never failed till life's close. These are continued by Mrs Wilkie, despite advancing years, and I am sure will end only with her departure hence.
In illustration of the spirit of the founders of Knox Church, I may mention that before I was a week in Dunedin Messrs Gillies and Wilkie placed in my hands a purse containing seventy sovereigns, no insignificant sum in those early days of the settlement. When I communicated the fact to my wife she advised me to set apart twenty of them as a contribution to the building fund of the church. This was done, and they found their way to the plate on the opening day.
Our nearest minister to the south was the Rev. William Will, of Taieri. One bright afternoon shortly after our arrival I was summoned away from the preparation of my sermon to speak to him and his wife. On going out there confronted me Mr Will, on a substantial mare, attended by her foal, which was trying its budding teeth on the white clover of the street line. The foal in due time developed into the well-known "Fergus," which carried his owner for a number of years with blithe heart and sure foot through a parish compared with which the parish of to-day may be regarded as no bigger than a cabbage garden. Mrs Will, before dismounting, welcomed us to Otago in words hearty and gracious. Then Mr Will said "Take this basket, which contains samples of the products of our country." When the contents were turned out, they were found to consist of butter, honey, and fruits of various kinds. After rest and refreshment, I saw my friends mounted; and, with the heads of their steeds turned homewards, they cantered away at a seven miles an hour pace, "Fergus" following at their heels and raising aloft now his head and now his hind feet.
The welcome extended to us by the settlers was hearty beyond expression, and assumed many forms. As we talked over the goodness and favour so copiously showered upon us, there sprang up in our souls the resolution to devote ourselves to the ministries of grace and beneficence to which we had been called. I can say of one of the co-partnership that the vow was kept in the letter and in the spirit till the Master called her to
