THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16045, 11 April 1914, Page 11

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

PROGRESS IN THE NORTH ISLAND,

SOME INTERESTING FIGURES.

(Fiou Otxa Own CoßMtspoiroiirr. I WANGANUI, April 10. ' Presbyterianism is making very steady progress on the West Coast, and during the past 12 months the erection of new manses, churches, and Sunday scihool buildings in the territory between PalNorth and Stratford has involved the expenditure of many thousands of pounds. Palmerston North, Feilding, Wangaxtui, Stratford, and Hawera in particular have given evidence, of big advances, and in connection with the fortieth anniversary of the last-named church some very interesting history has been given by the Rev. J. R. Shore, M.A., who has traced the records from April 12,1874. _ He states that as a. result of his investigations he learned how much the members of the church, to-day were indebted to the pioneers of the church in the early days tor their magnificent work. The first meeting to form a branch of the Presbyterian Church in Hawera was held in the Blockhouse on Sunday, April 12, 1874. From that period tip to the present some interesting particulars are available as to • the ministers and others working the charge. Mr Shore said he was inducted to the parish on April 11,. 1907, and. he hoped to ba with them for a long time. Personally, he owed a great deal to the men whom rhe had succeeded) some of whom had laid, down' their lives in the great work of the church. Referring to the question of property, Mr Shore said that on December 7, 1874, Mr A. Winks gave a site for-a church, which was accepted. This was the acre site on which . the church now stood. The first church was opened by the Rev. Mr Treadwell on January 14, 1877. In April, ,1875, an offer' was made to the Government to buy 10 acres for £2 an acre, which was then the upset price. The Government replied that, the offer was ridiculously small, and offered half an acre-for £10. This was not accepted. He believed this was the section near the present hospital. However, in January, 1897, seven quarter-acre sections next to the present church were bought from Mr J. Winks for £200. In 1885 they were offered for sale at £30 per section, but fortunately for the church today the sale did not come off. The sections were now valued at six times that amouat, and in 1913 five of theser sections were sold, one section realising £180. On September 11, 1883, Mr James Davidson presented a bell to the church, which was still in use. On April 3, 1888, said Mr Shore, an, application was received from the local authority to use the bell for fire purposes, and permission was granted subject to certain conditions. Mr shore referred to several other historical facts - showing how, with' the progress - of settlement, each district was made into a parish, leaving Hawera a charge by itself. The contract for a hew church was let in August, 1902, for £1447, the final, cost, including the shifting of the old church, being £1835.. The church was opened on March 29, 1903, by the Rev. R. M. Ryburn. The new Sunday school hall was erected at a total cost of £1035, and was opened on May 23, 1909. A new manse had been erected at a cost of £1130, and on November 5, 1913, a new pipe organ was put into the church at a cost of £745. The church was also enlarged at a cost of about £260. It would therefore be seen that during the past 10 years the church had ; spent £5000 in buildings and improvements, which was extremely creditable. Indeed, Mr Shore quoted figures to show that the church collections had increased from £110 in 1895 to £378_ in 1913, while contributions to home missions had, increased from £10 5s 6d in 1889 to £89, with £35 special contributions, in 1913. The membership of the church ii} 1896 was 83, and the Sunday school roll was 60, while to-day the membership of the chnreh. "was 180 and the* Sunday school roll 187. In the course of his remarks Mr Shore mentioned that in February, 1890, ■ Mrs Stephenson, of New Brunswick, had given £300 towards building a' manse.TThiss s money was used for this -purpose, and in 1906 a legacy of £100 was received from the estatfe of Mr D. M'Lean, which amount was added to the building fund. Mr Shore speaks very hopefully of the future.