GATE PA MEMORIAL CHURCH.

Latino of the foundation

STONE.

On Saturday afternoon the settlers at the Gate Fa turned out en masse and a considerable number of people went out from town to witness the laying of the foundation stone of the Gate Fa Memorial Church by His Excellency the Governor, Lord Banfurly. Everything had been got in readness by Mr Adams, the contractor, and the foundation block, some 2ft 3in long, of earthenware, with a cavity in the centre, was slung to a set of shears over the hole sunk to receive it, at the bottom of which was a brick footing set in cement. The Governor, accompanied by Capt. Alexander arrived with Capt. H. Kerr, (Chairman of the Building Committee), about 5 minutes to 3 p.m., and there were ready to meet him, the Bey. C. Jordan and the Building Committee; there were also present Mrs H. E. Bennett and a number of members ot Trinity Churoh choir, Mesdames Southey, Samuel, Collett, Mr Lewis a,nd other singers. In front of the block was spread a carpet, held down by fragments of exploded shells placed on the corners and edges, and on the carpet was set a small table with trowel, stone mason's mallet, etc. The Governor having taken up \ hiß positioD, the Bey. C. Jordan offered up a prayer after which the assemblage joined in reciting the ' Lord's Prayer ' ; a hymn was then sung during which cement was spread on the footing and the block lowered into its place and approximately adjusted by Mr J. C. Adams, Contractor, and Mr G. A. Ward, Supervising Architect. At the conclusion of the hymn His Excellency stepped forward .and taking the lovei and mallet finally adjusted tho block to its exact position. He then declared it to be well and truly laid and said it was a happy coincidence that the day chosen should have been the 10th of February, Her Majesty's wedding day. The time when they were about to erect this memorial Church to those who fell on the spot on, which those present now stood, seemed also a most fitting one. Knowing as they did how deeply Her Majesty was affected by the loss of so many of her brave soldiers in the present war in South Africa and how anxious she was for their welfare, they could well imagine how she must have grieved for the many lives lost on the spot where this church was now about to be bujlt. He fervently hoped that the undertaking they had in hand might be carried to a successful conclusion and that the Church when finished might be the means of guiding many into the right path. Capt. Kerr read the following statement :— ' This \foundation block was well and truly laid at 3 p.m., on Saturday, February I Oth, anno domini 1.900, ty the Right Honourable Uchter John Mark, Earl of Banfurly and Governor of New Zealand, to the honour and glory of God and in memory of those of Her Majesty's forces who fell on and around this spot on Friday, April 29th, 1864, -id the assault on the Gate Fa, held by the Maoria under Bawiri Puhiraki, and in other 'engagej ments in this neigbourhood.' Here ; followed the names of the Building Committee, Designer, Super vising Architect and Contractor, tbe document being signed by Capt Rerr, as ' Chairman of the Committee. The statement waa then enclosed in a Mason jar with a few coins and a copy of the Times of the previous day, the cover was screwed on and the jar placed by His Excellency in fhe cavity iv the block, which was immediately filled up with cement. The choir sang the hycnn, 'The Church's one Foundation,' after which the Rev. C. Jordan brought the ceremony to a conclusion with the prayer from 2 Cor. XIIL

Subsequently the builder, (Mr Adams), and others were presented to His Excellency who spent a few minutes chatting and

[ was pleased to accept a fragment of a heavy shell, which had been discovered when the site was being prepared a few days previously, as a memento of the

occapion

Capt. Kerr on behalf of those present thanked His Excellency for his kindness in coming out to

honour them by laying the foundation stone and called for

three cheers for the Queen, which

were most heartily given aed

*ere followed by three f«r the

(Governor and then three for Capt. Kerr, after which the ga'heririg dispersed.