WELLINGTON NOTES.
A SEVERE STORM.
THE REV. PATTERSON*
(SPECIAL TO "THE PEESS.")
WELLINGTON, May 11
A heavy rain etonn, with unusually strong of wind, swept over this district Inst night. Over half an inch of rain fell, and the velocity of th* wind for the twenty-four hours was 660 miles. This is the highest recorded velocity since November last, wlwn 720 miles for twenty-four hours was recorded. A good deal of damage was done last night to unfinished buildings and to gardens. While the gale was at its height the Union Company's huik Occident, jvbioh has been lying idle in the stream emce she was towed into Wellington from Auckland in December, 1901, broke away from one of the Harbour Board buoys, and went ashore at Oriental Bay. It is improbable that the hulk has (sustained much damage, us the bottom is sandy where she ie ashore. It is not anticipated that much trouble will be experienced in getting her otf. The yacht Kiotiri also went ashort- during the night.
The Rev. J. Patterson, who is resigning from the. pastorate of St. John's Presbyterian Church after thirty-five years' work, is an Argyllshire man, who was ordained in Liverpool in 1857. He came to New Zealand in the ship Ballarat. arriving at Wellington on Monday, 24th August, 1868, and preaching his first sermon on the following Sunday, 30th August, in St. John's Church. "At the time of his arrival Wellington wa.s a comparatively small place, having a population of only 7000. Soon after his arrival the Maori war broke out, Titikowaru taking up arms on the West Coast, and Te Kooti on the Kasb Coast. The new minister of St. John's should have been inducted by the Presbytery of Wellington, but on account of the war the ministers ot Wanganui, Turakina, and Marton could not leave their charges, and as their absence would have lefc the Presbytery short of a. quorum the rev. gentleman was inducted by the General Assembly of the Church, which met at that time. Jn 1868 St. John's Church was a. small building, having a seating capacity of only about 250. In 1875 a new church was built to seat 600. The church and schools were erected, the school building being opened at the end of the year, and the church at the end of 1885. The church hwn a seating capacity of 900, oa compared with 250 in 1868. " The revenue of the church in 1868 was about £850; last year it- was close on £2000, exclusive of Sunday Schools. Tlu'i-o are very few members of Mr Patterson's original congregation now living.
It is understood that the Government has acquired the Matamata. Estate, Upper Tliames, for closer settlement. The property, upon which an enormous amount of money was expended by the late Mr J. C. Firth, after he bought it from the Maori.?, contains 40,000 acres, and the price paid by the Government is said to be £120,000.
The agent of the Labour Department at Hastings reports that during last month an increasing number of swaggers was seen upon the roads.
WELLINGTON NOTES.
Press, Volume LX, Issue 11581, 12 May 1903, Page 6
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