THE COUNTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 17 April 1901, Page 29

THE COUNTRY.

WAIMATUKU. April 13. — The adjourned meeting re forming a new Presbyterian parish was held on Thursday, 28th ult. The Rev. Messrs Cumxning (chairman), White, Brown, and M'Cully represented the Presbytery of Southland ; and about 20 or 30 members and adherents of the congregation were present. The chairman explained what had been done at the last meetlag', and put forth some forcible arguments to show that there was abundance of loom for anothei Presbyterian charge between Riverton and Wallacetown. Rev. Mr Brown eloquently appealed to us to look at the matter from a charitable point of view, and that for the good of others who had not regular services, we ought to make a new parish, and thus allow the Presbytery to devote more attention to those places. The Rev. Mr H. Cully, delivered a feeling -address, and said that while he ■would be sorry to lose Waimatuku, yet the parish was so large that he could not do justice to it, either in giving weekly services or in regular visitation. The Rev. Mr White, in answer to a question asked, spoke on the financial aspect, and showed that there would be little or no difficulty in raving the necessary amount of money; that usually newlyformed charges were m a better financial position that those seceded from. Judging from the 'discussion, the main difficulties in the way ■were fear that the necessary money could not he raised, and a reluctance to give up our minister; some one remarking that the Waixnatuku ladies were in love with Mr M'Cully, an observation that made the cfiairman remark: "Oh, they will fall in love with the next one." It was proposed and unanimously carried — "That this meeting is quite willing to form part of a new parish." Of course, it will be some time yet before anything is definitely settled ; so that things will move along as at present, in any case, during this year. — The Rev. A. Reader, who has been in charge of the Wesleyan circuit here, preached, his farewell sermon on the 31st ult. Mr Reader was a good preacher, and gives place to the Rev. Mr Boys, who is to be assisted t>y a home missionary, to be located in Riverton. tAmusements. — We had a lantern exhibition in our hall tljree weeks ago. The attendance though fair did not satisfy the management, who expected a larger turnout to see the show. The lantern views were really good, coming out on the sheet large and distinct, but the kinematograph slides were rather faint, and the moving figures so small that the result was a little disappointing, causing many to ask, "Why can't the moving figures be shown on as large a scale as the stationary ones?" However, the popularity of the war scenes shown caused us to forget any defect. Lecture. — On the 3rd inst., the Rev. Mr Painter, a missionary from China, gave a lecture on China and the war. No matter how much one reads ah/rat China and her war, to hear one who has been there speaking from personal experience, is fraught with so much interest that it puts reading matter in the shade. The Rev. Mr M'Cully was present, and introduced the lecturer. Mr Painter handles his subject in a masterly way, making one feel a great respect for the Chinaman. In exolamirg the causes of the present trouble in China, •he showed that European nations did much to be ashamed of ; that even the missionary was not free from blame ; that he (Mr Painter) did not look for a speedy termination to the trouble : and that probably another massacre «f missionaries and others would follow. Mr Painter drew a vivid picture of the difficulties that stood in the way of Christiaarisirig China. Some of these difficulties are The idea the Chinese have of their own superiority over all other nations ; their patriotism and utter hatred to anything new; their religion beiag •mixed up with their politics; and the marvel"■lous power of the family tie. "But, urged Mr Painter, " notwithstanding these great difficulties, are we going to leave China? Are we going to disobey the Master's command, and stop preaching the Gospel to the Chinamen ?" In concluding a most interesting and eloquent address, Mr Painter suggested that the Preshyterian Church of New Zealand should send and maintain a. missionary in China.