ALEXANDRA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2762, 20 February 1907, Page 35

ALEXANDRA.

February 16. — The induction of the Rev. Alter- Watson as minister of St. Enoch's Presbyterian Church, Alexandra, took place in ih* church last Tuesday afternoon. There was a {airly large attendance of the congregation, who followed with marked interest the ■oJjsnra and impressive ceremonies connected vrith the induction. The Rev. Mr Porter preached an able sermon, the Rev. Mr M'Cosh Smith addressed the newly-inducted minister on the duties of his office, and the Rev Mr 3£Leod addressed the congregation on their duties, emphasising the fact thart no minister can fulfil the duties of his high office unless ithe- people upho"d him in his work. In the evening: a welcoming social, which was largely attended, took place in the church, ,yhich ws* tastefully decorated for the occasion. After prayer, the choir, under the able leadership of the conductor (Mr LawEcn), rendered the anthem " Lift up your {heads" in a manner that called forth heaity applause. Mr M*Kellar, on behalf of the congregation, gave an address of we] corn -r to {Mr Watson, amd trusted that he would lon^ jb* spared to minister to the people in hn>v tilings. Mr Watson feehng.y thanked Mt M'Kellar for his kind worda of welcome, and jthrough him the congregation. Mt M'Kellar ithen presented a purse of sovereigns to the £R«f. A. Porter, who, as Moderator of the congregation; for the past six months, had itactfnlly guided, the affairs of the church in ■t manner creditable to himself and satisfacjtory to the officebearers. Mr Porter, in Accepting the puree and' its contents, suitably (responded. Mrs Blundeil sang very sweetly the sacred song, "Th» children's garden." This was followed by the tenor solo from th« "Messiah," "Every valley," by Mr Lawpen, who. being in capital voice, did full justice to the beautiful music. At this stage pf tha proceedings * break took place foD the purpose of partaking of tea and c»k» and fccgaging in conversation. Subsequently, the itev. Mr M'Coan-Smith addressed the conjpregition, as did also the Rev. Mr Blundel, She Her. Mx MTLeod, and the R«v. Mr Harkpe«& Mr Arnett rendered in fine form ''The Better Land,' and Mrs and Miss Se&nett Bang the duet, "There is no night ■htae;" nty sweetly. After Mir R. Lawscm |vu C rr u ik drMDE of Paradise, ' th» choir closed: IW programme by rendering in capital styfe thatftnlhein, "Every v»lley." Votes of thanks >p the speakers-, the choir, the ladies, and the fccalrmai, »nd the Rev. A. Wateon brought

a most successful and pleasant evening to a close.

Public Meeting. — A public meeting was held in the Town Hail yesterday evening to consider what steps should be taken to fittingly show our pleasure on the day of the official opaning of the railway to Alexandra. There was a fairly large and representative gathering, the Mayor of Alexandra being m the chair. The Chairman pointed out to the meeting that it was but fitting that Alexandra should in. some way show appreciation of it haft the Government had done for the district. He considered that the Acting Prime Minister and other members of the Cabinet should be invited to a midday luncheon and to a conversazione in the evening, when the Ministry and other members of Par.iament present might meet with the people. This, to his mind, appeared a 'more becoming way of entertaining the guests than banquectmg them by a favoured few Mr Jversen thought that, aa coalescing with Clyde in the matter of the official opening was out of the' question, Alexandra should do something to show howi it honoured public men when worthy of honour. Mr C]oss aLo addiessed the meeting, emphasising what the previous speakers had said, and pointing out that 12 month.3 ago the Railway League had, through Mr Bennett, the member for the district, tendered an invitation to the Cabinet, and that no reply had, so far, be=u received to that invitation. He thought that the invitation to attend the opening of the railway function had. undc- stress of public business, been overlooked, and a formal invitation should now be sent to the Cabinet inviting the Acting Prime Minister to name a convenient day to open the Omakau-Ales-ardra section of the railway. He felt assured that the Acting Prime Minister would not igi ore the claims of Alexandra,, whvh was row the most populous town m the new Tuapeka, electorate. He also pointed out that there were other matters of public importance that required to bs brought under tha Minister's notice. Mr Bartholomew moved—" That the Acting Prime Minister be iequ«sted to name a convenient day to open officially the Omalcau-Alesandra section of lh» Otao-o Central railway, and that the CJoiiMJt be invited to attend a midday function and an evening function, to be held at Alexandra. ' The motion waa seconded by Mr Murphy, and. on being put to the meeting, was carried unanimously. A strong committee was appointed, should the request be granted and the invitation accepted, to carry out the details of the functions. A vote of thanks to the chair closed the meeting.