A PLEASING CEREMONY.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 445, 2 January 1909, Page 3

A PLEASING CEREMONY.

Presentation to Rev Mr

Aitken

A pleasing function took place at. the residence of Mr James McKelvie, of Carnarvon, on Wednesday last. As previously mentioned in these columns, the boundaries of the Foxton Presbyterian Church parish have been reduced, and a garden party was arranged for last Wednesday afternoon, at Mr McKelvie’s beautiful grounds to afford an opportunity for all the Carnarvon people to say good-bye to Mr Aitken, who has conducted the services there tor the last year and nine months, and extend a welcome to Mr Evans of Bulls, to whose parish the district has been added. The heavy rain which fell in the afternoon put the garden party out of question, and Mr and Mrs McKelvie entertained the guests in their drawing room. The rain unfortunately prevented some of those more distant from attending, anjiong whom was Mr Evans. A ve|*y pleasant time was spent by th<J)se who had braved the elements, and music and games made “ the glowing hour with flying feet ” pass away all too rapidly. Mr R. B. McKenzie made a short speech in eulogy of Mr Aitkeu’s work in the district, and asked those present to acquiesce willingly iu the new arrangement and stand by their minister. Mrs McKelvie, on behalf of the Carnarvon people, presented Mr Aitken with a number of beautifully bound volumes of recent theological, doctrinal and controversial works, and expressed the hope that he would find them useful in his work. Mr Aitken briefly replied thanking them for their useful and kindly gift, entertaining the hope that although no longer their minister he would have many opportunities of coming iu contact with them in the future. Although he regretted in one sense the separation that had taken place, iu another sense he was pleased as they would be better served from Bulls. Mr Rockel moved a vote of thanks to Mr and Mrs McKelvie for the use of their rooms which was carried with acclamation, and the ceremony terminated just a little before six o’clock.