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Auckland Star, Volume XLIII, Issue 166, 12 July 1912, Page 6

The Methodist Church in Otago is now celebrating its jubilee on a somewhat' extensive scale. HaJf a century ago. in the very early <Uys of settlement. Mr. John Jones, of Waikouaiti, a well-known pioneer colonist, was the chief importer of sheep and cattle to New Zealand from ', Sydney. His vessels landed their stock ! at WsuTconaiti, and thither the settlers journeyed to procnr™ what they required. Among those who periodically went to ' purchase stock at Waikouaiti was a Mr. Lee, one of the West Taieri pioneers. When making (hie periodical trips to Wnikouaiti, Mr. ijce. always put up at the Wesleyan Mission Station, where j '• he had a shipmate, Mr. T. P«rens. In 1 • January, 1882, the Rev. T. E-ullcr came J ■ from Cbristc3nm>h to siw about initiat-' 1 ing church. He lectured on ■ "The Maori" for the V.M.C.A., a«d! » spent several -wet-ks in risitinp t-he g-old- i ' fields. He -called on Mr. Lor, who gave i , him the section on Bell Hill. DtmedinJ i where First Church was built— vorv - » iiaji-dsomo jrift. ]t was cold seven vcaJ"s • later for £400. This was the beginning-of-the -Methodist Church in Otago. j