Eketahuna.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XI, Issue 3420, 28 January 1890, Page 2

Eketahuna.

;■ (From Correspondent). ,• . cWduotel divineserviceinthe:Wesleyan'ohiirchi Eketahuna, on- Sunday morning, afternoon, and evening to large congregations, On Monday afternoon a •Tea was given in Mr Jones l paddook to the Sunday School; children, and a large number of adults. The weather being: all that could be desired, young : and old thoroughly enjoyed,, themselves., At ,about,7 p.m. they all adjourned to the ohuroh. The meeting opened': by the choir singing a hymn, followed by the Bev Mr Bowse in Mr Jones,who was voted to .the-chair, stated"they; had met together to celebrate the anniversary of the opening of''the ohuroh,and called on tho secretary, Mr • William Bayliss,' to explain the finances. The latter gentleman.then

read the balance-sheet which showed that-the year-commenced with a: debtor-dalance of £74 Bs. This.had

been reduced by the'sum of £23155, In addition to .this amount they had raised and 'paid awayto the circuit fand £ll Is lid; for fencing £ll 13s, and to the Hoine Mission fund £l, making a total of monies raised in the district -during the yeansl7; 9s lid.' The. report was received with applause.- Mr Baylis'S''said he was proud to be connected with the ch'uroh, as ho. was a mothodist and tried to bo a christian, He had mixed .freely in other clnirohes, and found that' members of all churches were pretty much, alike, He did not pretend,that the oliurch was perfect., Thore was a great deal to be done to make it so,' ,'\.;;i

' The ohiirman said although there was a small debt owing, still if they all pulled together they would soon be clear. He then called upon .the children for tho song " Happy New Year," : ;;!,;: ■•'■-' '•

The Rev Mr Bowse said lie was ;reatly pleased at the financial reporl hat had been .'read that evening

It reflected credit on'the community of Eketabuna. In a community where there was no church ithoro

seemed to be always something wrong. In a humorous address the rev, gentleman said, many a time he, had preached in a bark-hut, on a hill, under a tree; or in a log cabin. He then explained to the children the method of. constructing a log oabin as taught the isettlersby theAmeri: cans.; He, said they often heard 'of the tbusical ; chimes of tho church bolls. Well, ho had heard a bullock's horn used' for the purpose. ' liv speaking, of children he stated that he was pleased to see how strong and sturdy thoy were, if tho parents did

not give them the right education what was to become of them. Free education was provided for all. There was nothing to stop them from attaining a high.position in life, but it remained foi* the parents' to : , give them a moral direction. ' The church that would be the leader of the future would bo the one that gave the best moral teaohing tc children.- ■ He went on to compare this Jubilee year

to the past. The Australians boasted of tho work that they had;; done, Thoy did not have the saine difficulty with a dense rbush and the contention with the Maori race, '.Taking it all together' the people had made groat strides in the settlement and cultivation of the country, In looking back it seemed to him wbhdeiiul, theiworlc that had b'e'on dono cause of Christ, ..;■:" After a song' by the 'children,Mr, Edge gave a short address, While this gentleman was speaking the congregation was greatly: annoyedby the disgraceful behaviour of the larrikin element outside ofthechuroh. , Mr S. Bayliss then addressed the meeting, and was followed. by Mr Morriss, who, previous to moving a vote of thanks to Mrs Maunsellfor the very efficient manner in whioh sherhad taught thejchildren,. gave a short address on the drink traffic in the district. He expressed.. a hope that in the future it would be stopped. The gentleman stated that; the Salvation Army had, done more.;|for .the reformation, of'. the lower .'class, than ; all other denominations,'.',',".'!.,'!' . A.hearty vote ; of thanks.:-was accorded to: Mrs Maunsoll, ; Mr Eowse, and the Chairman. J> <'■' ;.-., • During the evening several songs were rendered by, the children' in a verypleasantmanner. '' : ;'';,.'''.' : '.