PENINSULA.

Otago Witness, Issue 1581, 11 March 1882, Page 14

PENINSULA.

OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) March 6th.

The Pioneer cheese factory ceased work on Saturday. The cheese has been disposed of .at Sd per lb, the purchasers being Messrs Esther and Low, of Dunedin. The weather continues very unfavourable for outdoor work, there being rain every day, and almost continual mist. ANNDAL REUNION OV THE PQRTOBELLO OHBBOH

CONGREGATION.

$he Por&bello Road Church annual soiree

\lras held in that edifice on tho evening of Wednesday, tho Ist inst. Although the weather was not very favourable, about 170 persons were present. Tho platform was tastefully decorated with choice ferns and flowers, while suspended between the chandoliers were festoons of flowers and moss. Tho chair was taken by the Rev. A. Greig about 7 o'clock, when tea and eatables were dispensed by various young ladies and gentlemen of the congregation. After tea the lOOlh Psalm was sung, followed by tho Chairman's opening address, which consisted mainly of a statement of the financial position of the charge as a whole. He expressed himself of the opinion that many of the members individually had no occasion to feel soro, but that as members of the charge they ought to feel sore at the fact that they were not yet self-supporting. He also alluded to the Anderson's Bay charge, svhich he compared to 'a cabbage garden in the corner of a large field,' and which he believed to be in a moro prosperous condition with regard to spiritual Matters. Mr Greig appeared to be botter satisfied^ as he mentioned that there were those belonging to the church who were willing to conduct the Sabbath services in his absence ; also workers in the Sabbath - school, and collectors of money. Fifteen new members have been added during the year, making the present •number 164. ■ The treasurer's report was next read by Mr A. Stewart.

The first speaker called upon was Mr Fraser , of Oaversham, who informed us that he considered himself 'the victim of misplaced confidence,' haying come down expecting to 'see some of tne beaajties of the Peninsula,' instead of which he had found himself ' among the clouds.' He dwelt chiefly on tho difficulty of public speaking and proaching, in proof of which he read an American story, entitled ' Tho deacon's first; and last sormon.'

Mr Ross, of Anderson's Bay, next spoko on religious matters— the conversion of St. Paul and tho Centurion being especially alluded to ; he also, by the way, quietly informed the audience that the ' cabbage garden, 1 as his charge had been called, had given its minister £50 of a supplement. He urged the advisability of liberal giving, adding that ' you will be better in yonv material prosperity and in the healthfulness of your souls.' Mr Wood, who was the next speaker, disapproved very much of long speeches, saying that he believed there was too much of that sort of thing at soirees. He informed us that he was surprised to find such a ' beautiful little church in such an out-of-the-way place,' but supposed that we justly considered ourselves ' a part of the civilised world.' The last speech might truly be called the speech of the evening, as Mr Bell is possessed of a large amount of ready humour, and generally contrives to hold the attention of his hearers. This time we were favoured with a review of the opinions of the great scientific men of the age, Mr ' Denton being specially mentioned, with whose theory the speaker disagree)! ' Design,], he said,,.' was altogether denied, as design implied, a- designer. He compared Professor Parker to an earthenware professor addressing earjih'onvvare stu'dents-fmaa^ of material some'tying, like j ' granny's teapot^', or; fche ; dish used "for" holding the socfr 'do'ojc.' ',Lucratijis,'ishp .nourished 50 8.0.,> was also quoted iroin. Some of bis more remarkable ideas cited/ were .that * the gloriousvisions of sight were not bestowed! on 'us' that, we' might see;; 'that' the, tfffr&armsj 'were', not attached to the' Anfis and' the' hands* to 'them in order that we mighjb' handle ;"nor| were theieet attached to /the. tapering portions; of the i legs in order that we might walk about' with greater ease,' but that when all these were; formed they found a use. ' ' ' ' , Several musical'selections were rendered byi the choir, accompanied on the organ by Miss,, Riddle., At the close of the meeting the usual vqtes of thanks were proposed, including a spe-J cialpne to the choir, mention being made of the' trouble at which Mr Riddle had ,been en-[ deavoilring to improve the singing, .to which that gentleman replied that it had been a pleasure rather than a trouble, and that he meant, to continue the singing practices, to which all were invited. „ ,