REMUERA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume II, Issue 444, 15 April 1865, Page 5

REMUERA.

OPENING OF ;NT.W COKGREGATI CHURCH. The inhabitants of this beautiful suburb having united to build a new and moro commodious church near their present edifice, it was opened for Divine wort-hip on Sunday last, when two sermons wore preached ; that in the morning by the Rev. Mr. Hill, oi the Presbyterian Church, \Yellington-street, and that in tlio evening by the Rev. Mr. "Warren, >\ csleyan Minister. On each occasion the attendance was v.-ry large, and collections were made, and nearlv was raised in aid of the building fund. Yes! ei day, according to arrangement, n soiree ws held, when upwards of 400 eat down to tea. The old chape], in which tea was provided, was found far 100 small for 30 large an attendance, accordingly several relays of tea-serving had to be provided. The whole was got through, however, in due course, lll| d ample justice was done to tho abundant and choice provisions with which the ladies had burdened (lie tables. All the trays were given by ladies who presided, and others not pr, sent contributed largelv to the geiK-iiii fund. At the of the tea a public meeting was held in the new church, over which the Rev. T. Hamer presided. The building, which was capable of holding 510 people, was tilled, and nu:uhers hail to stand at the doors. After singing, pruytr win offered by the Rev. A. Maecionald, when the Chairman called Upon the Rev. Mr. Siamleno to make the financial statement. lie Enid the buildin:; cost £1450, to which must be added £100 for the cost of the land, and .£250 for Citings ; making a total of £1850. To mm t this amount, the trustees had borrowed £1000, and theio hail been collected ,£877, making a total of monies received of JtTB77. This appeared to be a little in excess r.f the sum actually needed, but there was still additional fittings required in the new church, and the cost of fitting of the old chapel as a sihool-room, would make the whole amount necessary to meet the wants of the church, about £'2.000, and that- ab'iut £'I'.'s was still needed to make np the first £1000 of expenses, lea\ing £1000 standing debt. The meeting was aftei wards addressed by the Rev. Messrs. Warren, Cornford, and Laishley; after which Mr. Standi no again addressed the meeting. 110 stated that the commencement of the Congn gational Church at Rcmuera, of which the present church was the lctult, was one of peculiar interest to himself. He began with a few persons meeting together for worship, in a room piovidcd by Joseph Ktwman, Esq., to whom lie felthiinsilf pironallv, and the church was deeply, indebtid. (Cheeis.) 'The Rev. gmtieman also tiianked the Treasurer, 1). Thornton, Esq., for the liberal and efficient manner in which lie had tilled his onerous office. He al-o thanked the architect, J. Wrigley, Esq., who, by his personal superintendence of the building operations, and by other acts of liberality, had contributed moro than oto the building funds. The ladies were not to bo forgotten, for in his various etl'orts to raise funds, they had rendered him material services. They had succecdcd in collecting, by means of cards, upwards of .2115. To the ladies who furnished the trays, and to the Rev. Chairman for his services on the. occasion, 51 r. Mandeno also tendered his thanks.

During the evening the meeting wa? enlivened by t!io performance of several pieces of sacred music, very efficiently given by a eelectchoir. The proceedings were brought to a clo.se about 9 o'clock by singing the Poxology, and the benediction pronoußced by the Ilev. Chairman.