THE NEWLANDS TEA MEETING.

Ashburton Herald, Volume II, Issue 517, 4 December 1879, Page 3

THE NEWLANDS TEA MEETING.

BY OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT. The first anniversary of the Primitive Methodist Church at Newlands was celebrated on Tuesday' last by a public tea meeting. . On the Sunday previous, the Rev. W. Keall preached the anniversary sermons. Owing to inclement weather, the morning congregation was small, but at the evening service the little church was well filled. The tea on Tuesday passed off with unqualified success. To a stranger in the district, the questiom naturally suggested itself—where can so many jieople come from ? but when your correspondent learned that one family had travelled twelve miles to be present on the occasion the number of visitors was not so much a mystery. The tables, which were loaded with edibles, and delicacies calculated to tempt an epicuro, were presided over by Mesdames Watkins, Greyburn, Lill, Austin, Lloyd, and Coll well; and too much praise cannot be awarded to these ladies who, despite the continued strain on their commissariat, gave satisfaction to all. While looking at the sea of smiling faces, one could hardly realise that the families there represented had but recently passed through a mosttrying ordeal, consequent on the failure of crops and the universal depression. After the tables had been cleared, the public meeting was opened with devotional exercises. Mr. Isaac Scott was voted to tlie chair, and remarked that although the meeting w r as not got up for the purpose of w 7 elcoming the Rev. Mr. Smith, yet it occurred most opportunely as * means of doing so. After referring to the moral and religious condition of society in the colony, the Chairman, on behalf of the meeting, welcomed Mr. Smith as another

..auxiliary in tha Vfprk of spreading the .Gospel. Mr, Puddicombe, in a practical speech, reminded • cliurcli members that, the ministers were not able to do all the work.themselves, and bespoke for the new minister their sympathy, prayers and cooperation. Mr. T. R, Rodder saidfrhe was pleased to see such heartiness among the people, and the enthusiasm of the meeting reminded him-of the meetings held by Messrs. Moody and San key in London a few years back. The speaker expressed sympathy with the settlers of the district in their past distress, but spoke very encouragingly of the present prospects, urging them, if prosperity once more smiled on their homes, to devote their firstfruits to the Lord of the harvests. The Rev. W. Keall, who was vociferously applauded, then delivered one of his usual practical and pointed addresses,' interspersed with frequent anecdotes, after which, the Rev. A. J. Smith addressed the meeting. In an admirable speech, part of which was devoted to a short sketch of Wilberforce’s work on behalf of the slaves, he urged the necessity of increased devotion and perseverance on the part of every Christian worker. Mr. John Smith proposed and Mr. . Geo. Leadley seconded, a vote of thanks to the ministers for their attendance, and after Mr. C. Dixon had proposed and Mr, Lill seconded a vote of thanks to the ladies, one of the most successful tea meetings ever held in the district was brought to a close. The receipts for the anniversary, including the Sunday collections, amounted to over £2l.

The school ami master’s house at Newlands are now making good headway in the hands of Messrs. Page and Hodder, and when completed will add much to the appearance of the district. The ground on which the buildings stand is three acres in extent, and the frontage to the property is set off with a neat but substantial picket fence; and when the trees which have been planted all round grow up, the school property at Newlands will be equal if not superior to many educational establishments of greater pretensions. The settlers of this district are to be congratulated in their selection of the School Committee, and with Mr. Megson as their chairman, there is little fear of the education or recreation of the juveniles of Newlands being overlooked. A master is being advertised for, and at an early date the school is to be opened with a soiree, at which “may I be there to see.”