KUAOTUNU GOLDFIELD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 104, 4 May 1891, Page 3

KUAOTUNU GOLDFIELD.

IMPRESSIONS OF THE REV. T, F. ROBERTSON.

The Rev. T. F. Robertson, minister of St. Stephen's Church, Ponsonby, who went to Kuaobunu Goldtield, ab the request of the Auckland Presbytery, to ascertain what prospect there was 01 establishing a church there, sends us a few lines, giving his first impression. He says : — City people sometimes speak as if this township by the sea bad nothing but a wild surf and dark hills, and life in harmony with bleak surroundings, to commend it to the visitor.

What a mistake ! In this morning's sunshine, Kuaotunu is a charming place. The little bills clothed in evergreen beauty, and the mountain ranges encircling ib, are rejoicing on every side. The bay is superior to Chelbenham Beach, and similar to the long white sands of Takapuna. The township, with shop 3, hotels, and a good main road to the mines in process of completion, is showing youthful life and vigour. Recent disappointments, in the imperfect treatment of gold ore give a depressed tone to the conversation of miners and shopkeepers, yet few seem to doubt that a good time iB coming yet to Kuaobunu. Certainly, if the toilers here do not find as much gold as city folks desire, they find at least excellent healbh. We havo failed, afber inquiry, to discover a sick man, woman or child in this region. We have found everyone frank and kind, bhe minoi-3good-hearbed fellows, and bhough one feels sympathy for them in their rough, homeless lives, yob their lot is far superior to miners of various ores in bhe old couubry and on bhe continent of Europe. They have at least less work in less dangerous mines, double the wages, and they are nob poisoned by the fever fumes of insanitary village homes. If nob improvident they may have hopes and comforts for this life fareuperior to the toilers in many lands. Kuaotunu wants a day school badly. The number of children fib for school seems above the Governmenb requirement. Some movement has been made in bhis mabter, bub every passing depression in connection with gold mining seems to overcome ib. We trußt the parents will nob rest bill some arrangemenb has been mado for bhe education of their fine - looking, interesting children.

Kuaotunu has nob been altogether overlooked by religious teachers. It has been visited occasionally by representatives of various denominations, and the large and excellent Hall in connecbion with Coram's Hobel is freely given to all for Sunday worship. Nob a tew of the inhabitants of the district are anxious to have legular worship in the township. As far as we can judge, from a passing survey of the field, the case seems one for united effort on the part of the various churches. The number belonging to any one secbion of the church seems too small to uphold public worship. And we are thankful to find the people free from sectarian feeling. By a little fiank brotherly effort, Catholics Episcopalians, Wesleyans, Presbyterians, and others, if inclined, might agree to meet the wants of their various adherents by arranging a plan of services. The time required to visit Kuaotunu from Auckland is a serious difficulty. But life for a week in a fresh field, with grand hills, a glorious sea, a well-appointed hotel, and many kind hearts and hands to give the visibor a welcome, should be no mean temptation to engage in good work.

The eighth anniversary of the establishment of the Salvation Army in Auckland is now being celebrated by special se. vices in the local barracks, commencing yesterday and continuing till Tuesday, On Saturday evening Colonel Baiiey gave an address in the Army Barracks, Albert-street, to a large audience, in which he referred generally to the spread of Salvabion Army work in New Zealand. Several officers of bhe Army including Capt. Ilolloway and wife, arrived here this morning from the South unexpectedly. They were bound for Gisborue, but as their steamer, the Rotomahana, did not communicate . with the shore ab Poverby Bay, they were forced bo come on here. They" will in consequence be 'able to take part in to night's meeting. There will be a tea-meeting in connection with these services, and on the night following a meeting in St. George's Hall, with a view to taking steps to erect a new barracks for the Army in Newton.