OTAKI ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1095, 6 April 1911, Page 5

OTAKI ITEMS.

1 bunder, in a modified form, and lighining of a mild nature, were experienced here en Tuesday night. | On Tuesday evening members of tho Otaki Methodist Church gathered for the purpose of bidding good-bye to tho Rev. Mr. Rands, who has been transferred to Kilbirnie. During the course of the proceedings, songs were contributed by Mi«ea M'Mahon and Rands, and Mr. Pennrecitations by Miss Pole, Messrs. G. Judd| S. Beaumont, niid Penn. The chairman (Mr. Penn), on behalf nf the assemblage, bade farewell to the guest of (he evening. He said that Mr. Rands had worked unsparingly during the past year, had proved a splendid organiser, had done excellent service in every department of church work, and, best, of all, the spiritual results had been visible. They wore all sorry to lose so good a pastor, but Otaki's loss would ;be Kilbirnie's gain. Mr. Penn (hen presented Mr. Hands with hand-somely-bound copies of Webster's Dictionary, Hastings' Dictionary of tho Bible, and Wliittier's Poems. Mr. Rands, in responding, stated that such a handsome presentation was not at all nocossirv to remind him of the manv kindnesses winch he had received at the hands of the people of Olaki, though ho would greatly valuo the books. He referred to I hosocial gatherings held last winter, and other functions which he had boon associated with, and then went on lo sav that ho was leaving them with mingled feel-ings-regret at leaving a work that he had entered into with zest, and a people whom he had learned In love, hut lio felt flint God had caller! him to another sphere, and he would do his very host there, as ho had done in Otaki. Mr. Pom then handed .Miss l.ina Rands, who ia leaving with her brother, a bound oopv of the Methodist Hymn-book, at Ihe Mn i'e time stating that .Miss Rands had al'w-ivs been most willing to help j u every of church work, and also at social'gatherings. Mr. and Miss Rands leave Otaki today.