionaries ' commenced in the Bay of Islands the first great missionary enterprise of the 19th century (says, the Auckland "Herald")The spot where Marsden first preached the'Gospel'is now marked by a stone cross, at the foot of which, on Christmas Day this year, there will be a celebration of Holy Communion.. It is expected that there will be present a large gathering from the north, especially of the, Maoris, and it is hoped to raise a 'sufficient to erect/a-/.me-, mofial fchurch-to•_■ SaMiel;--Marsden-"at' Russell.'''. "-■'.-•

On December 15 the celebration of the centenary will be commenced by a gathering in the Auckland Town-Hall. The Mayor, '-'MK C." J.' Parr,' will pre : side, and speeches will be delivered by the/Anglican Bishop of Auckland, who will speak on the life work of the groat missionary, by Canon • Mac Murray, who will deal with other of our pioneer missionaries, and by the Rev. F. Bennett, who will state the present position of the Maori race.. Combined choirs will supply the musical-portion of the programme. ,

A Church Congress was to have taken place in,. Auckland at the beginning of the year'. This portion of the programme 'has'had;to Le deleted; however, though, it is hoped that the scheme to raise a centenary thanksgiving fund of £20,000 for education purposes and £30,000 for augmenting the stipends of tho poorer clergy will not be abandoned altogether, and that something will be' done to show practical appreciation of the work cf Marsden-and those early' pioneers of New Zealand.

Miss Marsden, a relative of the pioneer missionary, is already in New Zealand, . and v a cable message has been received from_ a grandson of Samuel Marsden, 6tating his, intention' to visit New Zealand'from 'Australia', and attend! the celebrations.

The special services, on Christmas Day will .be goneral throughout the Dominion. '-,-.,..' .'■

The twelfth annual report of the No,, 2 Co-operative Building Society of Petone, to bo presented at the annual meeting next week, states that tho year just closed has • been one of the best since the society was founded. Tho revenue for the year amounted to £1704 14s. lid., representing subscriptions £501 155., repayments on loans £1160 -4s. ,6d.y, and .sundries £42 15s. 'sd. lie sum or £1200 bad been advanced to shareholders,' £900 on mortgage, and £300 deposited in the Post Office Savings Bank on behalf of a participating member, making the grand total loans since the inception of tho society £14,507, of whioh smn £7403 16s. 3d. has been repaired. Twelve ordinary and five special meetings had been- held during ,the. year,; and the report concludes witli a request that each member will loyally support the society by the prompt -settlement of accounts. Five directore and one auditor are to be elected at the'meeting, and a ballot for an appropriation is to be held also.

The following resolution was carried at a meeting of the Petone branch of .the-,National;State Schools' Defence League, hold "on Monday :—"That the Petone branch of the National State Schools' Defence League regrets that the Hutt branch of tho Bible-in-Schools League has issued a circular calling upon its-members to support the candidature of Mr. Samuel, who has given an assurance, that if elected ho will support the Bible-in-Schools Referendum Bill : as" introduced last session by the HonV ; James Allen; the National .Schools'.Defence League therefore calls upon all, its members, who wish to see the present system of education maintained, to' support the candidature of Mr. Wilfordj'ftho representative of the local party which . has. pledged itself to support the existing system of free, secular, and' compulsory education."

At about 6.30 on Monday evening a large two-storied wooden dwelling, occupied by Mr. O: Pratt, and situated in Parliament Street, Lower Hutt, was completely destroyed by fire._ Tho local fire brigade wore speedily in attendance, but in the face of a strong gale, and the fact that tlio house was very old, were unable to save the building. Mr. Pratt, it is understood, was absent at the time of tho outbreak. Tho insurances on the premises are unknown.