PAPAKURA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XV, Issue 5129, 25 April 1878, Page 3

PAPAKURA.

The annual soiree of the united congregations of the Presbyterian Church at Papakura, Drury, Wairoa, Fukekohe East, Pokeno, &c., was held in the Presbyterian Church, Papakura, on Thursday, 18th April, 1878. The tables were provided with the usual delicacies, and were presided over by Mesdames McNeil, McLennan, Walters, and Misses Willis and Norrie. After tea, the Chairman, Rev. T. Norrie, read the 22nd report of the General Committee of Management of the united congregations of Papakura, &c. It stated that Sabbath services had been supplied weekly at Drury, Papakura, and Wairoa ; fortnightly at Papakura Valley, Pukekohe East, Tuakau, Queen's Redoubt, Ramarama, and Pokeno Valley; monthly at Wairoa Road, Hunua, Maketu, Mercer, Ness Valley, and at Mangatawhiri Valley, and a week day service by the minister quarterly at Ararimu ; making in all sixteen congregations supplied, and necessitating live services for the minister on one day in the mouth. At Queen's Redoubt the services were suddenly brought to a close by a very unseemly and unusual interruption of Mr. McLeuuan's service on the '2Sth October last, and by the ultimate removal of our church from the site reserved for it by the Government ; and the services, which began in ISO 2, have in the meantime beeu discontinued at the Queen's Redoubt, but a fortnightly service has been opened in the school-room at Pokeno Kill. The Communion was dispensed at Pokeuo to 25; at Tuakau, to 24; at fapakura, to 37 ; at Queen's Redoubt, to 29 ; at Wairoa, to 33 ; at Pukekohc East, to 27 ; and at Drury, to 31—makiug an aggregate of 109 communicants. The weekly prayer meeting at Pokeno Hill continues to prosper, aud occasional special services have been held there aud at other places. Sabbath-schools at Drury, Papakura, Wairoa, Queen's Redoubt, Pokeuo, Maketu, Xess Valley, I'ukekohe East, and Iluuua have been collectively attended by 321 scholars, taugnt by 29 teachers. The school at Mears's Redoubt has beeu discontinued, and one opened at Pokeuo Hill, which is attended by 31 scholars, aud taught by 7 teachers. The Bible Classes at Wairoa and at Pukckoho East have been well attended. A neat little church has beeu erected at Ness Valley, at a cost of £67 7s 7d—and only £4 17s 7d of this sum i 3 unpaid,—and was opened for divine service on the 10th June, 1577. A Sabbath-school, attended by 22 scholars, and a day-school, under the Board of Education, is held in the Ness Valley church. The pulpit at Wairoa church, and the reading-desk at Hunua, have been trimmed by the ladies of the congregations, and a new aud beautiful communion service has been supplied by the ladies of the Wairoa. Extensive repairs have been made to the Papakura church. Finance : Ordinary collections, £135 us 7d ; seat rents and subscriptions, £17t> Gs ; total for stipend fund, £311 11s 7d, being a slight decrease of £5 3s OJd on the previous year ; expenses have been £310 ISs shd, leaving a balance of 13s lid to credit. The total amount raised for all purposes in connection with the church, as will be seen from the statement, is £504 10s IOJd. The report was adopted, and the various local committees were appointed a general committee, Mr. J. B, Hay as general secretary, James Bell treasurer, and Messrs. E. Rhodes and F. G. Wilson auditors. A number of addresses, readings, and votes of thanks were given, and the benediction was pronounced by the Eev. Macuicol, and the assembly, which was a large one, dispersed.