INDUCTION AT KAITANGATA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2666, 19 April 1905, Page 10

INDUCTION AT KAITANGATA.

The Clutha Presbytery met at Kaitangata on Wednesday for the induction of the Rev. W. T. Currie, late of Ballywatt, Ireland^ Of the Presbytery there were present tlis Rev. Mr Budd. moderator ; Messrs Currie, Miller, Maoa-Uister, Allan, Ramsay, and Orr, minister ; and Mr Kelly, elder. After an able sermon from Mr Ramsay (moderator). during the vacancy, who preached from The Epistle to the Hebrews, chapter i. verse 2, the prescribed questions were put by Mr Ramsay, and duly answered by Mr Curric, the minister-elect. Thereafter helpful addresses were given to the minister and the people by Messrs Miller and Orr respectively. Mr Currie received the usual cordial hand-shake from the members of the congregation as they retired. In the evening a welcome social was held, the large and commodious Church Hall being" well filled witih an interested and enthusiastic audience. Mr Ramsay took the chair, and in a short soeeoh referred to the speedy and, he believed, happy settlement effected. Having vacated the chair in favour of Mr Currie, the new minister, the latter thanked the congregation for the welcome they had? given him, and trusted that, with the hearty co-operation of the people, his ministry ins Kaitangata would be a success. Ail through: New Zealand he had received nothing but the utmost kindness and hospitality. A. nice little part of the programme for the evening was the welcome accorded to the new minister by Messrs Smith and Blackie, in the name of the Kirk Session and Committee of Management. Mr Johnston, in the name of the congregation, presented Mr Ramsay with st travelling rug, and Mr Ramsay suitably responded. Suitable and interesting- addresses were also given by Mr Currie, of Balclutha, and Mr Allan, of Lawrence (the late minister). Telegrams of congratulation and good wishes were received from Dr Waddell and the Revs. Fairmaid, Dalrymple, and Spence, and from Mr Robertson.

During: the evening a strong choir, with Mr Aitehison as. conductor and Miss Renton at the piano, rendered very effectively several anthems. • About halfway through tne programme the usual liberal supply of tea, sandwiches. and cake, provided by the- ladies of th» oongregation, was handed round, and greatly enjoyed ; and at the close votes of thanks to the speakers, the ladies, and the> ohoir, from Messrs Kelly, Burns, and Gage, were heartily carried.

Mr George Musgrove told an interviewer in Christchurch that one of Miss Nellie Stewart's dresses in " Camille " cost £300.

In a private ietter Mr Frank Endean, of the firm of Messrs End-can and Son. seedsmen and florists, who is at present on a flying visit' to England, etc., states that he has not as yet come across any superior scenery than that of New Zealand and Victoria. He states that Rotorua is the wonder of the world ; while Milford Sound) and the cold lakes are equal to anything he has seen as yet. The T*uii-eclin trains, he states, are a credit to the city, both for neatness and the management of the whole plant. The gardens at Dunedin come up to any of the other gardens in New Zealand — in fact, equal to some Australian ones. His many friends in this city will be very pleased to hear that his health has improved considerably during his tour. We understand that Mr Endean will return shortly via America.