FIRST SUNDAY SCHOOL AND FIRST SOIREE AT PORT CHALMERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2300, 31 March 1898, Page 26

FIRST SUNDAY SCHOOL AND FIRST SOIREE AT PORT CHALMERS.

«»-«~4> The fiist Sunday School in Port Chalmers was formed in the month of September, 1854. At the preliminary meeting the following gentlemen were present : — Messrs John R. Monson, T. Langlands, John Tayler,[Bailey, and William Morris. A resolution was carried requesting Mr W. Morris to visit Dunedin, and obtain books suitable for Sunday School work from any gentlemen likely to have ihern. Mr Morris visited Revs. Messrs Burns and Fenton, and Messrs Macandrew and G. Hepburn, but was not successful. These gentlemen could not aid him with books, but promised to do all they could in other matters of assistance. Tht ship Dolphin happened to arrive at Port just then, and Mr Morris was fortunate enough to meet a Mr Latter, a passenger by her, who had brought out a number of suitable books, and that gentleman kindly gave all that were requiied — viz., Bibles, Testaments, first and second-class books, catechisms, and Dr Watt's divine songs. Mr Latter remained for two Sundays to assist in the inauguration of the school. The teachers of this school were : — Misses Roebuck, Logic, and Julien Carey ; Mesdames J. Thomson (Dalkeith), D. Millar. S. Perry, and Burnie ; Messrs John Monson, T. Langlands, Bailey, J. Tayler, and Wm. Morris. This led to the first soiree, which was held in the Presbyterian Church, Port Chalmers, on Christmas Day, 1854, when 96 people sat down to tea. The tables were presided over by Mesdames D. Millar, J. Thomson, S. Perry, and the Misses Roebuck, J. Carey, and Logic. The price of the tickets was 2s, children free. At the close of the above a public meeting was held in the same place, when Mr Morris was called to take the chair. After a few brief remarks as to the object of the meeting, the following gentlemen gave addresses : — Messrs C. Monson, T. Langlands, Bailey John Sibbald (of Dunedin), and J. Monson. A second soiree was held in Dunedin on January 1, 1855, in First Church, at which the Rev. Mr Burns presided. The meeting was opened with prayer, and the speakers were Dr Purdie, Mr Bell (schoolmaster), Wm. Morris, and J. Adam. Abbotsfoed. — Mr J. Elder Brown writes : "Mr D. M'Nicol, of Goodwood, has supplied me with the following : — While on the survey we had the honour of naming very many of the places round, and, I must say, I sometimes feel inclined to be angry when someone offers a very onginal idea as to how certain places were named. Abbotsford near Dunedin, for instance, many suppose to be called after Sir Walter Scott's residence. Now the way it came to be called Abbotsford is this. When surveying with Mr Kettle, Abbot, Lohburn, and Harrison, we came to Dobbin's Creek, as it was then called, we were going to look for an easy place to cross, but Abbot, who had on a pair of Wellington boots with high legs, waded straight through it. 'So let it be,' said Mr Kettle, fwe will call this Abbotsford,', and it has been called Abbotsford ever since."