Hawera

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 20, 16 May 1907, Page 13

Hawera

(By telegraph from our own correspondent.) The blessing of the Auroa church has been postponed to the spring or early summer, when the committee expect to have it entirely lined and finished throughout. The committees in the various districts -of the parish are organising a series of entertainments for this winter months. Two-thirds of the proceeds will go to the local churches, and one-third to' the presbytery ■building fund. There is talk, too, of bazaars at Manaia, Okaiawa, and Auroa. A lady outside these districts offers prizes to the value of about £100, provided the local committees raise half that amount between 'them., t His Grace the Archbishop administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to ninety-four children and adults

on Ascension Day. Mr. Peter Donnelly was sponsor for the boys, and Mr&. Bi "Bennett sponsor for the girls. Hi .3 Grace expressed himself "very pleased with the answering in Christian doctrine, whioh was, he said, well above the average, in the evening he was presented with an address by -the children, to which he made a very beautiful reply. He pointed out the need in this age of the enlightening and, sustaining gifts of the Holy Spirit for those who would be armed and strengthened against the enemies of their salvation, and, referring to one oi the points in the address, he eulogised and held up for imitation the grand manifestation of unity and loyalty shown in France to-day in the midst of the persecutions that Were striving to overwhelm the Unurch in that unhappy country. Continuing a very eloquent discourse, he* gave the large congregation a clear exposition of the nature and the motives of the French Government's war upon religion. The discourse will be long remembered by those who had the privilege of hearing it.