S. John's, Dannevirke.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume II, Issue 5, 1 November 1911, Page 88

S. John's, Dannevirke.

Vicar: Rev. E. Robertshawe, B.A. Curate: Rev. C. E. Nicholas. The last month has been a busy one m the history of our Parish. We have had a visit from our Bishop on the occasion of the opening of the Church at Matamau. The Bishop created a sensation by the deeply earnest spiritual sermons, to which the congregation listened with the very deepest attention. We hope that soon it may be our privilege to hear him again, and then upon some of the doctrines of our Holy Faith. We unfortunately had a very wet Sunday on August 27th, when the Matamau Church was dedicated by the Bishop. Services were held at 11 a.m., Holy Communion; 2.30 p.m., Dedication Service} and 7 p.m.,

Evensong, when the Vicar preached. The Church will accommodate about 80 worshippers, andhaabjfen built according to a design supplied b^j Mr. J. P. Leighton, a very old settler at Matamau, who has produced a remarkably pretty-building. The Matamau congregation shew a very fine spirit of earnestness and self-help, and will make that part of the Parish a warm Church centre. It is one of the first Churches m the Diocese to use lights according to the Anglican use at the time of ceiebration. - At a Vestry meeting, at which Archdeacon Ruddock was present as a visitor, the question of Parochial boundaries was discussed, when it was recommended that the boundaries of the Parish should be coterminus with the Borough, and the country part should be styled " The Associated Districts," *.«., with Dannevirke Parish. As the Vicar explained, it was impossible at present to settle the boundaries of the Matamau Sub-District. On September 13th, the first attempt at a Bulb Show was held m the Sunday School. This was only a small beginning, but next year we trust that it will fie carried out m a much more extensive manner. Services arc -fairly well attended but the picture shows on Sunday evenings and so many amusements m the week militate against the attendance on Sunday nights. A very successful- Sale of Work under the management of Mrs. Dawson, President, which the Associates and members of the Girls' Frienaly Society have been working for all the Winter, was held on September Cth. A piano has riow been 1 bought for -the Society with the proceeds, and the Treasurer has about £8 m hand for Mission work, which all are interested m. The Work Stall was m charge of Mesdames Dawson and Soundy ; Mesdames Rdbertshawe, Fry, and Benson had the Produce Stall; Mesdames S. Andrews and Baddeley the Sweets ; Misses Knight and Diamond the Bran Tub, which did great business ; and the Refreshments were under the management of Mesdames Knight, Cowper, Eaton, and Giesen. A very good musical programme was arranged by Mrs. Green and the Secretary, and the thanks of the Branch are due to the ladies and gentlemen who so kindly took part m the concert. The members sang several glees, which they had practised during the Winter; with Mrs. Green, and a few of them also gave an amusing dialogue. On Tuesday 12th, at the weekly meeting, Miss Moore read a paper on "Florence Nightingale's Life and Work," which was both interesting and instructive. We hope to have more papers of the same kind from different Associates."