PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT MILBURN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2402, 15 March 1900, Page 67

PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AT MI LBURN.

An interesting ceremony took place at Milbum on Wednesday, the 7th, when the foundation stone of the Presbyteiian Church was laid in the presence of about 150 peoule. Among those assembled were the Revs. A. B. Todd (Dunedin;, .Bannerman (Kaikorai), Fairmaid (Kaitangatu). Miller (Hilton), and Shore (Milburn), and Messrs James Allen, M.H.R. for Bruce. Apologies for non-attendance were received fiom the Eev. Messrs Currie, Dalrymplo. Macallister, Will, and Eeid. The proceedings ware opened by singing part of the eighty-first Psalm, after which the Eev. Mr Fairmaid read <i portion of Scripture. The Rev. Mr Miller then engaged in prayer, and the assembly sans, "" The Church's One Foundation." Addresses weie delivered by the Eev. Messrs Fairmaid and Bannerman, after which hymn 519 was sung, and the Eev.3lr Todd performed the ceremony of laying the foundation atone, after depositing in the cavity a copy of the Otago Daily Times, Bruce Herald, and the Christian Outlook. Fe then declared it " well and truly laid." "Proceeding, Mr Todd expressed his pleasure at being present, and stated that he coi-sidc-rc-d it an honour and a privilege to lay the foundation stone of the church. He hoped the church would prove a blessing to the people of the district, and that it wouid be the "birthplace of many sculs, making them partakers of a new life. Mr Todd concluded by making a comparison of the conditions existing 40 years ago, when he was inducted to the charge of Tokoniairiro, and the present time. Addresses were delivered by Mr J. Allen, M.H.R., and Mr Shore, after which the doxology and piayer by the Eev. Mr Miller brought the, proceedings to a close. Most of the company then adjourned to the schoolhause to hear a lecture on " South Africa" by-Mr J. Shore. The lecturer was assisted by Mr J. C. Macdonald, 'who manipvilated the magic lantern, showing a number of very interesting views of the Transvaal, Tugela, and Free State. The takings at the door amounted to £6 7s, which, with a donation of £o by Mr J. Allen, M.H.R., will go to the funds of the Church Building Committee.