COUNTRY NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5494, 26 June 1879, Page 6

COUNTRY NEWS.

NESS VALLEY, WAIROA SOUTH. At the close of the usual monthly Sabbath evening servioe on the 15th instant, a meeting of the Presbyterian congregation was held,—the Key. T. Nome in the chair. _ After some conversation and deliberation, it was agreed to have also a Sabbath morning monthly service, commencing on the first Sabbath of July, at 11 a.m. This matter being disposed of, Mr. T. Murray, on behalf of the subscribers, then presented the chairman with a beautiful and most suitable pulpit Bible and hymn-book, and in a neat, complimentary speech, expressed the earnest hope that he, as pastor, "might be long spared to go out and in amongst ue." The Chairman gave -a suitable reply, and expressed his 'Warmest gratitude for the handsome present, and for the many tokens of interest in the welfare of the congregation that bad been manifested by the settlers of this interesting settlement. He also complimented tho congregation on the peace and harmony that continued to prevail, and expressed the hope that prosperity o£ the highest kind might be long enjoyed. The day-school continues to prosper, and although we have lost the services of our late much esteemed teacher, as he has removed to a larger school at Mercury Bay, yet we have been successful in obtaining the valuable eervices of his brother, Mr. Watkin Edwards, long favourably known in connection with the Newton East Sohool, Auckland, and we have full confidence that the school will still prosper under the excellent eare and skill acquired by hia lengthened experience as a successful teacher of youth. We hear of steps being taken to get the school-room lined, and this indeed would be a desirable improvement. We hope the school committee will at once set about it, and we think that if a grant for this pnrpose were properly applied for, the Board of Education would not refuse to give it for such a laudable object.—[A Correspondent.]