THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND TEA MEETING.

Marlborough Express, Volume III, Issue 102, 15 February 1868, Page 5

THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND TEA MEETING.

To the Editor of the Marlborough Express. Sir, —Will you give me the opportunity, through your columns, of expressing to the members and friends of the Church of England in Blenheim and its neighbourhood whom I hoped to have had the pleasure of meeting last Friday, my sympathy with them in the circumstances which prevented our meeting from being held—namely, the disastrous flood. Having been an eye-witness to its ravages in the Southern part of the province, I can thus better appreciate their position, and feel much for many of them who have been put to serious loss and inconvenience thereby. I trust, as is often the case, that when the calamity has passed, it will be found that less damage was done than was feared at first, and that the water, speedily passing away, will leave no cause for anxiety as to health ; still the inconvenience caused has been great, though I am thankful that no loss of life occurred. 1 think it better, however, that we should postpone our meeting for a short time, but I shall look forward to have the pleasure of meeting our friends ore long, and coming over specially for that purpose. They will be glad to know that under the kind pilotage (for the rivers require that) of the Rev. IT. F. Butt, 1 have accomplished an interesting and successful tour to the south, and the result of our visit has, we trust, been an arrangement for the establishment of clergymen at Kaikoura, and also for additional services at several places ou tile coast I am glad to express my conviction that a prosperous future, with God’s blessing, is before that branch of Christ’s Chinch to which we belong, in these parts especially, as I see so much growing interest taken by the lay members in ils extension, and in the management of its affairs. I am sure that the esteem with which I have found my friend Mr. Butt regarded wherever I have been, is a proof that much of this good feeling is owing to bis self-denying, laborious duties for many years past, when things were not so promising as at present. Thanking you for this opportunity of communicating with our friends, whom I hope to meet ere long.—l am yours, faithfully, A. B. Nelson. Blenheim, February 12th, ISGB.