"Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth . . . except the Lord build the house, they labour in vain that built it." Thus spoke the moderator of the Presbytery of the Hastings, the Revd. K.C. Mc Alpine, at the opening and dedication of the newly built Church of St. Andrew in Port Macquarie.

The new church, which seats 300, was filled to overflowing when the Reverend Hugh Cunningham, accompanied by the Reverend R.J. Allan (parish minister) and a number of officiating ministers knocked on the front door of the church seeking admission.

Inside stood Annie McLaren and the building contractor Darb Olsen. To Miss McLaren, a devoted worker for her church over a long period of years, went the honour of opening the door and handing the keys to Rev Cunningham.

After unveiling a commemorative plaque, lessons were read and furniture and the church were dedicated. In a short history of the parish and narrative of the steps, Dr N.E. McLaren, a member of the church's Kirk Session, referred to the presence that day of Nancy Davidson of Budgewoi, a daughter of Reverend Robert Davidson, who was minister of the parish 1884-1893. That was when, said Dr. McLaren, the first church - built in 1841-43, was demolished and rebuilt with materials from the first church. Dr McLaren contrasted the price of the first church, $2408, with the contract price of $46,864 for the present church.

Shire's new building opened

In the presence of a representative gathering in Wauchope yesterday afternoon, Hastings Shire Council officially opened its new $190,000 civic centre. Built on the site of the original shire chambers, the handsome building lends a new air of progress and dignity to the Wauchope's main thoroughfare.

Due to the inadequacy of the existing Chambers and Library and the need of a new Baby Health Centre, it was resolved in 1968, that a new Civic Centre be erected. The three buildings are connected by covered ways, giving a colonnade effect and forming a square around the refaced and remodelled War Memorial.

Town Beach

Editor PM News: Dear Sir - The condition of Town Beach is a disgrace and an embarrassment to any local resident taking friends to this beautiful spot, as was my misfortune on Sunday. The beach is covered with rubbish, dry seaweed and litter of all types, and it just did not come in on the last tide. I'm convinced aldermen don't go swimming to this beach.

We hear so much talk of our beautiful beaches and the surrounding area of Town Beach is lovely, due to the efforts of Mr Tom Reed and his workers. Surely a tractor with some raking attachment can be secured to quickly clean the beach. I would suggest too, that a litter bin be placed on the beach as people don't walk to the carpark to deposit drink cans and papers. Practically all visitors use our beaches, much more than ratepayers, so let's offer them something we can be proud of. E. Henry.