TEA AND PUBLIC MEETING.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 46, 28 March 1877, Page 3

TEA AND PUBLIC MEETING.

The tea meeting in connection with the opening of the Presbyterian Church in this township,, was held yesterday afternoon in the Foresters' Hall, which was tastefully decorated with evergreens and flowers for the occasion. About one hundred .sat down to the tables, which were sumptuously provided and attended to by ladies of the congregation and others. .•..j 4 ».^..-^ , A public meeting, presided over by the Rev. Mr Boss, of Turakina, was afterwards held. in the new church. The meeting was opened by the singing of an appropriate psalm, prayer being offered By the Rev. J. H. Simmonds, of Sanson. The Chairman then called upon the Rev. Mr McGregor, the pastor of the church, to read the report of the Committee of Management. We gleaned. from this report that the amount realized friom sale of land and subscriptions was £298, whilst the expenses incurred in building the church amounted to £400, leaving a deficit of £102. Against this deficiency, however, there were about £40 of good unpaid subscriptions, which would reduce, the liability to £62. The report alluded in grateful, terms to the kindness of Wellington friends in contributing so largely as they had done to' the building fund of the church. The Committee then, according to custom, tendered their resignation , at the same time expressing their willingness to work in- the interest, of the Church. Mr -Bruce 'begged to move the adoption of the report, and at the same time took; the opportunity of moving a vote of thanks to Mr James Mitchell, for the large sum of £100 or £160 which he had collected in Wellington on behalf of the church. The Ghaieman said that, although he knew it would be contrary to Mr. Mitchell's desire, he felt bound to notice the very liberal gift of the bell which that gentleman had made to the Church. He would call for a vote of thanks to Mr. Mitchell, and to the Committee all round, for the energy and zeal which had characterized their labours in connection with the building. Carried by acclamation. ~ • Mr P. Stewaet moved, That the members of Committee just resigned, vizi, Messrs. Mitchell j Snelson, Bruce, Walton,! King, arid the mover, be reelected.—Carried. The Beys. Simmorids, Treadwell, Douall, and others addressed the meeting, some of Sankey's hymns being sung in the interval's between the speeches, but;owingto lack o£ space and our inability to remain throughput, we are unable to furnish so full a report as we could desire' of the evening's proceedings/ ■•■• ; y ';;: :;-;'. -.•V. .