Dannevirke-cum-Matamau and Bush Districts.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume VI, Issue 9, 1 March 1916, Page 125

Dannevirke-cum-Matamau and Bush Districts.

Vicar: Rev. E, JRobertshawe, B.A. Curate: Rev. G. E. Nidioias. The Rev. Q. E. Nicholas went north for his ' usual holiday, and during his absence our old friend the Rev. F. W. Martin took his duties, a>nd preached most acceptable sermons. Those who have the privilege of hearing Mr Martin are much pleased with his simple but most touching discourses. No sooner had Mi Nicholas returned than he was re-called to the - north -by -the sudden death of his nephew. He is nowback and once more taking up the work. CR»r organist, Mr Kerr, and the choir are going forward with the Church music, and it may bo fairly claimed that we have one; of the best choirs m the Diocese. A meeting' of the southern Hawke's Bay clergy was held at the Vicarage on February 2nd, the Festival of the Purification. Holy Communion was celebrated at S. John's Church at io a.m., and after service the assembled brethren discussed the proposed course of clerical study and several other matters. Ultimately it was decided that papers on thei various books should be read by various clergymen at the next clerical meeting, which it was settled to hold at Takapau on- the last Wednesday m June. Besides this it was decided that the Vicar of the parish m which the gathering is held shall be chairman of the meeting; A recommendar tion was made that a- sheet, or poster, should be printed with the names of the charities supported by the Church, and hung up m every Church porch m the Diocese, with printed inquiry : " Which of these are you helping ? " so thait Church men may know what the Church is doing. The Rev. Canon Eccles was absent from the gathering, but- a hope was expressed thai he would be present on the next occasion.

We welcome several new communicants among us and hope soon to again present more candidates for the " laying on of hands." Miss Law, headmistress of the local High School, has undertaken the senior boys' class at the Sunday School, a-nd the Vicar hopes to be able to start a senior class of Bible students. On Sunday, February 20th, the Vicar and the Rev. H. Collier interchanged. "We very nvuch liked Mr Collier's rendering ,of the musical portion of the service as well as his very thoughtful sermons. MATAMAU DISTRICT. Harvest Thanksgiving services were held on Sunday, 27th inst., at Te Ruhunga, Matamau, amd Umatoroa, The Churches- were tastefully decorated and the services well attended. The sermons were preached at the different places by the Archdeacon of Hawke's Bay and the Rev. C. Nicholas.