TE AWAMUTU. Bishop Cowie's visit to Te Awamutu.

Waikato Times, Volume XV, Issue 1317, 7 December 1880, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU. Bishop Cowie's visit to Te Awamutu.

In order to welcome his Lordship on his arrival hero, a Garden Party took place at the "Parsonage grounds,'' on Saturday last. The following ladies contributed trays, viz., Mm Phillips and Mrs Hunt, Mrs Carley and Mrs Gillies, Mrs Innes and Mrs Gresham. Very ample provision had been made for the refreshment of the guest-*, as the ladies' had been misled by a statement that at least one hundred and fifty perf-ons would be present. Instead of this number, about 70 only availed themselves of the privilege of thus visiting the Parsonage grounds. The day was beautifully fine throughout. His Lordship, who arrived by the evening tram, gave a most interesting Lecture in the Public Hall. The subject was " The recent war in Afghanistan" : Having served as Army chaplain in the above district, and as Bishop Cowie has at present a brother stationed at Kandahar (Major Cowie, of the Artillery), His Lordship was necessarily well acquainted with the subject of his lecture, which he handled in a most masterly style. Referring back to the calamitous disaster which happened to British arms in the retreat from Cabul through the fatal Khoord-Cabul (Khyber) Pass in 1842, under General Elphmstone's mismanagement, when the only survivor of an army of 160,000 men was Dr Brydone. His Lordship characterised the General in question as an incompetent old gentleman who was not suited either from service or otherwise for holding so important a positiou. Following up the history of the country to the days when Ayoub Khan aud Jacoub Khan were respectively Governors of Cabul and Herat, the Bishop dwelt upon the importance of retaining a British hold on Kandahar. Referring to later events, His Lordship dwelt upon the treachery of the Affghan Government in former years, with regard to receiving the Russian emissary (Vickovich) at Cabul, while rejecting all interference by the English. A shoirt account of the defeat of General Burrows, of the noble defence made by the Highland regiments, and of the gallant rescue effected by tl)3 chivalrous General Roberts (with whom the Bi&hop informed us he is personally acquainted), brought this most interesting address to a termination. A short, but very enjoyable coucert followed, commencing with an instrumental overture by the Rev. Mr. Phillips, aud Messrs. Clough, Tristram and Mandeno, and Miss Mandeno, which was very fairly rendered. The glee by the choir, " Hark to the Indian Drum," was good and was followed by a song by Mrs. Andrews, a lady lately arrived in the district, " Katie's Letter," which was charmingly rendered. Mr. Johnson a^ng "In Happy Moments," but the song had evidently not received sufficient preparation. Mr-> Gresham and the Rev. Mr. Phillips, rendered the duett, "Oh could [ teach you Warbling Bird, " very effectively. One of the best things on the programme was Miss. N. Wainwright'a pianoforte solo "Orayione," which watt excellently rendered and secured the enthusiastic applause of the audience The vocal gem of the evening was, without doubt was the duet " Frendship,'' by Mrs Andrews and Mis>s Mandeno. It was sung with a gra.ee aud sweetuess which fairly delighted the audience. Mr George Hunter had selected a song which I is hardly suited to his style : "In the Gloaming" but nevertheless he robbed it of none of its beauties. The glee "The ! Chough aud the Crow" which was only moderately successful, brought a very pleasant evening to a close. i

Laying the Foundation Block of the Kihikihi Church. At noon, on Saturday, His Lordship Bishop Cowie, accompanied by the Rev. E. Phillips, arrived in Kihikihi, for the purpose of placing in position the initial block of the proposed Anglican Church. On the site, which is fo pleasantly situated at the Te Awamutti end of the township, and has been ploughed and neatly fenced, His Lordship was" met by the members of the Church residing in the neighbourhood and others, amounting altogether to about 50 people. The post hole had been dug and the block, squared and painted lay aw?iting the hand of the Bishop, and without delay His Lordship performed his part of the ceremony, the attendants tilling in and making solid the earth. The Bishop said a prayer invoking a blessing on the work there begun, after which the congregation joined in hinging the 215 th Hymn. The Bishop, made a short address taking for his text Ephesians 111. Chap., IS) verse, dwelling upon the circumstance that Christianity was an established fact, and not a mere sentiment. He exhorted them to remember that .although they were members of various branches they all belonged to one church, and it wab through their righteousness alone that they could hope for life, «»e commended the people who in the face of such obstacles as they had had to encounter had done so much towards raising up a church in their midst. He hoped that in 50 or 60 years time the building which they now contemplated erecting would have been replaced by a one of more durable materials than wood. Those living in that day would look back with gratitude to those whose efforts had built the original temple. He then asked those assembled to join with him in prajer, and the ceremony ended. His Lordship afterwards proceeded to Alexandra, where he lectured the same night, returning to Te Awamutu, where the ordinance of confirmation was performed at >S. John's Churoh on Sunday morning. The Bishop left in the evening on a visit to Raglan and the neighborhood. On Saturday next His Lordship will proceed to Cambridge, where he will be welcomed at a garden party, held by the kind invitation of Major and Mrs Wilson in the beautiful grounds attached to their residence.