MAHURANG : OPENING SERVICE OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXXII, Issue 5804, 5 May 1876, Page 3

MAHURANG : OPENING SERVICE OF THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

As previously notified, the opening service of the new Church of England. Wnrkworth, Mahurangi, was held on Sunday last, at 3 o'clock, by the Right Rev. Dr. C'owie, Bishop of Auckland, who doli\ ered a very impressive and instructive sermon to a large audience from John x. 14, "I am the Good Shepherd, and know my sheep, and am know n of mine." The collection amounted to £7 4s. 3d. Th» movement for the erection of a Church of England in the district originated some seventeen years ago, and a very neat plan was executed by the late John Anderson Brown ; who also, on his laying out the present township of Warkworth, ieser\ed a building site for that purpose. It is centr.illj r situated, being opposite the Mahurangi Hall and convenient to the village-green : but, as it was thought at that time, and for many years later, that there weie notmcinbci&aud adherents of the church sufficient to form a congregation, the movement was for the time considered impracticable. However, the subject was not loit sight of, and a few months since a subsuiption was raised for that purpose, and the erection of the present neat building has been the result. The present plan was designed by .Mi. James Clayden, of Mahurangi, and is in keeping with the purposes for A\liirii it was designed. The inner floor measures 31ft. by 22tt., and contains sittings well arranged for the accommodation of 120 persons. The height of the walls is 12ft. ; the building has a spire on the west end and a cross on the eastern end. It is also well lighted in the day time by two windows on each side, and a large oriel window, 9ft x 4ft , with stained glass heads in the east end of the building. Theic is also a neat porch at the entrance, which shelters it from the wind. The entno cost of the building was €232 The conti actor and builder was Mr. James Claydcii, of Mahurangi. The Rev. D. D. Sparling will take charge temporarily, and will hold service regularly every Sunday at Mahurangi, at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and alternately at Kaipara Flats and Matakana at 1 1 o'clock a.m. A will be opened on Sunday, tho 7th inst. An harmonium is also to bo provided for the church, and the sum of -CU 10s. has been alieady subscribed ; the probable cost w ill be about £20. The proceeds of the soiree held on Thursday evening last, in aid of the Building Fund, amounted to £11 14s — The members of the Warkworth Mutual Improvement Society handed through their secretary, Mr. Bates, the sum of £.1 towards the Mahurangi Church of England building fund ; and a like sun from tho same geutloinen was handed to Mr. Munro, secretary of the Warkworth Presbyterian Chinch building fund, being the proceeds of the entertainment held in the Mahurangi Jlall on Easter Monday evening.

WAIWEHA, Apiil-W. The health invigorating residence of Mr. Robert Graham- the Waiweia Hotel — was enlivened lust evening by a concert and ball. The visit of Mr. Brown, the conductor of the* Auckland Ohoiul Society, was taken advantage of, and the result was the production of thu above-mentioned concert. The young ladies who took pait in the performance were well up in their several songs, and consequently a m^t delightful cveuiug was passed. The piogranr.nc was us follows : -Overture, pimofoito; so ig (Sir. Brown), "Gipsy's dioam;" (|U«idnlle, schottishe ; song, Mi. Well wood ; gabp, waltz ; duet (Mr. IJiown ami Mi->s (halmm), "What aro the wild xr.we-t saying?" lancets, schottkhc, solo, pianofoitc ; song and thorn?, Sir Roger Do Coverley, National Anthem. And

v\]io could not pass .in agieeable time in thi delightful locality : ltcjdmg, music, boating. liOimg, bithing (->o delightful to t.iku i swim m the plunge, bath), then home (toi tiuly a liome ]•■ made of it by the constant and kind itten r Dti of Mi. and Mi'. Boston) d> tli» chroiful hi I abundantly laid t iblc — who would nut urn linns long as possible in this ietie.it ' The • mlj ilitticulty is the constant regietful song of "Im obliged to go to morrow," May 3. Thr- bay yctcid.iy afternoon was eniiNPneil bj- the appeal ance of a lnrge while and two c ilf-^ close in shoie. A boat, put off to c iptuio them, but without succu-s Eight moic visitoiarnved yesteiduy. The Waiweia w item still retain their ciuathe piopeilies ; return usitois indul.'P in thcii excellencies.