WANGANUI.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume III, Issue 124, 7 October 1846, Page 2

WANGANUI.

On Sunday, September 1 3th, a very handsome folio Bible and Prayer Book was presented by J. Nixon, Esq., to the church at Wanganui. The donation was the occasion of the following correspondence :—: — Wanganui, Sept. 12, 1846. My Dear Sir, — A Bible and Rook of Common Prayer, long since ordered from Oxford, and only just arrived, I have much pleasure in now committing to your care. As the gilt inscription indicates, they are intended for the Episcopal Church here, and of course, to be used only bj' properly ordained members of that Church. When the order for them was issued, I had no idea, but that previous to their arrival, the building erected here by public subscription, through your indefatigable exertions, would have been duly consecrated by the Bishop, and a resident Minister appointed. This delay, in my opinion, amounts to open neglect; and «ntil the building is consecrated, the absolute gift of these books will not be in accordance with my instructions. Should no resident or. assistant Cleigyman be appointed] or some untoward event remove you from this settlement, the books must be placed under my care, or some person appointed by me. Permit me, my dear Sir, to now offer my warmest and most grateful, thanks for your^unwearied attention, your extreme kindness in so long and gratuitously affording our humble settlement the inestimable advantages of public worship. That every success may bless your efforts is the constant wish of, My dear Sir, 1 Your's sincerely, John Nixok. To which the following reply was returned :—: — Wanganuf, Sept. 14, 1846. My Dear Sir, — The very hanflsome present you have made to "the Church of this place, and the kind manner in which you have spoken of its Minister, cannot but be highly gratifying to I his feelings. And whilst I return you my [ hearty thanks for the beautiful copy of the Bible and Prayer B.ook which accompanied your letter, I can only say I feel it my duty as well as privilegeto do what lays in my power to promote the Christian unity and happiness of those I minister amongst. In an infant colony like this, where nothing is fixed and stable, and every little event is capable of shaking it to its very foundation, there can be no doubt nothing is so well adapted to insure its prosperity as an early attention to the fear and worship of God. It is with fee ings of I trust pardonable pride, that I reflect upon this our Church being the first which has reared itt head in the Company's settlements of New Zealand, and my faith assures me that had it not been for this circumstance,- the many untoward events which have successively assailed our little settlement would otherwise have succeeded in effecting its destruction. It is, therefore, with feelings of great pleasure I have received this gift to the Church, as it is I trust a token of reverential fear and love to God, and earnestly do I pray that all in our little place may thus be led to show their love to God, and their sense of the high privilege they possess in being able in this still savage laud to tread the courts of the Lord's house. Allow me, my dear Sir, (with the sincere prayer that you, who have thus remembered the courts of the Lord's house on earth, may be everlastingly remembered by Him in His courtt above), To subscribe myself, Your very faithful servant, R. -Tc