PRESENTATION TO MR. BARR, WAITAHUNA.

Tuapeka Times, Volume 21, Issue 216, 21 March 1872, Page 5

PRESENTATION TO MR. BARR, WAITAHUNA.

(From our own Correspondent.}

A public meeting was held in the Athenaeum, Waitahuna, on Monday the 11th inst., for the purpose of presenting to Mr. Alex. Barr, on the eve of his departure from this district, a testimonial, as indicating the estimation in which . he was held by the residents. Mr. Hurst was called to the chair, and briefly explained the object of the meeting. /B.G named the amount of money that had been collected, and said it rested with the meeting to decide whether it should be handed over to Mr. Barr, or whether a watch, or some other suitable article should be purchased and presented to that gentleman. It was resolved that a committee be appointed and the matter left in iheir hands. After this part of the business had been disposed of, Mr. Barjr was sent for, wh^n an address from the Sunday School children, about thirty of whom were present, was read by Master Johu Eadie, and presented to Mr. Barr, who replied in vsry feeling terms. Mr. Barr during the time (some seven years) he has resided in Waitahuna, has acted as precentor in the Presbyterian Church, without fee or reward. He was also one of the first to establish a Sunday school in the district, and for a long time, the attendance did not'- exceed more than three or four ; but despite this and other discouraging- influences, against which he had to contend, and which can be readily understood by those who have undertaken similar good works on the Groldßelds, he pursued the ever tenor of his way and had the satisfaction ultimately of seeing about forty children attending a school which was brought into existence, mainly through his exertions. The meeting was brought to a close by the children singing one of the hymns taught them by their kind instructor and benefactor. The departure of Mr. Barr from the district has left a blank it will be difficult t~> fill, and many a family will miss the kindly visits made by him, on Sabbath and other evenings, with the desire of helping, so far as he was able those who were desirous of receiisi^g