PRESENTATION TO MR R. WOOD.

Temuka Leader, Issue 230, 31 January 1880, Page 2

PRESENTATION TO MR R. WOOD.

On Thursday last a few of the members of the Church of Epgland, Temuka, met in the parsonage of St. Saviour's, for the purpose of presenting a testimonial to Mr Robert W.ood, sen., who recently left Temuka for Timaru. Mr Wood officiated as lay-reader of the church for some seven years in a most efficient manner, and had moreover originated the proposal for a church in Temuka, and did much by personal effort and pecuniary aid to make his proposition a success. In 1870 Mr Wood had the honor of laying the foundation of St. Saviour's Church, and has ever since, up to the time of his departure, taken an active part in all her schemes. The parishioners thoroughly appreciated Mr Wood's services, which were given gratitously, and saved a heavy outlay to the church ; which could not have been

avoided, particularly curing the period I when the parish was connected with j Geraldine. _ . ' Shortly after three o : clock on the day I named, a few members of the church and other personal friends met in the parson- | age for the purpose staled above. The Bev Mr Clin'on, incumbent of the parish, asked Mr Craig, schoolmaster, Milford,. the oldest member present, and a personal friend and neighbor (f Mr Wood's, to be kind enough to present the testimonial to him. Mr Craig, in a well-chosen speech, pointed out the amount of labour and trouble that Mr Wood had been put to in carrying out his duties as a lay-reader, showing that, wet days or dry, Mr Wood wis always at his post, often having to do extra work when others failed to put in an appearance. Mr Craig - pointed out that Mr Wood never failed in being present punctually at the time of meeting : this, too, when not eveu a vote of thanks (doubtless through carelessness) had been recorded in his favor. Mr Wood had had much to contend with, and to him principally the church owed its existence and present prosperity. For somo time past it had been intended to bestow some mark of respect upon Mr Wood, but this had been put (.IT from time to time. He had now, however, the great pleasure of presenting in the name of tlio members of the church this testimonial which she desires, in the name of the parishioners, to present to you. Mr Craig then handed Mr Wood a ban' 1 - somo marble clock, which, he said ho hoped he would -ccept not on account of its intrinsic value, but as a proof of the favour and esteem in which lie is still held by his fellow worshippers. The clock was a very handsome piece of workmanship, worth, we believe, some twenty to twiitv-five pounds. Mr Wood, in a very feeling speech, acknowledged the mepi-ion of the gift, stating that, as he had no knowledge whatever that such a movement was on foot, he was at a loss to give utterance to his grateful feelings, and hoped they would excuse him from making a long speech, as he fait so upset by this token, of their kindness and respect, that lie could bring his mmd to bear upon nothing else. He begged to thank them for this valuable testimonial, and should ever retain a vivid recollection of the happy meeiiug with his kind friends. No doubt he had many shortcomings, and had come far short of discharging the duties that devolved upon him as their lay reader, but they mu3t remember thai in the early days of the history of their church in Temuka they had much to contend with. It was no easy matter then to do much of the churche's work ; then they had a church to build, and few to help tbf-m ; a congregation to {rather together, and this was no light matter, when toe district was so sparsely ropuhvfofi. He, however, succeeded, and now they ha-! s->me cblo churchwardens who wore men of ability and willingness to discharge their duties, no duuU they would continue to prosper. Many who had set out with him in the work of establishing a church had gone from amongst +.-:<-m, and he could not cxpr< 83 j his thankfulness f >r b-'ing spar-d so long I to see the ••-<t!c p'o-oer ; and finally again b gged to exn ess his warmest thanks to his kind fri-mds. Mr Craig said he had another pleasing duty lo perform. Previous to getting up the testimonial which lie h-d 'just presented, an address had been prepared which it was intended to lur. e handed t" Mr Wood some tune ago, but feeling with Ids oilier friends that he (Mr Wood) >hSifrved some more tubstanli .1 mark of the respe-t and ap) r« eiation of his many servic-s to the church, it was deemed advisable, and he thought wisely, to defer the address til! thia could be managed ; he would no v hai d him the address, which lie should first read.

Mr Craig then rend tho address, afterwards handing it to Mr Wood. Mi Wood again returned thanks, and remarked thnt he had only ( mo regret, and that *£as that tho Synol had never recognised him in their public reports as a lft3 T -reader. This made it appear to some that be was acting without a license to do so. Possibly this arose from neglect hut it at times annoyed him very much. He would, before sitting down, refer to his friend, Mr Alfred Cox, who is now lay-reader of the church, and would say that, however willing Mr Cox might be to serve the church, it was too much to expect him to do the whole of the work, and suggested that a colleague should he provided to tako part with him. It is not so light a matter as some i eople think to b©>lay-reader. He had often himself felt that he would break down, but by Divine assistance ho had been able to go through it. [We have great pleasure in recording this pleasing duty of the Olurch of England. This is not the first time she has shown respect and gratitude to her sons. It goes a long way to help ono to discharge the duties the kind and encouraging way the English Church has shown their appreciation of tlieii services.—Ed, T. L.]