ST. BATHANS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2171, 3 October 1895, Page 23

ST. BATHANS.

SnpxEMUKR 30.— St. Bathans celebrated its Arbor l)xy on the llkh but , tras-pl Anting buiug c.wricd out ou a scale thu uxceeded all other etfoits of thi" di-'C-iption, b 'lnj^iug Hk-3 500 treaa bmng started iv life, the greater number of thia portiou being plmted in th") public domain. The school children hai been allowed a half holiday for the occasion. At 2 o'clock the children were drawn up in marching order, b -ing led by the St. Bathana Bi-aa3 Band, and undei the surveillance of their teachers the children marched to tho domain to the accompinimont of soul-stirring music, boing followed by as many adults aa could find it convenient to attend. Having got through the work of planting ou the reserve, the children again

formed into Hno and marched bank to tho p cho o * ground, when the work of Arbor Day was finiuhod oy planting a good number of trees on the school leiervo. lh« work being got over tho youngsters wore regilc'l with refreshments to thoir hearts* content The children c-»"<« together again jti the evHninc, holding a corrobbory in tha public hall until 10 o'clock. It would be good for the country woretiee-plantiiig c-trrtud out to a gto.iter extent than has beeiilu-rvtofore the catc. Footkall —A mvtch was played here on tho 21st inst., the contestanta being Vincent County v. Maniototo County. The game cl aed with lo points to Maniototo to Vincent's nil. Tho strangers were entertained in the evening at a ball and biippcr. KccLESiAsriCAt, — The Presbyterian Church lu-H its ami ial congregational meeting ou the 2-t'h inst A statement wan submitte*! by tho ollicj b.'iiicr3 Knowing the progress of tho St. Bithans d.-ction of the parish. It wm found that finance and attendance had not been so good as during the preceding year, the falling off being put down to the excessive bad weather during the three montha of winter. It was agreed that | a couvers-zioue bo held at St..- Bathana on the 24th piox. for the purpose of augmenting the oustcut itiou fund. Admii^ion to the social 13 to bo by ticket, which can be procured at any of the places whore service ia hold throughout tb.B p-uwh. A committoo of ladies has boen formed to carry the wholo affair through, which no doubt will be douo with sulnciont skill to mvko the gathering a success. OnuiiCH ok ICnghnd.— On the Sab'a'h following the above date the Right Rev tho Bishop of Dunodin administered th-i varlnusritt's and sorvice of his Church to large and r.pprec : ativc congregations throughout the day, begiuniog at 7 a.m. by adiniai*teting holy communion, At the service at 11 am. his Lo-dship delivered an excellent address in a lucid and expressive way, carrying with him in wrapt attention tho whole congregation from beginning to end. At 3p m. his Lordship administered th^ rito of cosiflrmation to IG candidates, and the advice given to the young people who had juat entered into the full prtvil<ges of the Chu-ch should n it b>i readily forgotten. At 7 p.m , at evening prayar, bis Lordship again g*ve a vary clo-*r an<l impressive address upon the Acts of the Apostles, which was listened to by an uppreciativti cugregatiou, who seemed to give groat attention to the Godly discourse. The Rev. Mr Mitolu'll cfliciantly supported his Lordship through the day. At thu three l*stnßined services the church was crowded to tho (tOv)in. Tf visits of siuh dl-tingnished prelates as thn T>i«hi>p of Dun -din \ver« givi-n more frequently it wouM be baHor for CliiutiauUy.

Fact or Ficiion.-Iu yuiu- lsau« of the 19th I observed a leLtvr over the nt>m de ptumo " Truo Fact<," in which the writer says my statement of thu late Mr Tiern »v beium 15 days ou the i<pree la nutruo. This writer dalibaiately accuses mo of writing an untruthful statomottt, and goes on to say tliat the fleece- 0.l might have bsen rm thi spree for a wetk at the mo it. Thia writer can ba liknnod unto a certain king who said " ull m«n are liara." The jury is acouaod by him of returning an untrue verdict, the undertaker ia impeached for giviuf a wrong return as to age, and " Your Own " is written down a> an incorrect writer to your columns, whilst "True Facts "la his own egotistical opinioa writes " facts." A very able letter appears in the laat iatmo of tha Mouut Ida Chronif.le coudjmnias{ 'True facts" for writing a tiam of fAldchnodjj oa this matter. I will now suggy-vt a wjy of bringing tin 1 ) controversy to v. .sti»!'-<ly ond. Let " Truo Fi»c a " deposit in tha hands of the elitor of the Mount Ida Chronicle tho sum o'£s, and I will aliO deposit tho same amount, and if I urn unable to demonstrate clearly to th« editor the 15 days mentioned, then let my money be fvrfoited to tho Naseby Hospital ; but if the 15 days is cl-;a ly dem«ug'rated, let " I'rua Facia" money bo t«kon for the donation. I am willing to double Ihe amount on tho oame i.mtc

Marhuuk.— O.i Wedncwlay last Mr William Prinelo was uni^oi in tho bouda of wedlook to Mifis li M'Pherton 'l'h«y have both been for a coMbiderable time with Mr and Mrs Elliutt, of Bhckstouo Hill statiun, who epe.ik highly of thuiu, rind in whos« service thoy still rem*ln. A large concourse of friends met and spent a hanpy night with the bride and bridegroom- I a<t'l boat wishes for the young couple's happiness end proip*rity.