NEW WESLEYAN CHURCH, TAI TAPU.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2498, 10 April 1882, Page 4

NEW WESLEYAN CHURCH, TAI TAPU.

This ohnroh was opened for public worship on Good Friday morning. The preacher was the Bev. B. Best, the Bsv. J. S. Smalley reading the lessons for the day. The sermon was an eloquent defence of the atonement of Christ, and the duty of self-sacrifice on the part of Christiana. Luncheon was afterwards •erred in the old ehuroh to some 200 persons. A sale of goods received from Edinburgh as a gift towards the building fund, took place in the afternoon. With one or two exceptions every article put up reached satisfactory prices, but tea time arriving too soon a balance remains unsold. About 350 persons partook of a sumptuous tea in the day school. Subsequently a public meeting was held in the church, presided over by Mr Moore, of Christchurch. A choice selection of anthems were rendered by the choir, and speeches delivered by the Bevs. B. Best, Jukufifa, Mr Broughton, and others Mr J. J. Herrick, the treasurer, stated that the luncheon and tea had realised £3B The ohnroh had cost '£62o, a good deal more than was at first calculated, otherwise it might have been opened free of debt. As it was, when all promises were paid the debt would etand at £169; but the proceeds of sale not yet reckoned should reduce that amount to about £IOO. The pastor, Bev. J. S Smalley, in proposing a vote of thanks to all who assisted, expressed his great satisfaction that the debt was so small. Special reference was made to the handsome stained window presented by Messrs Moore and Duggan, and gifts from other friends.