LAYING THE FOUNDATION STONE OF ST. MARK'S CHURCH, OPAWA.

The foundation stone of St. Mark's Church, Opawa, was laid on Saturday afternoon by the Eight Bey. the Bishop of New Zealand. The day was a most unfavorable one for the ceremony. The weather during the morning -was very threatening, and about two o'clock the rain began to fall in torrents, which of course rendered the attendance of visitors very small. Shortly after three o'clock the Bishop ofNew Zealand arrived on the ground, accompanied by the Bishops of Christchurch andWaiapu, and Archdeacons Mauneell and Jacobs, the Eevde. Edwards, Tripp, and Cholmondeley were also present, with several of the lady members of the parish. The ceremony was commenced by the singing of the 132 nd Psalm by the choir of St. Matthew's Church, Ferry road; after which the Bishop of Christchurch read the prayers appointed for such occasions, and the Bishop of New Zealand then laid the stone, beneath which a bottle, enclosing the following inscription, was deposited: — _ "In the name of the Father, the Son, fend the Holy Ghost. Amen. "To the honor and glory of Almighty Grod, and to the advancement of Christ's kingdom, on the sixth day of May, in the year of our Lord 1865, and the twenty-eighth year of the reign of Queen Victoria, the corner etone of this Church, dedicated to St. Mark, and situated in the parish of Lower Heathcote with Stunner was laid by the Eight Eeverend George Augustus Selwyn, 2). D., first Bishop of New Zealand and Metropolitan; Henry J. C. Harper, D.D., being first Bishop of Christchurch; and the Eeverend George James Cholmondeley, being the Curate of the parish* , ' -j ■■'."£ , " The site on which the Church, is to hebniltis the gift of G. Holmes, Esq., and E. Eichardson, Esq., and the following persons form the ißuflding Committee: —H. P. Murray-Aynsley, Esq., M.P.C., J. L. Coster, Esq., T. M. Hassal, Esq., Churchwardens, W. Kennaway, Esq., P. Lane, Esq., G. Holmes, Esq., W. Beeves, Esq., E. Eichardsqn, Esq,, aad J. 8. Williams, Esq. "The Church is-fcobe built from the designs ; ;ef Messrs. Berry and Mountforfc, architecte, Chrißtohurch. " Blessing and honor and glory and power be unto Him that sittethupon the Throne, and to the Lamb, for ever and ever." . After the stone had been laid, the Metropolitan shortly addressed those present, remarking that the ceremony in which they had been engaged was symbolical of the Christian Church; Christ was the corner-stone of their faith, and he prayed that the work they had that day executed might form a comer-stone to salvation to many. At the conclusion of the Bishop's address, the hymn commencing " Christ is our croner-stone " was sung, and the usual collection made. The collection amounted to £12 lie 10£ d. The Metropolitan then pronounced the blessing, and the ceremony was concluded. . - . The church is to be built from the designs of Messrs. Bury and Mountfort, and will be wood, with a stone foundation. The design is Gothic; the length of the nave will be 50 feet by a breadth of 20 feet, and in the end feeing the door will be a large ornamental window. The size of the chancel is to be 15 feet by 16 feet, with a vestry-room 8 feet square, and a porch 8 feet by 6 feet. The elevation of the building is 28 feet, and there will be a bellJtower of the height of 16 feet surmounting the end over the entrance. The building, when finished, will present a very neat appearance, and capable of seating about 200 persona,