PAPAROA.

Wairoa Bell, Volume V, Issue 183, 3 February 1893, Page 2

PAPAROA.

[from our own correspondent]. Two or three events of note took place during the past week. Conspicuous among these was a lecture entitled ‘ 30.000 Miles by Land and Sea,’ by the Rev. Wm Morley. principal of the Three King’s College, who addressed a good audience in the Paparoa Hall on Friday evening last, the Rev. Mr Mather occupying the chair. The lecturer gave an interesting account of his exporienoes and impressions formed in the old land, with notes of the trip from New Zealand to England. The lecture was both instructive and amusing, being mingled with humorous anecdotes. The opinions of the speaker, openly expressed on political, religious, and other matters in England, were well received. Circumstances preven t my giving a more complete account of the address. During the evening the Misses A. and A. Cliff rendered in good style a pianofarte duett ; Mrs Hames a song, ‘ Pilgrim Fathers’; Mr W. Hook a violin solo (accompaniment, Miss Mo Master) ; and Miss McMaster an instrumental selection in her usual capital style. The meeting closed with a vote of thanks to the lecturer, to the musical performers, and to the proprietor of the Hall for the use of the piano for the evening. On Wednesday last we witnessed the somewhat unusual event of a wedding in our midst. The services of the jovial Mr Mather were on that occasion called into requisition to tie the connubial knot between Mr J. R. Cliff, eldest son of Mr G. Cliff, to Miss E. Wilson, second daughter of Mr T. W. Wilson, schoolmaster of Paparoa district school. The marriage was celebrated in the Wesleyan Church, before a goodly number of friends who had assembled to witness the ceremony In attendance on the bride were the Misses E. and A. Wilson and A and A. Cliff, acting as bridesmaids, The bridegroom was supported by his two younger brothers, G. and F. Cliff. Time will not permit of my attempting to describe the ladies’ dresses, besides I question whether it would not be a waste of your space were I to do so ; however, to the fair sex among your readers, such details are, I presume, interesting. The customary festivities followed the wedding, after which the couple newly wed left by 3teamer for their honeymoon. The Rev Mr Morley preached on Sunday evoning last to a crowded congregation in the Wesleyan Church. An excellent sermon, earnestly preached, attracted the attention of the audience and kept them interested. Good fruit should follow such.

The Wesleyan Chapel is now benig repainted, This has been badly needed for years, and had it not been for the energetic efforis of the present minister, might have remained neglected for long enough to come. This would have probably been°the ease bad the carrying out of the work been entrusted to the present circuit stewards. The Wesleyan burying ground (we cannot grace it with the name of ‘ cemetery ’) is, and has been for years, in a disgraceful state, being over-run with fern and rubbish, and is a standing disgrace to the Wesleyaus of Paparoa. A little voluntary labour would put the place in decent order. Precious little respect appears to be paid to the dead (judging from appearances) among the Methodists here.