PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SOIREE AT PAPAKAIO.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 832, 13 December 1878, Page 2

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH SOIREE AT PAPAKAIO.

A promenade soiree was held in Mrs. Dalgleish's barn, Papakaio, for the purpose of raising funds for the liquidation of the- debt on the Manse in connection with the Church at Papakaio. The meetin."- was addressed bv the Revs. Stevens (chairman), A. B. Todd, J. Biley, Clarke, and Lindsay, Mr. Torrance (Dunedin), and Mr. Gilbert (Pioneer Missionary). The company having partaken of an excellent and substantial tea, which was provided by the ladies in connection with the Church, the meeting was opened by singing two verses of the 100 th Psalm to the grand tune ox " The Old Hundred," after which the Chairman said that, seeing that he had such an array of speakers on his left hand and a grand treat on his right from St. Paul's choir, lie should abstain from making remarks, and should at once call upon the Rev. A. B. Todd to address thorn. The rev. gentleman gave a very interesting account of his journey to Napier, and spoke of the marked and great improvements which inet his gaze on his journey ; his arrival at Lyttelton, and the short time it took now to get to Christchurch; his arrival at Wellington, and the great facilities afforded by the tramway which runs from one end of the tqwn to. the other for 3d.; the arrival of some of the passengers wrecked in the City of Auckland, and of the sharp propensities of some of them. He stated

that the Government provide! clothing, &c. , for the unfortunates on their arrival. One man came with a pair of trousers on very much torn, and was at once supplied with a new pair. He showed these to a fellow-passenger, and he, too, put on the torn trousers, and procured a new pair. No. 2 showed these to another, and No. 3 did likewise. (This, he said, were the sort of immigrants we were getting). He gave other very interesting accounts of his visit to the district around Napier, and concluded with a prayer for the continued prosperity of the Awamoko and Papakaio Church, and resumed his seat amid loud applause. Choir—" What shall the harvest be."

Mr. Torrance gave a very interesting account of his labors in connection with the Hospital, Lunatic Asylum, and Gaol of Dunedin, which elicited the sympathies of the audience. Choir—Anthem, " Thine, O Lord." Mi - . Gilbert was listened to with marked attention. He delivered an interesting address, and spoke of his labors of a circuit extending over about 800 miles. Service of fruit, &c.

Choir—Oh ! to be nothing." The Rev. Mr. Clarke gave a very pithy and practical address, after which the choir sang a nother of its pieces, and the Rev. Messrs. Lindsay and Riley addressed the meeting. Votes of thanks were passed to the choir, ladies, speakers, and chair, and the pleasant evening's service concluded by the choir singing "Home, sweet home"

and the pronouncing of the benediction by the Rev. A. B. Todd.