DISTRICT NEWS

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 206, 5 September 1916, Page 1

DISTRICT NEWS

MANUREWA. VISIT OF BISHOP AVEBILL. MEMORIALS DEDICATED. A special service was conduc'ei at St. Luke's Anglican Church last Tuesday evening by the Eight Rev. Or Averilf, Bishop of the Diocese, assisted by the Vicar of the Parish, the Rev. W, C. Wood, for the purpose of dedicating the Altar Table, presented by Mr T. J. Corin, chairman of the Manurewa Town Board, and Lieutenant A. G. Mabee to the memory of the late Earl Kitchener, and the Reredos, presented by Mr Cockburn to the memory of the late Mrs Cockburn.

The service was fully choral, th< choir, under the leadership of Mi T. W. Bell, rendering Jackson's "Te Deum " in P., and Bunnett'* " Nunc Dimitis " in F. During the offertory Mr T. C. Seaton sang the solo "Lord God of Abraham" from "Elijah." The Bishop, taking as his text the words " A Good Man," eloquently spoke of the many good qualities of the late Earl Kitchener. To be able to say of anyone that "He was a good man," the Bishop .pointed out, was to pay him the highest compliment, and that could be said of the late' soldier with all honesty. The preacher described the deceased soldier as a man of visioD and action. His vision took him out of small and petty thing?, enabling him to do a great work for the nation. Still he was no dreamer ; but a man of action who brought his lofty ideals down to the level of his every day duty, and hence produced results that would in the end prove of value to the Old World, besides having the effect of making even lethargic England wake up. The Bishop also spoke of the late soldier as a good son of the Church of England, mentioning the fact that he was chairman of the English Church Committee in Cairo, and that in spite of his many duties he was never known to miss a meeting. As a churchman no less than as a soldier, said the Bishop in conclusion, the late Earl was an example of a well ordered and disciplinedlife. His Lordship added that it gave him great pleasure indeed to come to Manurewa to dedicate the Altar Table to such a good man. In dedicating the Reredos to the memory of the late Mrs Cockburn, the Bishop spoke of the good work that lady had done for the church, mentioning the fact that she was the church's first organist. The Altar Table is constructed of dark oak from a design selected by the Vicar, and is 6ft 6in in length and 2ft 6in deep. It is of a very handsome character, and is arranged in three panels of the Gothic type, while across the front of the rear table are the words "Holy, Holy, Holy," in raised letters. The inscription plate bears the words "To the glory of God and in memory of His servant, Earl Kitchener." ' The construction of the Altar was carried out by Mr T. J. Corin.

The Reredos is of a similar design and was forwarded in memory of his wife by Mr Cockbuvn, of Nelson, it being constructed by the boys of the Nelson School. The Bishop arrived by the ;>.30 train and was entertained at dinner at Brinsmead's Refreshment Rooms by the Vestry, the Yicar being in the chair. At the close of the dinner the Bishop gave an account of his various travels in New Zealand on church work and his happy associations and experiences with the Maoris. After the service his Lordship was motored to Jfapatoetoe by Mr G. 1\ Druce in time to catch the 10.23 train to Ackland. The Manurewa Musical Society have definitely decided to stage the play "Trial by Jury" at Manurewa on September 13th. In the cutting and formation ol the new railway track considerable progress is being made between lakanini and Papatoetoe. The large gang of men recently employed at Paerata have been shifted to this section so that it is probable that with over 150 men now at work the new stations at Manurewa and Papatoetoe will be well in hand before the end of the approaching summer. A deputation consisting of Messrs T. J. Conn, chairman, (i. Coxhead, C. H. Lupton, F. E. White and H. V. Burton, representing the Town Board, and Messrs H. Hungerford, G. Smith, Garlick, WhitteD, Gilbert and Kich, representing the property owners concerned, waited on Mr McLean, the chief engineer ot Railways, in Auckland on Monday of last wetk, in connection with tbe nroposed bridge at the new station.

They requested that as the property owners cincerri'd were prepared to rate themselves for a loan of £I2OO to make the approaches to the bridge the Department should provide and erect a bridge to cost approximattly £llOl Mr McLean would not make a aeiinite promise in the matter, but remarked that the Department might favourably consider t*ie construction of a bridge, to cast £750, which would span two sets of rails. The deputation, however, persisted in their reqqest for a larger bridge, and Mr McLean suggested that the iatepayers concerned should agree to increase the amount they intended to raise to £I6OO, thereby contributing £4OO to the Department's probable allowance of £750 bo as to secure the larger bridge. He prcmis?d to place the whole matter tefore the tieneral Manager ot Kailways, Mr E. H. Hilay, and to notitv the deputation of the result.