PUERUA SOCIAL.

Clutha Leader, Volume XXXVI, Issue 51, 7 December 1909, Page 5

PUERUA SOCIAL.

There was a good attendance at the annual social of the Puerua. congregation' in the church on Tuesday evening, Tho Rev. Mr Dalrymple occupied the chair, and opened proceedings with the usual . devotional services. Thereafter reports from the Session, the Managing Committee, tho Sunday School, and the Christian Endeavour Society were giveii in by the Rev. ilr Dalrymple and Messrs William Paterson, Irving Dent, and Stewart liobinson respectively. Th<j total on the membership roll stood at 70. In making his report, Mr Dalrymple spoke words of encouragement to the congregation in connection with tlie work of the incoming year and of the future. The treasurer's report, as given in by Mr Paterson, was on very much the samo terms as that of last year. The follow ing, in round numbers, are some of the items Sustentation Fund—' Puerua £65, Port Molyncux £3l, total £96 ; Ordinary Collections Puerua £3B, Port Molyneux £l6, Romahapa £l3, total £6B ; seat rents £ls ; total revenue, £2Ol 17/. One thing mentioned by Mr Paterson, as emphasizing the value of little sums, is worth .passing on. There were, he said, 100 subscribers to the Slustentation Fund. An exera penny halfpenny per week from each contributor would make the congregation scif-supporting. The reports showed the Sunday School and the Endoavoutj Society to be doing good work, On the motion of Mr' Paterson, seconded by Mr Somerville, Mr Mackenzie was elected to the vacancy in the Managing Committee. Addresses suitable to the occasion, and apparently greatly appreemted, were delivered by the Revs. Miller (Milton), Orr (Warepa), and Carrie (Balclutha), while interspersed therd were musical 'items from the Puerua and- Romahapa choirs. The latter, with Mr Jaekmnn as leader, and Miss Macpherson as organist, was particularly strong, and rendered the anthems, "Ring the joy bells," "Gather them in," and "Sweet Sabbath bells," very effectively. Solos, "Saved by Grace," and "Waiting to welcome us there," were {riven with much swectV ness by tfce Misses Lamond and Morton ; a duet, "Heartfelt song," by Mr and Miss Morton ; while a quartetta party, consisting of the Misses Lamond and S. Paterson, and the Messrs Morton, with Miss Morton as organist. rendered "The gates, of pearl." The Misses Paterson acted as organists for the several items.

Tea and cake, with the usual plentiful and varied supply,, were handed round and much enjoyed about hallway through (he programme The customary votes of thanks to the speakers, the choir, the ladies, and the chairman were proposed by Messrs Ronton, Mackenzie, and Robinson, and the Rev, Mr Orr, and heartily carried.