MILBURN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Otago Witness, Issue 2425, 5 September 1900, Page 54

MILBURN PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

(See picture in Illustrated Supplement.)

The pioneers of Waihola Gorge look back to the days when they had to journey some four or five miles to the Milton Kirk, often on foot, and betimes in the farm dray, with "twa'ree bags o' chaff" for seats embellished with perhaps a couple of bedcovers. The rising generation are twitted with being ''much more respectable" than their elders in the matter of locomotion, as well as in many other things, and if they go as far as Toko to church they do so in gigs and buggies, with spanking ponies leading on before. Be that as it may, they have, on this occasion, proved to be quite as old-fashioned as their parents in the matter of going deep into their pockets tor "siller" to erect a knit at home, and the handsome structure which now graces Alilburn is highly creditable to the sons of worthy fathers.

! The Milburn Presbyterian Church supplies ' a long-felt want. For many years divine ?ermcss have been held each Sabbath morning ai.d aturnooii in the school, wlui-h wao wen _ enough when the attendance w..s limited, but j vhon the audience uu.nhsi-fcd over 60, and at ! times rueica«ed to 100, as it did aiter the ad- | vein ol Mr J. Shore, ALA. (divinity student), | v lound to be altogether unsuitable, for i besides the ordinary seats behind the desks, kr-iii?— without back-.— had to be arranged alonfa th» iloor in close proximity to the ■ piivol.ur, which leapt him within bounds, as -lai 1 as ,>pivce was concerned, lea% - ing no room for suiting the action to tne word, or other 1 gesticulation. ■

.Se\ eral far-seeing residents, not blind to the difcomlorts ot the school, approached Mr Whoie ;i: to the advisability ot erecting a ciUireh, the outcome being that the Milton session were next approached in the mallei. They subsequently authorised Mi Shore to call a meeti'ig to discuss the question. This meeting was held in March, ldS9, and a motion to the effect "That it is desirable to erect a church in Milburn, and that steps bo at once taken in furtherance ot that object"' was carried unanimously. A committee wt"= appointed to canvass the district, and iht indefati- , gable solicitations ot Messrs M. Henderson, W. Grey, T. il. Russell, 15. Paul. T. Somerville, and J. Sutherland mci with a very liberal response. A sirs offered by Mi .Russell "free, gratis was found to be not quite central, and of four others "for snle'" a half-ac-re on Mi Grey's property, adjoining the school, was finally selected. Nor fears the puny sceptic's hands, While near ilie school the, church spire star els j Nor fears the blinded bigot's iulc, While near the church spue stanch the school.

Mr J. L. Salmcnd, of Dunedin, was instructed to prepare plaiirf tor a brick chinch to seat 150. "Whether or not ho anticipated a rapid growth in Mil burn's population, his plans were brought ouc for a building to accommodate 175, the estimated co=t ot which exceeded the cormnicteu'd intended outlay. However, at the instigation of the .Rev. J. A. Somerville { Waihola), who gave the committee very tangible encouragement — viz., 10ga donation — to proceed, it was i ©solved to adopt the architect's design. Tenders were at once invited, and only in January of the present year it was decided to accept the lowest tender — that of Mr John Agnew, of Balclutha, for £710. The foundation stone was laid on the 7th March by the Rev. A. B. Todd, who was the first minister of Tokomairiro, assisted by Dr Bannerman, the first minister south of Taieri River, the Revs. J. M. Allan, Fairmaid, Millar, and others being al,o present. In order, if possible, to open the church free of debt, the services of the ladies were invoked, and, after "shooin." assiduously for some, months, they held a "grand sale of work," which produced £80 3h 3d. This amount, added to the first subscription list, and further supplemented by £28 collection on the opening Sunday of the church, plus £10 10s resulting from a social held on the followingWednesday night, saw the church erected am! opened free of debt, with a few pounds on hand to beautify the grounds, erect, gates, fences, etc.

The church, which is voted to be, for its size, one of the prettiest in Otago, reflects great credit on the architect and the contractor, as well as on the people of the distrct. It is 68ft long and 26ft 6in wide. The wa.lls are 14ft high, and are neatly plastered in imitation stone work, or 12in ashlar. The ridge is 18ft in height, the windows and doors being fitted with Gothic tops. The vestibule, which is 6ft 6in long and 9ft wide, is ornamented with a circular, coloured glass window. The outside doors are painted in brown relieved .with Indian red, and two folding doors of varnished red x^ine are placed in the entrance to the interior of the church. The pews are of varnished wood, and were manufactured by the Dunedin Hardware Company. Twenty-two seats in all are provided, reaching from the aisle in the centre to the walls. The pulpit is enclosed in a handsome red pine railing draped with red, the platform being laid with terra felt. The book-board is also of varnished red pine, covered with red plush, and is fixed to a movable case, whereby it can be raised or lowered at the clergyman's pleasure. The choir's apartment, which is immediately in front of the pulpit, is also surrounded by a railing of red pine, sufficient room being left- in the centre for the organ, the purchase of which was entrusted to Mr Morton, choirmaster, of Waihola. In sympathy with the colour of the doors at the rear of the pulpit, the dado is painted in India red, relieved with brown, while the prevailing colour in the ceiling, which is lined to the sides, showing all the principals, is salmon relieved with plain green perlins. The principals, supported by springs with octagonal mountings, are painted in dark drab and salmon. Eight louvre ventilators with cut pateras supply the building with pure air. The passage and aisle are laid with linoleum, and a beautiful arch on columns, with carved Oamaru stone capitals, adorns the wall immediately •behind the pulpit. Splendid light for evening services is supplied by eight large lamps suspended from the roof by- gilt rods. Side doors lead from the pulpit to the vestry, which is commodious, and further enhanced by a fireplace. The belfry is erected on the ridge over the main entrance at a height, from floor to finial, of 38ft,

The church was opened and consecrated on Sunday, August 12, by the Key. James Gibb, of First Church, Dunedin, whose eloquent and in&piring addresses wsi;ft feeaM bjj sttogdgd

audiences morning and evening. Miss Henderson ably presided at the organ, and led tho choir in the various hymns of praise. The committee were the recipients of several handsome and valuable presents, including an elegant pulpit chair, the gift of Mr Robero Ghisholm, Mayor of Dunedin, and a weighty, and serviceable pulpit Bible and hymn book from Mr D. M 'Donald, of Milburn. In connection with the opening of* the church under such cheering ausjrices, it must not be omitted to mention the name of the secretary of committee, Mr John Somerville, who, for so many years, has ungrudgingly given his valuable services to the people of Milburn.