TAPANUI.

Tuapeka Times, Volume VII, Issue 345, 8 April 1874, Page 3

TAPANUI.

(From our own Correspondent.) On last Sabbath, the residents of Tapanui were honored with a visit from His Lordship Bishop Neville, who conducted divine service, and administered the rite of baptism to several infants. It would bo impossible, without swelling my communication to undue length, to givo more than a mere outline of the eloquent and thoughtfully wrought-out address delivered — au address which was listened to with wrapt attention. The bishop chose for his text, Hebrews sth chapter, 7th to 11th verses inclusive. He referred to the last day's of Christ's sojourn upon earth, when the time drew night that this " Priest after the order of Melchisedek " should offer that great sacrifice which was necessitated by tho great sin of the world. The origin of evil was a mystery beyond human comphrension, springing Jinto existence, as holy writ I informs us, even in the very presence of Him " who cannot look upon sin," falling from heaven to hell, and rising from hell to earth to taint all of Adam's race. As sin was so completely obnoxious to tho Divino Being, ib needed, to ensure man's salvation, a Perfect Priest and a Perfect Sacrifice. This union was found in Christ alone — the Son of Man, * and the Son of G-od. Our Saviour was the second head of the human race, as Adam was the first. Adam's nature was, at first, sinless, even though his was perfect humanity ; so Christ possessed tho same liability to fall, it was, as some theologians speak, peccable, yet not peccant ; or, we might say, siuable, yet not sinning. It was in this trial aud victory that Chriht was '" mailo perfect through suffering." His human nature shrank from the awful burden of the sins of the world, as the .Son dreaded, the wratn of his Father, which he foreknew would fall upon him iv his time of sorest need. He feared ; he prayed ; and was " heard in that he feared," and was delivered, not from the agony of tho cross, but from the great horror that had fallen upon him. It is evident that Satan's great ambition v wa* to conquer Christ, ns he had before conquered Adam. Consider the cunning evidence in th 6 pi'Ogression of tho i temptations placed before our Redeemer after his buptihin, and fasting for forty days. Faint with hunger, he was asked to " command that these stones be made bread ; " filled with menial anxiety, he was tried by the plausible reasoning of the tempter, who, in quotiug "He shall give his angels charge concerning thee," omitted, "to keep thco in all thy w.uf ;" coming to found a kingdom, he was promised all the glory of the "kingdoms of this v.orld, if he would but fall clown and worship the devil. The (Saviour's reply gives tue principle of his own " obedience as a Son." " Thou shalt worship tho Lord t!i} God, and Him only shalt thou serve." " 1 came not to do mine own will, but the will of him who sent me," exemplifies the self-denial whi'h ever marked the Saviour's life, and which is manifested, iv a greater or less degree, in the life of every Christian. He that learned obodiouce shall himself be the author of eternal salvation to all those who obey him. Those meagre outlines can give but a faiut idea of tlie bishop's eloquent sermon ; but if they help to fix in tho memory only a little of what was heard by tho congregation, the writer's end will be auswercd. On tho following Wednesday, the annual examination of the Tapauui Maiu School was conducted by the Rev. Mr. Bett, our Presbyteriau minister, K who was assisted by the teacher. The results were pronounced by the rev. gentleman to be 'very creditable to both teacher and taught. Ou the evening after, a juvonile concert was given in aid of the prizefund," when a very interesting programme was gono through. The Rev. Mr. Bett was called to the chair, and read out each song, chorus, or recitation in order, from the programme. All tho reeitatians were well done — some, xery well indeed. " How the Bunyip ate a Pickaninny," by a scholar in native dress, caused much merriment to both old aud young. Two very little ladies warbled, " What does little Birdie say ? " and the " Old Man in a Wood," very prettily. " Mother says I mustn't," by Miss M'Queen, and "Sister Mary," by Miss Ferguson, were both nicely done ; as was also " Chime Again," by Miss Bowden ; " Jamie's on the Stormy Sea," was, notwithstanding a little bit of a false start, beautifully suug by Miss H arriett Bett. This young lady bids fair to ; have a charming voice by the time she ' arrives at womanhood. After the customary i votes of thanks, the audience dispersed.

Next Sabbath, the new Presbyterian Church will be opend, when sermons will be preached by the Rev. Mr. Allan, of Inch V lutha, On the following Tuesday, it is intended to hold a tea and public meeting, when refreuumeutß, addresses, and music will bo the order of the evening. May the weather be propitious, and the whole affair successful, is the wish of every Tapanuite, aud consequently of your correspondent.