COUNTRY NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXVI, Issue 111, 10 May 1895, Page 4

COUNTRY NEWS.

NEW CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH. Messrs Loane and Graham's tender for the building of the new Congregational Church at Raglan has been accepted, and the building will probably be erected within the next two months. The contract) price is be-; tweeen £170 and £18C.. Mr'Sewell, C.E., is the architect. On April 29-th,a large number of residents assembled at the corner of Stewart and Grey streets to take part in the laying of the foundation block of. the new'church. An impressive prayer, suitable to the occasion, was offered by the Rev. Mr Gittos, and after ; th'e stone had been fixed, Mr Gittos declared" .the block well and truly laid. He then, in ' an interesting speech, stated the pleasure, it cave him to be present on the occasion, and to take part in the commencement of the erection of a new church for the Congrega- ; tionalists. ■• He was sorry the old Wesleyan ; Church could nob be repaired, bat it had served its day and was now past repair.! He would not have thorn think thab the, Wesleyan body had either forgotten or given-them up. At.tho same time it gave him great pleasure to think. that they "were in the hands of so good and suitable a man as the Rev. C. A. Lyon. A plate.was then i placed on the foundation .block and a sum lof between £3 and, £4 contributed by those. ■ present. '".-■- ■•■ • ANNUAL MEETING OF RATE- - ■ PAYERS. I ,i The annual meeting of ratepayers in Newcastlo district was held, being very poorly attended. Mr Corboy presided, and the • clerk--read the statement of accounts, which showed total receipts, £334 18s 6d; balance in hand on March 31sc, 1895, £61 3s Id. With regard to the arrears (£l2 183 lOd) marked "bad," for lands (the. owners of- which cannot be found), a resolution was passed requesting I the Board to take action against the land in every case, where the property is worth the. legal expenses. - -