DIGGING AND PLANTING "BEE."

Oamaru Mail, Volume I, Issue 117, 5 September 1876, Page 2

DIGGING AND PLANTING "BEE."

Our readers will have noticed an an nouncement in our columns for the last week, requesting those persons who could spare the time to assist in a digging and planting "bee" in connection with St. Luke's Church site. The incumbent, the Rev. Mr. A. Gilford, had been promised that if he initiated a bee a lot of assistance would be proferred, and the surmise was not far out. At eight o'clock thi? morning about twentydve persons might have been seen busily engaged with picks, shovels, and spadjs .•leafing the ground attached to the Church.

Jn the future parsonage site, Mi'. Battersby's plourh aril a pair of hoi-3es was doing good S3rvic3, whilj at the west oide of the church a number of willing ;amls were pulling up a dividing frnce. Messrs. Walkem an-1 Peyman being unable to attend with pick and shovel, sent four men; Mr. W. J. Steward, one ; and Mr. Kidd, one. Mr. Nugent Warde, of T.ipo, also s_nt same shrubs and his gardenar to assist in planting tliem. Mr. Kidd, of the Michanics' Institute, wis vjryhard at work with a spade, an I, judging from t'ne style, we should imxjins that our worthy ibrarian is no novice at a bit of gardenng. The work was proceeding very rapidly when t!ie rain came down, about eleven o'clock, and stopped operations for •i time. At 12.30 the "bee" adjourned to the Volunteer Hall—wiiic'i had been kindly lent for the occasion—where an old English dinner was awaiting the workers. Mr. Gilford is one of those who believes in something substantial to work on, so he dispensed with luxuries, and provided roast beef aid plum pudding for those who accepted his invitation to dinner. Mr. Earle provided the good tilings, and the verdict of al! who partook of them was t'lat they were excellent. T;ie old-fas 1ioned joint of beef, and the smokin.j-hot plum pudding, brought back fond recollections of the jolly Christmas time in old En land. About twenty-eight persons sat down to dinner, the rev. the Incumbent occupying the chair, and Mr. Kidd officiating as vice. As time was precious, and the weatiier had cleared up, tiie C :airman did not detain his guests with a Ion ,' speech, but before the company separated lie briefly referred to tie satisfactory results of i.i North America, where he had labored for some time.

Mr. Kiod also pointed out the a Ivantages of congregations looking more after the surroundings of their places of worship, and t N e desirability of making «round around a church as neat and tidylooking as possible. Dinner over, tie "bees" once more returned to work, and the weather having cleared up, good progress was made. The path from the gate in Tees-street to the north door is being reduced in grade and increased in width, preparatory to being gravelled. The bank facing Tees-sti-eet will be planted with shrubs, and the ground on the level laid in grass from seeds kindly supplied by Mr. John Main. During the forenoon Mr. Thomas Procter very thoughtfully sent the volunteer laborers some bear to keep the cold out. Altogether, t:ie " Bee " may be considered a success, notwitlu standing the unpropitious weather, arid it is to be hoped that the work begun to-day will not be left till completed, when the parishioners of St. Luke's will be able to boast of a tastefully laid-out churchyard.