ECCLESIASTICAL.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIV, Issue 140, 15 June 1893, Page 7

ECCLESIASTICAL.

Archdeacon Williams, of New Zealand, has offerer), in addition to his previous subscription of £400 towards the cosb of a Chinese Church in Little Bourke-streeb (Melbourne), £100 for every £200 collected in Melbourne. The interesting ceremony of laying the foundation stone of the u'ew residence that is to be erected for the Catholic Bishop of Auckland took place on Saturday, May 20. Bishop Luck laid the stono. The solemn blessing of the foundation stone took place next day, the ceremony being performed by Bishop Luck, assisted by MonsignorPaul, Fathers Hackebb, Egan, Lenihan, and Gillan. In the course of his address, Bishop Luck mentioned that amongst those who had contributed to the work were 14 cardinals. The chief subscribers would huve their names commemorated by memorial stones in the foundations of the building. A large amount waa subscribed by those present, and Monsignor Paul handed the Bishop £302 3s, that had been previously collected in Auckland. On May 24 the jubilee of the foundation of the Free Church of Scotland, in 1843, and the commemoration of the establishment of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Symonda-streeb, wero celebrated by a soiree and conversazione in the Choral Hall. At the after-meeting there was a very large attendance. The Rev. A. Carrick, pastor of Sb. Andrew's, presided. The chairman, in his address, sketched the history of the disruption of the Church of Scotland and the foundation of the Free Church. He sketched the beginning of Presbyterianism in Auckland, and skoke of the first church in Victoria-street in 1843. It was shortly after this that St. Andrew's was founded in Auckland, the Free Church sending out a minister to the colony. The Rev. J. Hill (Devonporb) and the Rev. A. M. McCallum also spoke, and gave interesting reminiscences of the disruption in 1843. The Rev. T. Norrie also gave a brief address. A musical programme was gone through during the evening. The thirty-first anniversary of the Nonconformists leaving England for the Albertland Special Settlement was commemorated on Monday, May 29th, ab Porb Albert. On tho previous day (Sunday) special I religious services were held in tho Temper- ' ance Hall in the afternoon and evening. On Monday a public tea and entertainment took place in the hall, the Rev. W. Gittos presiding. The chairman, in opening the meeting, spoke at Borne length, reviewing tho history of the settlement. It must have been very gratifying to Mr Gibtos bo note the way the meeting throughout received his remarks. Albertlanders have cause to be grateful for his valuable assistance on their first arrival on tho Oruawharo; and for over thirty years Mr Gittos has done all in his power to promote the best interests of tho settlers. On the platform a number of the old settlors were seabed, and the chairman alluded to the fact that he missed several old and familiar faces. A few more anniversaries and the venerable fathers now on' tho platform—the pioneers of this settlement—would no longer be with us ; but ib was with peculiar pleasure he saw the rising generation before him giving evidence that they would worthily! carry on the work commenced by their parents. He earnestly hoped that the Alberblanders of tho future would do all in their power to keep away a public house and its attendant evils. Tho Rev. J.

Mather gave a warm and stirring address on temperance, and he had the almost unanimous sympathy of hia large audience. Mr French gave a humorous speech, and was warmly applauded. Mr J. Shepherd in a few words testified to the kind and valuable services rendered by the chairman, and also thanked Mr W. Armitaga and those associated with him in giving them such a musical treat. Mr G. Nichol* eon and Miss Thiele presided afc the har< nionium, and Mrs Waters, Mrs A. Worker,' Mips Pudding, and Messrs Armitage, G. Nicholson and A, Webster deserve the warmest praise for carrying out a first-class musical programme. The whole tone of the meeting was good, and the 300 or 400 persona were happier and better for having been present;.