TEA AND CONCERT TO THE REV. E. A. SCOTT.

Kumara Times, Issue 2898, 11 February 1886, Page 2

TEA AND CONCERT TO THE REV. E. A. SCOTT.

The Rev. E. A. Scott, the pastor of bl. Stephen's, Ashlmrton, who is about to pay a visit to Europe, in company with Mr T. R. Connell, was entertained by a large number of f.iends on Friday evening last. The entertainment took the form of a farewell tea and concert. The lea, which was of an unusually bountiful nature, was served in St. .Stephen's schoolroom, Ashburton, and partaken of by about 200 people of all denominations. The concert took place in the Oddfellows' Hall, and was nn unqualified success in every way, while the ball was densely packed with ;i large audience. Dr. Trevor occupied the chair, and, in addition to the Rev. E. A. Seotr, the following occupied se«t« on the platform :—The Revs' Beat tie and Blake (Presbyterian), and D. M'Nicoll (Wesleyan), Mr W C Walker, M.H.R., and Mr D. H. Brown' Congratulatory and farewell addresses weie delivered, and the Chairman presented the Rev. E. A. Scott with a purse of sovereigns on behalf of his parishioners and other residents. The Rev. Mr Scott, who was received with tremendous applause, thanked them from the bottom of his heart for then- goodness. He felt that he eld not deserve one half of the kind things that had been said about him by those gentlemen upon the platform, 'but he could assure them that he woud siriw to deserve their continued good „,,i„i Jn ' and would feel encouraged to w,„k harder by the demons! ration, if 1,,, might so term h, th«.«. ; pres'-nt had made to him th.t .-venLig. H e (hunk, d all those iadios aud gentlemen who hu.U.

provided the tea and assisted at the concert, and he wished to make special mention of those members of other churches who had given their assistance in a cordially generous spirit.

The second part of the concert was the performance of Mozart's "Twelfth Mass," rendered hy the choir of St. Stephen's Church, assisted by members of other churches and the Orchestral Society, numbering in all sixty performers. Mr H. A. Gates conducted and Mr R. Wood led the orchestra. The performance of the Mass was an entire success, and reflected great credit on all who took part in it.

The Rev. E. A. Scott leaves for Melbourne in the course of a few days, and (the Press remarks) he may rest assured that he carries with him the hearty good wishes of his parishioners, and that his return, twelve months hence, will be eagerly looked forward to, for there is not a more deservedly popular or thoroughly christian and zealous pastor in New Zealand.