“The Press” In 1866

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30981, 10 February 1966, Page 12

“The Press” In 1866

February 10 HOKITIKA CHURCHES.—We take the following item from the “Hokitika Leader” of Friday last:— Divine Service.—Divine service, according to the rites of the Church of England, was performed on Sunday morning and evening in the Supreme Court There was a large attendance, and many persons had to stand during the whole service, which lasted nearly two hours. The whole of the seats ordinarily occupied by the jury, the witnesses in attendance, and visitors to the Court-house at its ordinary sittings, were occupied and some slight additional accommodation was provided by the introduction of chairs. But a large space on the floor was left without seats of any kind, and we certainly think that

so long as the gratuitous use of a public building is granted to the Church of England, a few benches might be supplied by the heads of the congregation for the convenience of those who are anxious to attend the ministrations of the clergymen. Two other denominations—the Roman Catholics and the Wesleyans—have gone to the expense of erecting commodious places of worship for themselves. A collection was made on Sunday for the Church of England Building Fund: and as benches must, m any case, be provided for that structure, we would suggest that any funds in hand could not be more appropriately applied than in providing a few of these at once, to provide for the convenience of persons attending the Court-house during its temporary occupation as a church. A »