MINTARO.
[From a Correspondent.]
The teachers of the Mintaro Wesleyan Sabbath School celebrated their fourth anniversary on the 10th and 11th instant. On Sunday morning a sermon was preached by Rev. Charles Colwell, and an address was delivered in the afternoon, and a sermon preached in the evening, by the Rev. R. C. Flockart. These services were followed by the recitation of a variety of sacred poems by the more proficient among the scholars, whose marked improvement argued favourably for the diligence of both teachers and children. The usual tea followed on the Monday, which, with its many pleasing accessories, was highly appreciated by the expectant juveniles. The number of scholars on the books is 63. The teachers number 19, all of whom are members of the Wesleyan Church, and are qualified for their duties by personal experience of the truths they teach. The school is furnished with a suitable library, which is available on merely nominal conditions for the entire congregation and neighbourhood. The children having been conducted through the village and diverted with sundry sports and exercises, retired to their homes, delighted with the festivities of the day. The public meeting was addressed by the Revds. R. C. Flockart and C. Colwell, and Messrs. Jolly, Lathham, Blatchford, and Taylor. The Treasurer having reported a balance of £8 due to him on account of incidental expenses during the past year, the sum of £15 was raised to meet all demands. The chapel on each occasion was crowded.
[From another Correspondent.]
The Mintaro Wesleyan Chapel is a very commodious building, and very prettily situate on rising ground, with its face towards the east. It has been greatly improved of late by the addition of a bell, the work attendant upon the hanging of which reflects great credit upon Mr. Thompson Priest, who has been for some time past conferring a great benefit on the neighbourhood by his having opened a slate quarry on a section that belongs to Mr. John Smith, of this place, but formerly to Mr. Peter Brady, whereby the inhabitants here and settlers around have long been enabled to purchase flags for various purposes at a moderate rate, and which are certainly of an excellent quality.
We are liberally provided with places of worship here. In addition to the above, there is a Roman Catholic Chapel, which stands on the northern side of the village facing the south, very tastefully built by Mr. Thompson Priest. The roof consists of galvanized iron, and it is floored with flags from the before-mentioned quarry. It stands in the section on which Mr. Peter Brady resides, who, in addition to having given the land, was a large contributor towards its erection, and whose hospitality must be ever remembered by those members of the congregation residing at a distance, on account of the hearty manner in which they are received by him on the days appointed for divine service.
There is also a commodious building used for a schoolroom, in which divine service is performed by the Rev. W. Wood, of Penwortham, every alternate Sunday; and I am informed that the Primitive Methodists, who have for some time past held regular services here in a building they bought for the purpose, are now about to erect a chapel, not finding their present room large enough for them. Surely these things speak well for Mintaro.
It will be fresh in the recollection of many of your readers that the foundation-stone of Mr. John Smith’s mill was laid here some time since. I am glad to be able to state that the building is progressing even beyond our most sanguine expectations, under the able management of Mr. Jessup, the builder.
The crops, on the whole, are not looking quite as well as we could wish, which I believe is a general complaint in this part of the country; but a few more showers, which we may hope soon to have, would materially affect them; at any rate, we have no just cause to complain at present.
