LOWER VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 3, Issue 701, 24 February 1881, Page 2

LOWER VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

We-take from the H. 8.; Horald, t Mowing particulars respecting the gi tleinan who is about to take up work this district:—

A valedictory meeting in connect! with the Eev J. Stewart's departure fri Port Ahuriri Church was held last evenii There was a good attendance, the huil iugbeing(jiiitefull, ... , The BoV David Sidey, the minister theparinli. was voted.to the chair, a after a law proliminai7 remarks, pjesi ted Mr Stewart with monial and the gift therein' memPed the name of the committee:— . To Mr John;Stewartj Evangelist., Deab Sib,—The Committee of the P< Ahuriri Church desire,'in the name? the '■■ of Port Ahiiri Meanee, and Petane, to express, on t occasion of. your departure.. to anotl sphere of labor, the high esteem in whi we hold you, and our appreciation the religious duties, you have perforri amongst us. Throughout the'whole.period of pur lationship we have witnessed with mil satisfaction your Mtreful.attentlon|to we> day visitation in our horrjes, as also to. 1 necessary preparations for the, minist tionof;■ the Sabbath;•*.'■.'..•". '.:■.-../

We oongrafulatiyqu on your, promoti m:theNew.ZeaMJfrfsbyferian'Chuj(< and,, while 6dnowing at tlie prospect | 'your leaving 7 us; i that.the.narish towhjohyptthi been" appomted wiU be benefitted by yf jealous andfaitttfulsemces,; C-'!.- '■/ • • 'We aek you ingpurso of l x . tplf of our attachment to you; aUd of our i pest r tWi:Clhrit ■God' mnyVbiess" ypn

your walk, .and promote the happiness of your wife and family. .■'■'■' The Chairman expressed tho liigl opinion he entertained of Mr Stewart and alluded in feeling terms to the cor diality that had always subsisted' betweei . , himself and .the rev gentleman. Hi hoped tliat God would grant Mr Stewar the same, success' in his new path as lii • had attained in the one he was leaving and that the blessing' of God might re* • upon him. Mr Stewart said he would not attemj to express his feelings in saying good-by to so many kind members of the congri galions. He was leaving earlier than wa at first intended, but still he had been abl to visit most of. the members of the cor gregations in their own homes, and sa good-bye. to them', and that had cause him many a pang. His effort whil ministering io the parish was to advanc good and further Christ's Kingdon During the three years and a half he ha? . been assistant to Mr Sidey there had not been a single jar or difficulty of any kind Pi/in the district. He would, always look ■I • back and bless the day he had come to --;.. -,-V Hawke's Bay, where ho had learned so i- , much in church matters, mainly through ;..■ watching the procedure of Mr Sidey, . ;whose experience invariably brought him ''•';' ... (Mr Stewart) out of any apparent difficulty. The experience he had thus gained would be of great'service to him now that he would be almost entirely thrown on his own resources. He would always take a lively-interest in tho welfare of the Napier parish, and of the Port in particular, and he lie exhorted the people to give ; . his successor, Mr Dodgers, a hearty wel- "... . come, and to encourage him when here by good attendance at tho services, and not to think the sendee was Mr Eodgers', but to regard it as their service, and he ... was sure things would go as smoothly and . . pleasantly as heretofore. Mr Stewart again thanked the congregation, and invoked the blesing of God on them. The Rev David Bruce, the agent of the Church, then addressed the meeting, expressing his satisfaction at being present, and assuring the congregation that the Church Extension Committee would be gratified to learn that Mr Stowart was so much appreciated by Ins people. Mr Stewart, no doubt, was gratified at the address that had been presented to him, and tho substantial donation that had accompanied it, viz., M from the Port, and 115 from Meanee. Ho would like to hear of all the churclis' agents doing their work as well as Mr Stewart had done Ms, and though some might not ■ think changes were desirable the higher courts of the church considered that . changes were desirable in cases like- the present, so as to give time to students for study.

Heminiscbnoes otj wsiiUJNuxoi.',— In tli year 1845 a worthy qitizen pioaded his way with some difficulty through fern aud ti-tree to Te Aro Mat baing ia search of the survey's opeg which had been driven in at the corner or what ia now Cuba and Dixon streets, Upon Mb spot was erected a small house, in which a very successful drapery business was carried on by two ladies of remarkable talent and energy, who have long sinco retired from the scene to the land of their birth—"Land 6* the mountain and the flood, Land of brown heath aud shaggy wood, In the year 1866 it passed into the hands of MhJamks Smith; the present proprietor, who gavo to tho premises the appropriate name of Te Aro House, aud under whose management business has steadily progressed with the rising fortunes of the city. until at length it was found that & considerable enlargement was necessary, and the result was, To Aro Housp, as at present, one of the most complete and Extensive Drapery Establishments in tho colony of New Zealand. The Jeueral Drapery occupies a large space, being 49 feet by 25 feet, amply sufficient for all Manchester goods, Fancy Dresses, Silks, Gloves, Hosiery, Bibbone, Laces, &c. The Men's, Boy's, and Youths' Clothing Department measures 24 feet by 14 feet, and has attached a comfortable fitting-room. Carpels aud Household furnishings havo a similar space allotted to them. The Show-room for the sale of Millinery, Mantles, Jackets, Costumes, &c., is a.very spacious apartment, elegantly fitted up, and- beautifully lighted from tho roof, and measures 39 feet by 22 feet, The stock of goods i at all times large and well selected; and patterns are forwarded post free on application. A special feature at Te Aro flouso is the Order Department, and very careful attention is paid to tho wants of Country Residents, Allordersareexenuted under the immediate supervision of the proprietor, and securely packed and forwarded ti their destination with that promptness and despatch which have always distin guished Te Aro House, Cuba-street, Welling on.—Udvt.l