WHANGAREI NOTES.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 87, 14 April 1899, Page 6

WHANGAREI NOTES.

. {From Our Own Correspondent.)

WHANGAREI,; ..Tuesday.

His Lordship Bishop Cowie, Primate of New Zealand, paid this district a visit era Saturday. He held confirmation services at Kamo and "Whangarei on Sunday.when a good number of candidates were presented. On Tuesday he opened and dedicated the new church at Otaeka. In ther morning baptismal and holy communion services were held. His Lordship was assisted by the Revs. L. FitzGerald and L. L. Cubitt. At 2.30 p.m. dedication of tne church and confirmation services were held. A surpliced choir and several ladies from the Christ Church choir assisted in the choral portion of the various services. The Rev. L. FitzGerald acted as bishop's chaplain, and the Revs. L. L, Cubitt, of Christ Church, and J.- H. Hawkes were also in attendance.

A procession 'of the men and boys led by Mr Nicholas and followed by the Rev, Mr Hawkes singing Hymn 291, A. and M., proceeded from the robing-room to the church, where they were met by His Lordship and the clergy. Mr Nicholas read the letter of presentation of the land and church to the Board of .Trust to His Lordship, when the procession proceeded up the aisle, led by the Rev. L. FitzGerald with the Bishop. staff, during which Psalm 138 was sung. After arriving at the chancel His Lordship read the dedication service dedicating the church to Christ's holy Apostle St. Mark, The service was read both in English and Maori. The thanksgiving hymn 379, A, •and M., was sung. The lessons were taken first from 2 Chronicles, 14 chap., verses 14 to 27; second from the Ist epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians, Hi. -chap, to v. 9. His Lordship gave an excellent address, taking for his text the 16tti verso of iii. chap, of Ist of Corinthians: 'Know ye not that ye are the temple 'of God.' The confirmation service was then taken, when 16 candidates were presented.-

An excellent and bounteous luncheon had been provided by the residents and friends of the district, to which upwards of 180 visitors sat down. The church was nicely decorated with white flowers and evergreens; over the altar the text, 'Christ has risen,' and a cross beautifully executed in white by Mrs F. Alderton was very conspicuous.

The new church is a handsorrfe if small structure, though hardly, finished. It is centraily situated. It is capable of accommodating 100 people with 'ease. Great credit is due to the residents and the

promoter, Mr Nicholas, for the way in which the good work has been carried out. The land, three acres, on.which the church is built was given by Mr A. Turner. Mr A. A. M, Taw was the architect, and the building was erected by the residents under the supervision of Mr S. Coulton.the cost being £126, which amount when the cluxrch is finished will be paid off and the church free from any encumbrance.