HAMPDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2427, 19 September 1900, Page 38

HAMPDEN.

A very impref-'-ivc service was held in St. Stephen's Church, Hampden, on Sunday, September 9, when a brass to the memory of the late Lieutenant Parker was unveiled by his worship the mayor, Mr W. Nieolson. The building was packed to the doors, and numbers were unable to gain admission. The Hampden Rifles, augmented by repiesentatives from the North Otago Mounted Rifles and the Palmerston Eifles, paraded about SO strong. "God save the Queen" was played by Mrs Watt as a voluntary, and followed by the singing of the "Old Hundred" by the congregation. The vicar, the Rev. H. J. Davis, then prefaced the unveiling with the words, "Here m the presence of God and m the face of this congregation we unveil this brass to the gloiy of God and in mcmoiy of the late J. H. Paiker, who fell at Haut Nek while serving his country. May we be incited by this ceremony to obey the call of duty."

The preacher took for his text the verse, "Endure hardness as good soldiers of Christ,'" and enlarged on the physical hardiness necessary to fit every soldier foi campaigning and referred to the analogy between a soldier of Christ, and his peipetual warfare against the allied forces of evil, and a soldier ot that lesser empire, the world.

The memorial brass has been obtained with money contributed by the many friends of the deceased, in Ham^en and surrounding di»taus*

and it was considered that the occasion of the volunteer parade would be particularly appropriate for the unveiling ceremony, as Lieutenant Parker had held office m the corps, and taken a very great interest in the volunteer movement.

Sir Arthur Sullivan's arrangement of "Crossing the bar " was played as an offertonum. The concluding hymn was "O, God, our help m ages past." The Parker family have presented the Hampden -volunteers with a handsome cup to be called the Parker Memorial- Cup. It is" ordered lioin England, and is expected to be here in two months. I have seen the design of it, and it in a very handsome aiticle.

The volunteers have been in camp at the north end of the township for nearly a week, aucl our litle town was all alive yesteiday. The \oluiiteers invited a number of mends to afteinoon tea, and a gieat number ol the fair sex paid the camp a visit. The volunteeis did their best to entertain them.

The volunteers first had a game of football against all-conr&rs, resulting in p tie. The officers put them through manual exercise drib, which they did m pplendid ■style. Captain M'William, in a veiy neat speech, thanked the visitors for thpir kind attendance. A number of lads and lasses then joined in a dance, music being suplied by two volunteers. The camp, I understand, breaks up on Friday night, and the mayor has invited all the volunteers to a smoke concert to be held m the large marques on the ground. — North Otago Times Correspondent.

At Gore on Friday an old man named Johnston was committed for trial on a charge of stealing two £10 notes from a man named John Scully.

Tne hi3t issue of the Gazette contains a notification to the effect that several areas of land in the Otago laud district have been temporarily reserved from sole.

Mo=srs W. Nieolson, D. Lefevre, and James Findlay have been appointed trustees tor the Hampden Cemetery, vice Messrs D. Dunbar and T. Murcott, deceased, and W. Stewart.

of .£2 to be forfeited if the protest is not sustained. . Numbered Saddle Cloths will be supplied to starters at scales, and must be returned immediately after weighing in. Games of Chance strictly prohibited on the course. Races to start each day at 12 o'clock noon. JAMES L. WILSON, 12s Secretary.