WAIAREKA CHURCH SOIREE.

Oamaru Mail, Volume III, Issue 732, 14 August 1878, Page 2

WAIAREKA CHURCH SOIREE.

T!i. soiiv.- in celebration of the opening •'u; new Presbyterian Church at Wai-ar-.-ka, which took place at the Teaneraki •chool-house last nigiit, was in every respect ail that could be desired, if we xcept the inability of the building to contain the whole of those present without creating a little discomfort. People arrived by ihe trains from all parts of the district, Oamaru contributing about 80 to the crowd that assembler! at the schoolroom. Travelling and the keen air combined had the effect of causing visitors to look approvingly upon the dainties that were spread upon the tables presided over by Mosdamos lieid, Menlovc, Cau;eron. Leith, Worley, Sinclair, E. Lees, and Misses Scott and Reid, and in contingents they marked their sense of approval by doiiig full justice to those good .things. Ar the- of the tea. the public meeting commenced, the room being at this stage of the oroceeclhigs crowded ro .such, nn stent as to exclude a number of j.eL'SO]!?, •::'..n c ■•lt-C! , f<J'.l tIICUTSeiM-.^■ vir : i iisienii::: ?i•.'.:;; ihe uiitsid":. The choir of ••t. .Paul".-; Church, oondqctei by Mr. Daniel !■■'. ■.■■A\>. a;M accompanied, by Mr, Gr. Fin■"•h upou the harmonium, fca:ji; .i ve-je if' t.'-.e iiuudredth Psalm. The Chairman (he Rev. Mr. Cameron, pastor of the Oh..reii) in his opening address those pr-SfiU. for their nir-nd-ance . and onnea arnlated the promoters of th.- o'.j.e l - that had brought them •oL:e-h. .-. a.-.-A o-i tiif: soiere&fi that had crowned ib-ir eii'oria, He said that as .■e-veral ivvi reml g.. io !em.i! had kindly

attended v. iih thu object of addresMne: the meeting, ho would not occupy th ir time longer, but would call upon the Rev. Mr. Todd to address rlu-ni. Oh'iii- —Aiii!e.:ei--'- incline Tliino ear.''' Tiie l\--v. Mc To,.hi said tiiat he was u'htd to be present o:i such a very interesting occn -ion. The chiircli that the people of Waiareka. had built was indeed .i beautiful on", and lie trusted that the beauty of the outward structure might be regarded as a symbol of tiie bcanty of the religious life of the cons crated men and Yemen tea; would worship within its w.-d's. Me .hoped that the people of ihe Waiareka would long be spared to worship '.;•■ it, and r':a". in af.er year;; it might be -rid of this o? that one that im or she •.'/as born there or On"!. The li.-v. ':.'ojirieman then r>a.ve th" ediowieir interesting ■■.ki'-'c'i relative vc; tie., eharg.' : T;u: b";iUtii'iii ;.iul feniie district of YVaiareka ffus oi-je-iu.-dii' a p:\vi of the oari.sh of (Jeuaru. If ''tis under the pasoral oversight of ihe R v. Charles Connor roui September, ISIiS. to June, ISGB During that period the inhabitau's of the district recjujred to fjo to Oanniru on the Sabbath to attentl Divine Service. They received occasional visits from the minister who sometimes held a nrayer meeting in Mr. Hassell's, Cave Valley. These were quiet and uneventful times.

In the month of May, 1869. the Rev. A. B. Todd, formerly of Tokomairiro, ■viis inducted to the pastoral charge of Bc. Paul's congregation, From (imo to time he pud pastoral visits to Waiaroka, and occasionally held week-day ;>rayer meetings, in Cave Valley House, and in Weston Schoolh<mse. Teaneraki village and the mansions up the Valley had then no existence, and the present voad from Whitstcne to Teaneraki and onwards was then unmade.

i'he population \va3 very sparse, and few could realise that the railway whistle would in a. few years resound through the quiet, secluded hills and valleys. During tiiese years the population was making slow bur steady progress. In 1873, Mr. Todd arranged to hold a tsonthly service at Weston Schoolhous-' on the Sabbath afternoon. These services were generally very well attended, and ippivciated. As a temporary arrangement, Eiderslie was attached to the Lower Waitaki, and received supply from the preachers stationed there, and afterwards from the Rev. John Steven, after his settlement. This arrangement continued in operation till 1875. when it was deemed .advisable to unite the Upper and Lower Waiareka, so as to form one ministerial charge. With tin's view Messrs. Todd and "Steven were appointed by the Presbytory' •f Oamarn to visit the district from Weston to ihe Maerewhenuadiggings, and bring the matter before the inhabitants for their consideration. As the result of j these visits, a memorial was presented to :

the Presbytery, with an application that ■the Upper an 1 L ■ .■!• YVaiarekashould.be erected i::bi a 'sKast-ioned charge." ' A subscription Mat accompanied this, promising upwards of L2OO to., the . Sustentation Fund. The Presbytery \tnanimously recommended the Synod to grant the prayer of the memorial, which was accordingly done in January, 1876. ' ■/> In the month of March thereafter, Mr. Todd and Mr Session were appointed by the Presbytery to .take'the spiritual superin-* tendence of Waiareka, until a pastor was called-and 'settled. Various preachers, and missioniiries were sent to hold Divine Service, and irive regular supply. At iirsf-t e3e:services wera held at Elderslio and WestoD, l)Hf(ire Teaneraki sehoolhoiise was erected. Committees of management were elected to collect the Susteuf-ition I Fund, and attend to finance, in general. ]

As the want of a place of worship in Upper Waiireka w-»s very much fair., the subject was brought before the people for consideration, and. after divine scrvic ■ held at E!der.-;lio on ;>.'d AugiUif, 187(5, by Mr , ne C nrigre.'!;atii>ii unanimously passed the following resolutions:—l. That the proceed with tho erection of a church as s-'on iv>. possiWe. '-;'. That the present Church Committee act as a Jiiiildi'Du' Committee, and take the neo'ssarv steps for tho erection ot l',e building

Af'er hearing a number of ministers and preachers, the two congregations of Upper and Lower Wa'aveka, unanimously elected Lne iv.v. .)'. li. Cameron, of Lawrence, to I)'- t :eii' p.isfor. Tho necFeviry steps being t"k n, !;• was iicLiiydingly inducted bv r,1"... preS ! :y'.ery to tiie pastoral chavgt: of UiC, on Wednesday, the 17th O-ytober, 1377, and thereupon received a cordial weloeiio.

After exhorting the congregation to seek to remove the debt, from the Chare i building as quickly as possible, and ree onimeading them to provide a manse fur their minister. The Rev. Mr. Todd expressed a wish that their pastor would long be soared to iimilctbi' to them, and that ho would bi> granted many souls for his hire and seals to his ministry.

The Rev. Chairman ;:a;d that he would supplement, the interesting account just :;:'.■!-'. by Mr Todd by expressing his graiii:.- 1 i.o the congregation for their liber:.;tr. Mrs. Menlovc had presented a very handsiomo Bible and prayer book, Mr. Menlove had presented a valuable harmonium, and Mrs. Reid of F4>'Ksi,-r,.lit-had promised a Comm,uni<>fi Service The rev. gentleman i'Uen, asked whether there was not someone in the assemblage who wished to immortalise himself by uiving a bell, fie a'so slated that Mr. l;eid had kindly offered to allow persons attending the church to go through his paddocks. Choir— i- Sowing the Seed." The Rev. Mr. Stuart then delivered an addivs.s so excellent that we greatly regret onr inability to publish it in. ('..■•lt:~nsi>. .After sneaking of the pleasure ho felt at living invited to take part in the opening 0,1 the beautiful church just erected in such $ beautiful district, he referred to religion, education, and benevolence iiOO years ago in fe'ootland, and stated "that Scotland had led the way to 0 ■ii!]!!ii.;orv education. He said that Mr. Menlovo'had kindly driven him over ill 1 - disn-ict of 'Waiareka, ami he liad s-il superior to any that hj? had roet with o, : ,iiy nine;- i■•:■••-. '•'' thr; world. He said

'■ i'!.-,r. t.'is ])?!!*'w"i'i} lika liui jiiils of 0.-mrmn i they would grow v.'hosit on their very | \:,;,?.. ]■!'■-. i.'f.ia :i great compliment in the people of'the district, and said that he | believed ! hat ihe children he sa.w before ■ hiiii would dovelope ii'.iO i* r,obie race of !!:■!! ;l!ld WOUieii. ftl a feW ytill'S he tlC- | ]'!'.:,.;t! i!ie population would grow fo cinch ;i!i ex'.out chat it w.-mid be necessary u> | 'if!vo churches at Weston and Ngapara, | are! i!" ho ri eoivrd a cull from Ngapara he would give it his most serious considerai tern. He preached with c 0:..: -'"rah].pleasure on Sunday, because he felt that r]io people of the dlPtvift were more liberal hi their '• l u .;j than, were the peophj ■o? lueeeOA. Ko had m.ueste.l to he allow* d i<< use tiiu schoolroom of Knox Church for an hour in each week for tin.' | ;v.!!"!■ se of imparting religious instrue-:i-u:. '■ i;r ; •:•!:; that ". revolution or soi.j ■ ■;'...'; dure calamity might result, the re.j'.ie.s- had liti'-n refused. Choir— "ln -Jewry is God known." Tin: Rev. Mr. Ryley delivered an interesting and somewhat humorous discourse on the necessity for embracing u mp -ranc ■ principles. Ciio;;- — -: Vt he'V hajt thou gleaned toTm- 'V,.-■■:. Mr. Stephen «poke of t!r----•I of eomhiuhii; reerea'ion with leiii/'e-i. :■..:.■[ <.■■■ •■ d remarks of ihe Rev. i>> Wi:v T,ihna.ee in support, of his views. Voi :s or ; hanks w.--re then proposed a fojhovs :—'!•.- v!,e ladies, bv the 11-v. Mr. 'i\.d ! : :■■ decs.'by Mr. R dd ; to : '.'. Stuart, tor Mr. Menlove : to .-.. pi .-a.;, ii v til'.3 .Rev. Mr. Rvley ; air to the chairman, by the Rev. Mr.'Todd ; and were carried by reclamation. Choir—" Thine, 0 Lord, is the greatness." The benediction was pronounced by the Rev. Mr. Todd, and the meeting dispersed, the special train arriving in ! famiu'u shortly aft'-r 11 o'clock.