RAGLAN.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIV, Issue 2775, 26 April 1890, Page 2

RAGLAN.

S.s. Glenelg.—The Northern Steamship Company's boat, the Glenelg (Capt. Norbury). came into port on Saturday morning last. She left Onehunga on the previous evening about 5 p.m., arriving off the Raglan bar early next morning. The sea was very rough during the passage, and especially so for an hour before crossing the bar, heavy seas breaking over the vessel at times. Having several passengers on board, in consequencb of the heavy weather they ssffered much from sea-sickness. Crossing the bar with the morning's tide, she was soon moored at the new wharf, and her cargo, consisting of several thousand feet of timber for building purposes, with other goods for stores and settlers' families, got out. Max and other produce having been taken on board, she proceeded down the harbour to opposite the wool store at the Te Akau side, and there loaded a considerable quantity of flax from Mr Hall's mill, and early on Sunday morning crossed the bar, with a heavy break upon it, for Kawhia and Onehunga. Wesleyan Services.—On Sunday last, April 20th, services were conducted at Raglan and Te Mata by the Rev. Thos. Wallis. In the former place in the morning, Mr Wallis preached an impressive sermon, chosing his text from Malachi 111, oth verse, "Fori am the Lord, I change not," ana in a clear, lucid and eloquent manner showed the changes that are ever taking place in ourselves and our surroundings, illustrating the same from Nature's text book, and on the other hand as from the words of the text, the unchau?eable nature of God as shown in all His manifold attributes, His continuing mercy and ever-abiding love. Earthly things would vanish away, hut the love of God towards us in Christ Jesus would abide for ever. In the afternoon Air Wallis conducted service at Te Mata. At night in the Raglan Wesleyan Church, the reverend gentleman again conducted the service, taking his text from Revelations 111, verse 20. " Behold I stand at the door and knock." At all the services large congregations assembled to hear Mr Wallis and at the services at Raglan we were glad to see present, Mrs Wallis, mother of the reverend gentleman, who has been very ill for some time past. Weather.—Like most other places, Raglan had during the la3t month a long continuance of easterly weather, followed since by the falling of heavy showers of rain. At the end of last week the wind went round to the south-west, and it was very cold on Saturday night. On Sunday night heavy showers fell, but it was fine the next day, on Monday night heavy showers again fell, but there is every appearance of a change now to fine weather. Influenza.—This complaint said by some to be of the La Grippe type, has visited many homes here, and some are still suffering severely from it; with continued easterly weather we often get colds, etc, then when the blow from the sea comes they disappear. Wesleyan Soiree. — A very successful social gathering took place in the Raglan Wesleyan Church on the evening of Wednesday last, April 23rd, in aid of the circuit funds, and to bid farewell to the Rev. T. J. Wallis and his wife, who are leaving New Zealand for their future field of labour in Fiji, and who have been on a visit during the last week to the parents of Mr Wallis, who live at Okete. The large assemblage of friends sat down to an ample tea about 5.30 p.m. During the day several gentlemen had been engaged in decorating the church with evergreens, giving it a pleasing appearance. The tables were presided over by the following ladies, viz. Mesdaines Mitchell, Sewell and Henry, and Miss Wallis, several other ladies also kindly giving their assistance. After full justice had been done to the good things provided, and the tables having been cleared away, the chair was taken by Mr J. N. Pegler, who expressed great pleasure at seeing so many persons assembled that evening to welcome and bid farewell to the Rev. T. J. Wallis ere he departed for his mission work in Fiji. Events in Raglan's history were quickly following one another, as already one of Raglan's daughters had gone away to labour in the mission field, and now Raglan was sending one of her son? to the same sphere of labour in Fiji. He thought it would be well if other young men of Raglan were to step forward at duty's call to work whenever that might be. As there was on an average but wiie out of every 250,000 Europeans who volunteered to labour among the heathen nations, Raglan had done more than her share. The Chairman introduced the lecturer the Rev, T. J. Wallis, then proceeded to delight, and instruct those who had the pleasure of listening to him, with illustrations from the life, character, and jareer of the Rev. H. Ward Beecher, the great American preacher, lecturer, and antislavery advocate, thus portraying the leading incidents of his busy life from the time when ha commenced to preach on £60 a year, and lived with his wife in a loft over a stable, to the time when he stood as the first preacher in the American Continent, with a salary of £5000 per annum. In proof of the fixed determination of the preacher, the lecturer described how on one .occasion, at Liverpool, in one of his visits to England, he told the audience assembled who had determined not to hear him, '"That they should hear him if he stayed there till morning," and hear him they did, his eloquence at last subduing their angry clamour. The lecture throughout was given with graphic power, and the devotional, poetic, and humorous side of Beecher's life brought before us in a most instructive and pleasing manner. Mr T. B. Hill proposed in suitable terms a vote of thanks to the lecturer for the interesting lecture he had given them. Whilst in the United States he had desired to hear Bercher, but the famous preacher being away prevented him. He trusted the Rev. Mr Wallis would return to them, and perhaps to labour amongst them, for it was to be regretted that at this time there was no resident minister here. —Mr La Trobe seconded the vote of thanks, which was passed with continued acclamation. —The Chairman then in presenting Mr Wallis with the best thanks of the meeting for his able lecture, which he had also listened to with great pleasure, bid him, on behalf of this meetin? and the people of Raglan, farewell, and trusted that both he and Mrs Wallis would have a pleasant voyage, and that their labours in Fiji would be blessed. He concluded by wishing them God speed. (Applause.) The Rev. gentleman replied in most feeling terms, stating that he was not going far away from thein and hoped to return in a few years.—Mr Mitchell proposed a vote of thanks to the chairman, which was seconded by the Rev. T. G. Wallis.—The Chairman thanked them in suitable terms. —Mr C. Moon then proposed in appropriate terms a vote of thanks to the ladies. Mr Ormiston having seconded the same, it was carried with applause, and the benediction being said, closed a most pleasant nvenings entertainment.