KUAOTUNU GOLDFIELD.

Auckland Star, Volume XXII, Issue 245, 15 October 1891, Page 2

KUAOTUNU GOLDFIELD.

NOTES BY THE REV. T. F.

ROBERTSON.

liiAVEJuetreturnedfromavisittoKuaotunu, and a few words about this youthful settlement may be interesting to your readers. It was pleasing to find a much more hope-' ful spirit pervading it at the present time than a few months ago. The substantial character of this goldfield seems, in spite of painful disappointments and losses, beyond dispute. It was stated at a public meeting I attended, on behalf of road improvement, that an outDut of upwards of 8,000 tons of ore and some 9,6000z of gold should be a fact sufficient, from the brief past history of the mines, to give hope and confidence for the future. Indeed, the sceptics of Auckland and elsewhere were informed bhab this goldfield was the moab hopeful in New Zealand. The growing public spirit of the place on behalf of needful progrees was cheering to a visitor. Thie spirit not only inspires the settlers to improve the rough roads by their own offorts, but stirs them up to demand more consideration from the Government. The roads to the mines and batteries in wet weather are most disheartening, sufficient to discourage the bravest hearts in their efforts to make the goldfield pfosoerous. Yefc, even wish roads cut up into"almost impassable ruts, the supply of coal and ore at present is sufficient to keep four batteries at work by night and day. If the mines we visited under the guidance of Mr Charles McDonald and Mr Jack Campbell — the Irene and Great Mercury—are a fair specimen of all, the supply of gold ore seeme almost inexhaustible. The Irene, like the Try Fluke and Great Mercury,. could keep a battery at work from its own supply of excellent ore. The visitor feels convinced that with larger enterprise and a cheaper and more perfect method of treating the abundant ore, this New Zealand goldfield must have a groat future before ib. In stating this conviction we have no personal interest beyond sympathy with many homeless workers, and a desire to see a public confidence in the settlement sufficient for its social, educational, and religious advancement. The day-school that now meets in the Hall, kindly granted for a time to the Auokland School Board, has been a success. The teacher all thab could be desired. I found forty-one scholars on the roll, and some children not yet in attendance. In order •to enforce attendance, ( and for other wise reasons to be fully given, the inhabitants feel that the time has come for the Board to form a school committee and provide a school suited to the growing wants of the community. They have requested me to lay this decision of a public meeting before the Board. I confess to a somewhat timid feeling in the matter, having no desiro to intermeddle with the duties of the School Board. I can only hope thab the Chairman and cleric, who showed much kindness and courtesy on the last occasion I approached them, may graciously forgive mo obeying the spontaneous request of the people of Kuaotunu.

It was cheering also to find, in spite of a passing hibch in arrangements, sufficiently referred to in public, the unibed committee for religious services working With excellent harmony and spirit. They have obtained a new, sweet-toned organ for £23. Of this sum £17 is paid, and tho balance can be eaeily and quickly found. This interesting addition to the services made the evening service the most successful for attendance that has yet been held. Though the roads were bad, about eighty, chiefly men, attended. The service in the afternoon ab the Greab Mercury wag attended by about 30. The morning service, from past Sunday habits, and I fear from| a ..bad-pre-paration in the case of too many on Saturday night, is the least successful. Even with rain and rough roads, 15 did not seem an encouraging number for one coming all the way from Auckland. Still, 1 should think, discounting those who attended all or two of the services, about 120 of the inhabitants of Kuaotunu attendnl public worship on Sunday. This s •, r, may be enough to strengthen Auck'...u Presbytery in its good resolution to join heartily in an undenominational arrangement, and may encourage ministers to visit this interesting settlement.. The Committee have added tho names of bhe managers of bhe Try Fluke and Greabj Mercury to their

number. So that in their sympathetic member, Mr Dewar, the Baptists are now represented in this Church Committee. I hope the Gongregationalists may soon find a representative; and that thi3 happY little unsectarian circle of Episcopalian, .Wesleyan, Primitive Mebhodist, Baptist, and Presbyterian worshippers—whether an old or new conception in church work—may become an example to many. Places like Coromahdel, Mercury Bay, the ti-reat Barrier, and others known and unknown to ua, might do well to follow the lead of Kuaotunu. Until the denominational churches and Christian worshippers everywhere awake to the urgent need of united patriotic effort, whafc hope can (there be to; supply the religious needs of isolated places and groups.of population? We are not so "harrow 'as 'to''suppose that all true life and religion are bound up with attendance at public worship. But we do see clearly that communities growing up under a neglect of divino ordinances, are preparing, side by side with our sectarian Christianity—so helpless and confusing—social, political, and religious problems for the future, truly alarming to every thoughtful patriot and Christian. But these we do not dwell upon now. "It is better to fight for the good than to rail at the ill." We hope for a brighter, time when Christian men everywhere will be ashamed of petty differences and sectarian selfishness in church worfc'j and freely' give their time and thought, and prayer and money to Christianise the nation in the spirit . of. Christ. Seeing it was the case of Kuaotunu that specially suggested an effort toward church co-oper-ation and union, your readers may kindly forgive a reference to the United Church Council. The duty is laid specially upon me to obtain statistics in regard to places without Christian ordinances, and places with too many unsuccessful agencies. Information from all quarters will be gratefully received. Bub I feel the suggestion of the Rev. Mr Lee must be faced by the Council. An agent musb be employed to visit the whole provincial district of Auckland, so as to lay the most careful and reliable statistics before the churches. This will require money, and it would be a great and cheering aid if Christians interested in a patriotic effort would kindly intimate their willingness to subscribe toward.it. The effort in connection with the Council, I may frankly say, apart from time and anxiety, has already cost ma upwards of £10, and I will aladly hand £5 to the treasurer, Mr Elkin, for tho purpose of sending, a Christian agent round the country to hold services and obtain statistics, if sympathetic readers would kindly, intimace subscriptions. With the money in hand the Council would be encouraged to go forward in this urgent practical work.— lam, etc., T. F. Robertson.