NORSEWOOD.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3216, 20 October 1881, Page 2

NORSEWOOD.

(from an occasional cobbespondent.) With the opening of the summer our settlers are plucking up spirit, and we were treated last night to a highly enjoyable concert, the proceeds, which, as the school-room was full, must have been considerable, went to swell the fund for the new Lutheran Church which is being erected here. We were pleased to have our old pastor, the Rev. Mr Sass, 1 back amongst us, and hope to retain him permanently here. Mr. and Mrs Wilding, from Waipukurau, who are here, on a a visit, very kindly lent their aid, as also Miss Groombridge. The local talent was ably represented by the Rev. Mr Neilson, Mr and Mrs Creamer, and Mrs Small, whilst Mrs De Alimbert, in a Scandinavian song was loudly encored. Messrs Sass and Peterson gave some humorous readings, the whole performance being a great success. The Rev. Mr Sass, in moving a warm vote of thanks to the chairman, Mr W. Harker, who had kindly come up to presided, requested that gentleman to address the friends who were gathered there. In reply Mr Harker thanked them, aniJ said how a pleasant welcome amply compen- ,_; sated for a tiring journey. He was pleased ~%. to think they had turned the corner in the hard struggle they had fought. The church they were building would be a credit to the township, and if they would put their shoulders to tbe wheel, and open it free of debt, he would be happy to give them five guineas towards it. He understood the Anglican Church, to which he belonged, were also raising funds for a similar object. He had not the pleasure of knowing the Rev. Mr Robertshaw, but for the good of the cause he would be happy to give-them the same amount on the same terms, for he was strongly of opinion that it was better to pray not to run into debt than to run int3 debt to f pray. He then spoke of the large block of land they were desirous of obtaining amongst them, and said that on the owner's return he hoped the negotiations commenced a year ago might be successful. Speaking of the timber industry, he said nothing but the excessive railway freight pre-

Vented the development of a large trade with Newcastle coal mines in props, etc. The owners there were willing to buy, and Mr Vautier to transport same at almost ballaßt rates as return freight. He hoped his friend Mr Wilding and their member would see to this. At the beginning of the year he had been elected a member of the Norsewood Town Hall Committee. He was afraid he and the other members had been very lax in their duties, but he hoped a better etate of things would now ensue. Mr Bruford desired to acknowledge subscriptions of £- -3 from Mr W. C. Smith, with a very kind letter, and £1 Is from Mr Harker, to the Norsewood scbool library. The meeting dispersed highly pleased after "God save the Queen" had been sung, and a vote of thanks carried by acclamation to Mr and Mrs Wilding, Creamer, and all those who had so kindly assisted.