TE AWAMUTU. THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Waikato Times, Volume XXII, Issue 1844, 1 May 1884, Page 2

TE AWAMUTU. THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

A public meeting in connection with the Presbyteiian Church was held heie on the 22nd inbt., the Rev Mi Neville m the chair. The Roys W. Evans, Monro, of Remuera, and 0. Dean, of Te Awamutu Wesleyan Ghmch, were present, and addrebsed the meeting. The Rev Mr E\ans delivered an excellent address in his usual h.ippy style. Mr Monro, in his speech, lcvievved the Pi esbyterian Church dining the last five years, showing its prospeuty dining that time, and btated that within that period the number of adheients and ministets had almost doubled itself. The speaker made an appeal on behalf of the Home and Foieign Missions of the chuich, which was liborally respondod to. The Te Awamutu distiict Piesbyterian Church have dm ing the past year had a new church erected, and a new manse is almost completed. They have also prncuied an organ fiom America foi the use of the Kihikihi services, and arc hopeful that a new church will be built in that town before the winter is ovpr. The Government grant in that town has been cut up into four allotments, and leased for a yeaily rental of £41, which makes a most satisfactory church endowment. On the whole the Presbyterians in thin district have reason to congratulate themselves on the flourishing state of their church. They are thoroughly united, and the result is that a very pretty little church has been built, which is almost, if not quite clear of debt. The members set a good example to those of other denominations, which they would do well to follow. They at any rate subseiibe to the parson's stipend, which is more than can be said of some denominations. During the evening Miss Mandeno presided at the harmonium, which is a sufficient guarantee for the excellence of the music. MISCKr,LANEOUS. Mr J. H. Mandeno has just threshed his wheat and oats. The yield has been most satisfactory, showing unquestionably the adaptability of this district for growing grain crops. The wheat is " red chaff " and the return was over 55 bushels to the acre. Two varieties of oats were grown, Black Tartary and Dun oats, the former being by far the hea\ier yielder of the two, giving a return of 63 bushels to the acre, against 40 of the latter. The Dun oats shells more readily than the other ; in this case so much of it was shelled that it could be taken up in handfuls from the ground ; even with that loss the return was 40 bushels, but had it all remained in the ear, it would not have yielded as much as the Tartary oats. How about the croakers — who, by the way, know as much about farming as they do of the geography of the moon— who said Waikato would never be a grain growing country ? They may now hide their diminished head*. The contractors are getting on rapidly with the road' between here and Ifthikihi, I cannot say much for the quality of the gravel they are putting on ; it has too much clay and too little gravel in it ; that, of course, is not their fault, they must take it from the place pointed out to them, but far better gravel could easily bare been procured. The Hon. the Minister for Public Works arrived here by special train on Sunday afternoon, en route for Taranaki via the proposed, go^t; line, q| railway. He. w

certainly indefatigable, and intends looking for himself without trusting entirely to others. If he would try and get the tariff remodelled he would earn the gratitude of the public. I erot a parcel weighing 291bs from Auckland a. short time ago; it was booked as twu hundred weight, and I had to pay 5s 7d for freight. How is that for high ? — (Own Correspondent.)