COUNTY CENTRES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXV, Issue 9021, 17 December 1914, Page 7

COUNTY CENTRES.

NEWS AND NOTES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) WILLOWBY. Methodist Sunday School Anniversary. The anniversary services in connection, with the Willowby Methodist Sunday School were held on Sunday last. The Rev. H. B. Hughes, M.A., of Ashburton, occupied the pulpit in the morning, and the Rev. W. J. Osbrow in the evening. Both preached instructive .sermons suitable to the occasion. The congregations were large and appreciative, and the collections, which were in aid of the school funds, were on a most liberal scale. For some weeks the children, under tho able direction of Mr G. H. B. Lill, had been practising special hymns for the occasion; , they acquitted themselves admirably, their singing adding brightness and cheerfulness to the services. On Tuesday evening the anniversary was further celebrated by a well-at-tended tea meeting in ,the schoolroom. i After lea a ■ public meeting was held in the church. The Rev. W. J. Oxbrow presided, and the Rev. Mr Kugbes again addressed the meeting. The Superintendent submitted a satisfactory report of the school, showing that tho various classes were doing good work, and that several of the scholars had been' admitted to the, church as junior members. At the, request of the children the prizes were dispensed with this year, and the amount usually spent in this connection was donated to the Poor of Great Britain and Belgium Relief Fund. During the evening tho children again sang several hymns in a very pleasant manner, and a duet contributed by the 'Rev. H. B. and Mrs,Hughes was en-, tliusisvstically encored.' On the motion -f Messrs W. T. Lill and U., V .W. Harding', a comprehensive vote** ~of thanks was accorded to all who had in any way contributed to the success of the anniversary. After the New Zealand National Anthem had been sung, a very successful anniversary functionwas brought to 3 close by Mr Hughes pronouncing the Benediction.