RICHMOND WESLEYAN CHURCH ANNIVERSARY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume III, Issue 310, 2 January 1869, Page 2

RICHMOND WESLEYAN CHURCH ANNIVERSARY.

V XJLXJJXIXJ-. -M The Anniversary of the Richmond Wes- || leyan Church wa3 .celebrated yesterday i by a public tea, which was well attended I considering the numerous attractions else- 1 where* The public meeting was also w^eh f|j attended. The chairman (J. W. Barni -m coat, Esq.), in a neat and appropriate m speech, introduced the business of tht if meeting, referred to some points of inter- |; est agitating the Christian Churches ai> If the present time, especially to that o 1 Christiau uniou. He the (chairman; 1 thought it useless to talk of amalgama-fj tion, the unity he hoped for was union i;; I spirit, in life, aud action. The chairman, | after referring to the state of religion in I the early days of the settlement, concludes J by expressing the extreme pleasure h'-J felt at being present. I The report and cash account for 186SV1 was read by the Secretary. Receipts fcj 1 the year £131 18s. sd. Expenditure : Jf £55 1 3s. 7d. Balance to credit in Bank £76 4s. lOd. We learn that the property f is mortgaged for the sum of £175, an* ; |f that the trustees intend to pay off at onceY £75 of this amount, thus reducing they debt to £100. J The Rev. J. Crump, in an able speech; moved the adoption of the report, which was seconded by Mr Eyans^ from the West Coast, who delivered 8 warm and energetic speech. ' ' • Tha Rev. R.L. Vickers and Mr. Dartnall also delivered interesting speeches, suitable to the occasion. V^ The; meeting was much enlivened ty ; the; Choir, sinking several pieces of sacred j a music, in a; very creditable manner, /P» J the motion of the i Rev; Ji^Grump, >?s<vo^» \ : }<fsX thanks -was^ warmly accorded jtpjtfe 1 [; Vobairiiiaii. ■'■'ir'-?'' ■yy&-'\y't •■«

\-i — ; — 1 'The anniversary dinner of the two . Lodges of the Order of Oddfellows established in this city took place, according to ( custom, yesterday evening at their Hall in Waimea-street, but, we are informed, was not so numerously attended as is usually the case on these occasions, only ', about 60 persons sitting down to table. t His Honor the Superintendent presided, .supported by P.P.G.M. Percy, as croupier, the Right Rev. Bishop Suter, with other guests, being also present. The usual loyal toasts, together with those appropriate, locally and generally, to the Order, followed by some capital songs, were given &nd duly honored. The I dinner, which was everything, that could ■ be desired, was provided by Mi Everett, of the Masonic Hotel. In a recent issue, a correspondent directed attention to the heartless depredations lately committed on the flowering plants which have been placed by pious hands on the graves in the Suburbannorth Cemetery. We regret to state that a visit to the cemetery in Trafalgar-street-south has shown us that the last "resting places of the dead in that spot have in many instances been subjected to much more serious and shameless injury. In more than one case, the brickwork of ! a tomb has been pulled down for the sake, as it would appear, of obtaining posession of the timber plates; one of which, we may add, was lying in the vicinity of the tomb to which we especially allude, ready to be carried away at a convenient dppor- j tunity. Surely some immediate steps should be taken by the trustees of this cemetery with a view to the future prevention of such impudent and wholesale injury to property which was not placed there without considerable cost, and which should be doubly hallowed and protected from these outrages by the associations w?th which it is connected. A tea party was given on Thursday last, at Clifton Terrace Schoolroom, by Mr and Mrs Turner, of Hillmore, Suburban North, to the pupils of the Sunday School at that place. We need hardly state that the young people fully enjoyed the treat thus generously provided for them, which was still Further enhanced by I the exhibition of the magic lantern, after which various sports, which the children heartily enjoyed, were carried out by ihobnlight. , j We would remind our readers that a lecture, to which the admission will be gratuitous, will be given this evening by Mr F. Severne, of Riwaka, at the Rooms of the Young Men's Christian Association. The subject, 'Alexander the Great,' will, vve understand, be treated ethically rather than historically. The weather proved most auspicious ibr the holiday yesterday, the city having been almost deserted before noon, and crowds of pleasure-seekers availed themselves of the opportunities afforded by the excursion trips made by the Lady Barkly and the Moutoa to the Rabbit Island and Richmond, the former steamer carrying about 130 persons, and the arrangements j on board both vessels giving general satis- ■ faction. The races announced by the spirited proprietor of the Turf Hotel, at Stoke, to take place on the Race Course, also attracted a large concourse of spectators, the Stand being well filled, and the sport generally very: good. A match for half a mile, for which 10 horses started, and which was won by Mr Turner's Flash of Lightning, was very closely contested, as was also the steeplechase, won by Mr Davenport's Mazeppa, for which five horses started, besides several capital trotting matches, won by horses the property > of Messrs. R. M'Rae, Disher, and T. Harley, by the latter of whom the office of judge was filled very efficiently. We are happy to record that, as far as we can learn, no accident occurred to mar the pleasures of the day. We are requested to call attention to the address appropriate to the season to be delivered to-morrow evening at El Bethel, Haven-road, on the * Uncertainty of Life.' Mr Walter Douglas will also preach a farewell sermon to-morrow evening at tbe Temperance HalL »■ ■" ■ We are requested to state that there "will he no High Mass at 11 o'clock toymlprrow at St. Mary's, the "First Communion of the children at Waimea-west taking place that morning, and requiring j -the presence of the Rev, Father Garin. j

We learn that the funeral of the late Mr D. Moore will leave his residence in Trafalgar-street for the Old Cemetery to-morrow afternoon at 3 o'clock.