HOME MISSIONS. WORK IN THE BACKBLOCKS.

Evening Post, Volume LXXV, Issue 32, 7 February 1908, Page 3

HOME MISSIONS. WORK IN THE BACKBLOCKS.

PROGRESSIVE TE KUITI. 1 The meeting of tho Congregational I Union last evening was devot«d to home I missions. Addresses wero given in tho ! Terrace Church by Rex s. C. E Davidson, of Kawhia, and R. Mitchell, of To Kuiti, bn their work in the backblocks. The former pave a mo&t interesting description of the congregations which ho had preached to at Kawhia. He had m his district Roman Catholics, Presbytcnans, Anglicans, and even Agnostics. Indeed, there weic some "queer sticks'' in Kawhia: Sometimes one felt elated to see a full congregation, and when he began to pat himself on his back his congregation dropped to zero The reason for this fail would be found, peTlnps, in belated ptuiio parties unable to get back from across the harbour, or iv an oveilong stay on the tennis ground. The population of Kawhia fluctuated considerably, ami iho town was — ho diil not say it offensively — a kind of dumping ground, being used by settlers who resided there while they weie clearing their holdings in the back country. Mr. Davidson drew a graphic picture of the hardships of the country minister, and of the attitude necessary for him to adopt in order to win the rough, but sterling, hearts of the dwellers in the bush. '•IS IT WORTH WHILE?" It might be asked, in reference to the hard work in the bush, Was it worth while? For answer he quoted the iiew church at Mangawae, where lie had begun work with congregations of rive, seven, or ten, and where theTe was now a congregation of over 70. He strongly counselled not ropioaching the bush people 'or working on Sundays, and doing other things opposed to Christianity. To do this would "get their backs up," but the ywere susceptible to Christian influences and Christian example. He gave encouraging instances of the doWre- of the country people for church sefvice3, and the readiness with which they were attended. He made an appeal for a small organ for his station at Ramoa. Hero there was only a little gathering, but it would be wtll by and by, because it would save the pfoco from drifting into godless indifference — 'which, alas! was characteristic of the life of the people in the bush, where there were no facilities for public worship. The burden of tho work was heavy, but there was One whose burden "was hoavic, and so hard as the labour was at times, and, apparently, discouraging, too, yet the workers went on, trusting, hoping, praying. He w as buoyed up by the conviction that thp results would in the future far exceed the most, sanguine expectations. THE KING COUNTRY. Rev. R. Mitchell, speaking as a pioneer, spoke of tho difficulties attendant of securing a rite ia a Te Kuiti township, where only native leases were obtainable. He got a site for £45 in November last, and had shve been offered £75 for it shortly afterwards, but he would not take £250 for it, for it would be very valuable one day, Lso much' had Te Kuiti progressed during the past few months, and ho was pleased to say that the church and land, although costing nearly £280, was now free from debt, and the congregations varied from seventy to one hundred ;n; n the evening. In the course of his description of his out-stations he said his farthest point was sixty-seven miles, and he held services in fourteen places, in addition to services in cottages. Therewas a large amount of territory still untouched, and he instanced the Ohura where there wero three hundred people who bad a service only once in six months. He had to refuse a request for services thero as his nands were already too full. Other places, miles from Te Kuiti (which was their only centre) needed services, and the question was who was go'wo; to supply them? Ho answered : The Congrpcrationalists. If the work was not started there would be that terrible indifference, not because the people were naturally irreligious, but because they had no opportunities of worship, and should those present point the finger of scorn at them ? Surely not. It was their duty to send a- man, and that soon. In relating his experiences of the bush, he said it took him on one occasion tea hours to get three miles and a half to the point from whence he had started to cross a river swollen by ths rain. LONP RIDES. He had ridden for some months 120 to 130 milas a week. Having some slight knowledge of medicine he had had to be doctor as well as minister at Te Kuiti, and had seen as many as twelve to fifteen patients a day. On© day ho worked from 1 a.m. to 11 p.m. A few of the fees, he was glad to say, that would have sone to the doctor went to the church. This medical knowledge had given him a hold over the people, which he hoped would be for the ulLimate good of the church. The population twelve months ago was three hundred, and in a fow months time it would be nine hundred to one thousand. The church would immediately demand regular services on every Sunday, and the question was who was going to do the back-blocks work? Two men could find employment in the church in Te Kuiti already, and not lessen his labours at all. Provision must be made for afc 'east one other missionary. He made strong appeal for inoro financial help. The musical portion of the services verc rendered by a united choir under the direction ct Mr. 11. Hunt.