WAITARA.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 144514, 24 October 1914, Page 6

WAITARA.

THE NEW PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. OPENING CEREMONY. PROM OUB OWN CORRESPONDENT. On Wednesday afternoon took place the ceremonial opening of the first Waitara Presbyterian Church. The Presbyterians of the district have for some time past been holding their services in the Foresters’ Hall, but the increased membership since the advent of Mr. Dunlop as the missioner in charge has warranted them erecting a building of their own, and Wednesday afternoon, in the presence of a very large company, saw' the fruit of hard and zealous work in the opening ceremony of a ferro-concrote building built and designed by Mr. A. Bent, capable of accommodating about 180 people. After tho singing of tho Doxology, Mr. A. Bent handed the keys of the church to Mr. Murray, who opened and declared the building open for public worship. This part of the ceremony was to have been performed by Mrs. J. Lindsay, but owing to illness in her home she was unable to bo present. The building was packed to its utmost limits.

Mr. Murray said that it was a pleasant although quite unexpected duty that ho had to perform, but it gave him unbounded pleasure to declare tho Knox Church open.

SOCIAL AND CON'CERT. In tho evening a social and concert was held iu the Ciiit-ou Hull. liJero was a very largo company present, and at tho supper m Uro boat-house tho tables were spread in a must sumptuous maimer. -Moreover, they were very tastefully laid. Alter supper, tho evening was spent in musical items and recitations, interspersed with short speeches. The Hcv. Air. Roscvcare occupied tho chair, and said that the building which they had opened that day mado them iu New I'lymoiilh feel quite jealous, as they had only a little wouden building in that town. Tho Rev. .Moderator I’atlison said that ho liked tho look el the building from the outside, and tho inside was worthy of the outside. Ho sincerely wished to congratulate them on the very line, taatolul, and commodious edifice which they had opened, Ho trusted that tho seating accommodation would bo taxed to the utmost. Now that tho church was completed it should bo their duty to ace that Mr. Dunlop was made happy and comfortable, as ho deserved to bo. Ho congratulated Waitara upon the splendid progress that hnd buon made during Mr. Dunlop’s residence there. Tho clerk of the presbytery said that people regarded a minister as merely a prolcssimial. Ho did not wish thorn to think that they preached only because they wore paid tor it, but that they did" so from sincere conscientious convictions. Ho wished .Mr. Dunlop every success, and that later on there would bo a manse burlt and further oxioutions.

.Mr. Dunlop said he had had a letter from Dr. Uihli regretting that he would bo unaldo to bu present to open tho church, and saying that he thought tho way the congregation had stuck to ono another in Haitara was most praiseworthy. Telegrams had been received from Mr. and Mrs. APCallum, and from his dearest friend on earth, ids mother, which gladdened Ida heart more than any other. His management committee had stood by him through thick and thin, and so also had the ladies’ committee. Be trusted that tho church that had been opened that day would soon be packed to the doors. The great thing they had aimed at hud boon readied, and they now had a good substantial structure. Their contractor had made a real good job of the building, and the opinion they had formed at tho laying of tbo foundation stone had been justified. Mr. Bent, tho contractor, said that he did not wish tho Presbyterians any harm, hut ho hoped that, tho time would not bo very long distant when thev would have to knock the end out of ibe building and add another length on to it.

The Chairman said that contractors might bo more numerous than churches, but they were not all conscientious contractors, and they were fortunate in having one for their building who required no looking after, but who they knew was putting in his very best work. Tho Rev. Mr. Griffin addre-ssed a few words of congratulation to the Presbyterians of Waitara, and said that what they had achieved was a credit to them, ami particularly was Air. Dunlop to bo congratulated on tho consummation of his wishes. , Tho Chairman concluded the evening by stating that the ladies and gentlemen who had provided tho supper, those who had lent their cars, and thoso who had provided the music were to be congratulated tinnn the work they had done, and tho thanks of all were duo to those who had thus helped to make tho day ono of such success. The musical part of the programme was opened by Miss Collier with a piano solo. Then followed Air. Kent, a newcomer in tho town with a good tenor voice, who was emphatically recalled. After him enmo Mr.' M'Lellan, of New Plymouth, with a song; Misses Rao and Ambury, with a vocal duet; Mr. M'Diarmid, with recitation in broad Scotch, which was much appreciated, and ho had to give a second one; Miss F. Badley, a song, the vocalist being in particularly good voice; Mr. Whyte, whoso bass voice also gave much pleasure; a quartette by a New Plymouth party; a song by Miss Rea; a duet by tho Rev. Mr. Rosovearo, and Miss Rosovearo; song by Miss Ambury ; recitations by Mr. M'Lellan; and quartette by the New Plymouth party. Mrs. Marlow, L.R.A;M., A.R.C.M., was the accompanist.