A CHURCH SOLD TO A PUBLICAN. (From Our Own Correspondent.

Otago Witness, Issue 1851, 30 March 1904, Page 24

A CHURCH SOLD TO A PUBLICAN. (From Our Own Correspondent.

i WELLINGTON, March. 28. \ The sale of the Scots Church, Abel Smith street, to a publican for use as a dancing hall continues to be a subject of comment locally, and some indignant letters on the subject have appeared in the newspapers. At the service at the church last night the Rev. Mr Thomson, in bidding farewell to the congregation, read a statement drawn up by the trustees of the church showing the reasons for the sale. This showed that an uusolvable financial problem was the compelling- factor in the transaction. Mr Thomson J said that all persons who were owed money by the church would be paid 20s in the pound, and he thought no one could expect more. He mentioned that the church had been heavily mortgaged, and that although friends in Palmerston North were most generous it was impossible to rai=e money from the public for the liquidation of the debt. When the affairs had been settled, any subscriber to the fund for erecting the church would get his money back if he applied for it, but the minister was pleased to say that although he had made that notification to local subscribers there had not so far been one application. Mr Thoin«on spoke of his three years' connection with the church as the best period of his life. The most beautiful harmony and goodwill had ever been expressed to him, and he deeply regretted he had found it necessary to part with the congregation. In concluding Mi- Thomson announced : "We will now worship God by taking up the collection." After the ordinary service had been concluded a private meeting of the church members was held to consider the advisableness of .sending a "call" to another minister to take up the charge of die church iv another building. Mr Thomson says that the total amount of the subscriptions paid did not represent one-fourth of the total cost of the church property, ' and practically from the beginning the church had been loaded with a debt of nearly £2000, bearing interest at the rate of 6 per cent. : hence it was found impossible to carry on. Mr Thomson added that the position had been fully placed before the elders and managers of the church weeks ago by the , trustees and that they approved of the steps which hare been taken. |

It Is understood feays an exchange) that, all over the colony, the police have been instructed to object to old-age pensions being renewed in cases where the recipients waste the amount iv the purchase of intoxicants.