ANNIVERSARY OF THE PROVINCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 904, 27 March 1869, Page 9

ANNIVERSARY OF THE PROVINCE.

Tuesday, the 21st Anniversary of the Settlement of the Province, was celebrated by being kept a close holiday. t Unfortunately, the weather was not favourable for outdoor enjoyment, and, consequently, so many persons did not j avail themselves of the trips down the ' Harbour, two of which were provided, I as otherwise would doubtless have done. The day was inaugurated as soon as midnight of the preceding day had passed, by a band of music marching through the town, and playing a Bumber of jubilant airs ; and although the city was quiet during the day, it assumed a more lively appearance in the evening, when a large number of holiday-makers were seen promenading the streets, and a quantity of fireworks were let off in honour of the occasion. VOLUNTEER MATCH. The Volunteers of Dunedin and Tokomairiro fired off a match on Tuesday at the latter place. The ranges were at 200, 400, and 500 yards, and, considering the weather, which was most decidedly opposed to good shooting, our representative ten (chosen from No. 1 Co. City Guards) must be complimented on the score made. While the firing at the 200 yards range was going on, a heavy southwest gale blew ; and at the other ranges the competitors laboured against the disadvantages of fierce storms of hail and rain. Capt. Paterson was in command of the Dunedin ten, and Capt. Jones of the Bruce Rifles. We append the scores : — No. 1 Company. Capt. Paterson ... „. 29 Lieut. Wales ... .. 51 Sergt. Douglas «.. ... 43 „ Wilson 51 „ Wedderspoon .. 35 CorpL Tresseder 50 „ Stalker 46 „ M'Gregor ... ... 44 Private Creagh 47 „ Reid 38 434 Bruce Rifles. Lieut. Pettit 22 Sergt. Dixon 37 I Private Marryatt ... ... 34 i „ Adam 61 „ Gillies 41 „ Hardy 35 „ Hibbard 29 „ M'lntyre 28 „ M'Kechnio ... ... IS „ Wilson 21 316 It will thus be seen that No. 1 Company won by 118 points. After the match the two teams sat down to a capital luncheon, provided by the Bruce Rifles ; and after this had been discussed, healths were drank right gleefully, and many a hope was expressed that the next meeting might be early and merry. i MAORI MISSION. The induction of the Rev, Alexander Blake to the pastoral charge of the mission at Maori Kaik took place on Tuesday. The steamer Geelong, which had been engaged to convey the Presbytery and friends to their destination, left the wharf shortly aftei 1 half -past 10 o'clock, with about 250 persons on board. The weather during the early part of the day was all that the most fastidious excursionist could desire, but in the afternoon a stiff gale blew from the south-west, accompanied by heavy showers of rain. The landing was effected iB boats, but the heavy sea which was running deterred many persons from going ashore. Prior to the induction of Mr Blake, the following gentlemen met in the Church at the Kaik as a Presbytery — the Revs. D. M Stuart, R. Scrimgeour, W. Gillies, Will, Ryley, Sutherland, Alves, Davidson, Johnson, Greig, and Christie. A call from Oamaru to the Rev. A. B. Todd, i was laid on the table and was unanimously sustained, and the Revs, Messrs Will, Gillies, and Ryley, were appointed commissioners to prosecute the same for the Olutha Presbytery. Shortly afterwards the Maoris present, to the number of about fifty, and the Presbytery and friends so increased in number, that it was deemed desirable to prosecute the proceedings connected with the induction in the open air. Accordingly the congregation took up a position on the green sward near the church, and after they had engaged in prayer and singing, an eloquent and impressive sermon was delivered by the Rev. W. | Gillies, who selected for his text 19 v. \ 28 c, Matthew— « Go ye therefore, and

teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost." By the time the sermon was concluded, a heavy shower of rain began to fall, and the ceremony of induction was consequently proceeded with inside the church. The Rev. Mr Gillies said that before putting to Mr Blake the questions submitted to Ministers on their accepting a pastoral charge, he thought it would be more sa'isfactory if he briefly related the circumstances which had led to Mr Blake coming among them. The rev. gentleman then stated, that on the death of Mr Riemenschneider, who had laboured there, the communicated with the North German Mission Society, who had supported that gentleman, to ascertain whether they intended to appoint some one in his place. A reply to the effect that they did not intend to appoint another gentleman havingbeen received, the Synod determined to fill the vacancy. Accordingly the Rev. Dr Duff, of the Free Church, was requested to select a suitable person. The appointment wa3 offered to Mr Blake, who accepted it. He (Mr Gillies) then put the necessary questions to Mr Blake, and the Mission was formally handed over to his care. The Rev. Mr Stuakt explained that but for distance and various engagements which prevented the attendance of Dr •Copland, the convener of the Mission Committee, he would have been in the happy position of a listener. And then, addressing Mr Blake, Mr Stuart said — Though accepting my position as called to it by a superior, common to you and to me, I confess tha* I feel a hesitation in addressing one on Mission work, who has had large experience of it both in its educational and religious aspects — an experience acquired in a field of Indian Missions and in connection with a Church which has devoted itself to the Christian education of India. Your parish is extensive, and though your parishioners are under 400, yet the fact that they are located in five different centres, extending as far as Moeraki on the north, and the mouth of the Clutha on the south, will task somewhat your powers of work and organisation if your labours are to tell beneficially upon them. While occupying in some respects a lower level than our race, who have had Christian advantages for more than a thousand years, the Maoris are neither heathens nor barbarians. Through the labours of Christian ministers, who periodically visited them or resided among them during the last twenty-five years, they acquired much knowledge of Christian truth and duty. Mr Creed, their first missionary, was a very devoted man, and he succeeded in leaving his mark upon them. On his removal the people of Otago, feeling their obligations to extend to them the benefits of the Gospel, formed the Otago Maori Mission Society. With assistance in money from the Provincial Government, a Manse was erected for their first teacher, Mr Baker, a New Zealander by birth, and the son of an Episcopalian Missionary, of the North Island. After a useful career of rather more than three years, Mr Baker, having received an appointment from the General Government in connection with the Native Department, resigned. The ship in which he sailed v/as caught in a storm in Cook Strait, and was never more heard of. His labours were efficient, the only drawback being that the instruction was all in the Maori tongue. The Otasjo Society obtained, as the successor of Mr Baker, the Rev. Mr I Riemenschneider, who had laboured for twenty yeara in the North Island as one of the missionaries of the North German Mission Society — one of those ; excellent societies which are formed on the model of the London Missionary Society. The war of 1862 compelled him to retire, and though at the first lull he returned, his native parish' ioners counselled him against staying i with them, as they could not guarantee his safety in the face of the increasing partj>-, who had set their hearts on inde- ! pendence. For some years he laboured [ zealously in his calling, though sadly ham- | pered by disease, the result of hardships j and trialß in the service of the Gospel. He died in harness. The Maoris erected to his memory, in the Cemetery of Port Chalmers, in token of their respect | and gratitude, a monumental stone, and the people of Dunedin and of the Port made a presentation to his widow of about LIOO. I knew him well, and can say that he had the heart, the zeal, and the faith of the true missionary. The Otago Society having from various causes lapsed, but mainly from the preference of Mr Riemenschneider to resume connection with tho Gorman Society, the Presbyterian Church, at the suggestion of some friends of missions, was induced to provide for the religious instruction o£ the Maoris. You, Sir, are the answer to her efforts and prayers for this end. You enter upon the labours of these good men of whom I have spoken, labours which would have been more productive but for unayoid-

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able interruptions. From your labours we anticipate higher results — partly because of your experience in the work, and specially because of the wise action of the General Government in giving the blessing of a school to every Maori settlement, for the purpose of imparting to their youth a plain English and industrial education. This is a step in the right direction, and from which we augur great good to the aborigines and to the colony. It will be your duty to ascertain the extent and character of this Christian knowledge, that you may able to correct and supplement as the case may be. But -while instructing them in doctrine, I would beg of you to induce them to add to this knowledge, habits of temperance, charity, and purity. Exalt in your teaching the famity institution, and see that every family ha 3 its own fireside, its own household, altar, and Bible. Foster among the young habits of industry, and teach them that in cultivating their fields and in raising smiling households, they are serving and praising God as. much as when on Sundays they are engaged in singing psalms, hymns, and scriptural songs. In a word, while you sow on every hand the seeds of civilization, industry, and refinement, you will specially labour to sow by preaching the Gospel the seeds of repentance, faith, love, and holiness. In conclusion, let me add, take care of your health. It is not necessary to the discharge of your duties to overtask your strength. Don't be in haste. Sow the good seed, and God will take care of it. Work, but sing as you work ; work and pray, and our Christ, whose minister you are, and whom you desire to honour, will take care that your work will not be in vain. Our prayer, brother, is, that of the swarthy sons and daughters of this soil you may have many who shall be to you a crown of joy and rejoicing. An address to the Maoris was then delivered by Mr Johnston, which was translated to them by Mr Watt, and after partaking of refreshments, the visitors returned to the steamer, which arrived at the Wharf shortly before 7 o'clock. TRIP TO PORTOBELLO. The trip of the Golden Age to Portobello was fairly successful, about 300 excursionists availing themselves of the opportunity. The strong gale which was blowing was not much felt on the run down, although on coming out of Macandrew's Bay, where a few passengers were landed, the sea made sundry incursions upon the deck of the boat, to the great discomfort of not a few 'vho had made themselves very comfortable in snug corners. Portobello jetty was reached about noon, and the company immediately dispersed themselves all over the locality. M. Fleury's band remained at the hotel near the jetty, and played a selection of airs. The strength of the gale seemed to increase as the tide fell, and several pelting showers drove all and sundry back to the hotel, or its precincts, for shelter. The steamer was soon descried coming over from Port Chalmers, and punctually came alongside the jetty. The discomfort, however, was intensified, here. The jetty is only a short platform, with, a handrail on one side ; but the wind blew so strongly across the bay, that it was with the utmost difficulty and even danger that the ladies and children could be conveyed to the steamer's gangway. Hats, caps, bonnets, and all sorts of head gear, masculine and feminine, went flying off. About half a dozen were in the air at once ; altogether some oO went to sea on independent •voyages, even M. Fleury'a nniform cap went among the rest. It was as much as the steamer could do to weather some of the points on the way up. At times the sea was driven before the wind like as much smoke, and the spray flew over on the deck, making every one crowd for shelter under the lee of the engine-house, &c. The old jettywas reached at six o'clock, it having taken the steamer just an hour and a half to make the run home. BAPTIST CHURCH SOIREE. The Anniversary of the Hanover street Baptist Congregation was celebrated by a, pu blicsoiree, which took place in the church on Tuesday night. The attendance, which was numerous, included a mini ber of persons belonging to other denominations in the city. The chair was occupied by the R.ev. Mr Williams, the pastor of the congregation. After a plentiful supply of tea and cake had been served, the secretary read an interesting report, detailing- the [ progress made by the congregation during the past year, by which it appeared that 218 names were at present upon the communion roll, and that under the auspices of tho congregation, services were hold regularly at Caversham, Maori Hill, IS". E. Valley, &<z. Addresses were afterwards delivered by the Revs. D. I*l. Stuart, 11. Scvimgeour, A. R. Fitchett, and pthers. The proceedings of the evening were enlivened by some excellent music discoursed by the choir belonging tp the church,