CORRESPONDENCE.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 569, 21 May 1913, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

Letters for publication, and articles for insertion, must be accompanied (not necessarily for publication), by the name of the writer, and, provided they are not offensive in any way, will be nublished as space permits. The Editor does tot identify himself with the opinions expressed ly correspondents, and accepts no responsibility or them.] CONGREGATIONAL UNION OF NEW ZEALAND. The Editor. Sir, —Your issue of the 14th has just reached me, and my attention has been drawn to a paragraph which announces that the Presbyterian Churcb, in answer to the oft-repeated invitation of the settlers has decided to start work in the Pio Pio district. _ The announcement, however, is prefaced by the explanation that a desire to refrain from over-lapping has moved the Presbtyerian Church to confine its work, up to the present, to Te Kuiti. It is further explained that one of the Free Churches has been doing the work in the Pio Pio district, and that it is only because that church is abandoning the work that the Presby terians have filled the breach. May I crave your indulgence to explain that the Congregational Union of New Zealand has been doing the work in Pio Pio for some yearß now first under the Rev. Robert Mitchell, and latterly under theßevs. T. W. Potts and J. G. Gibson. A vacancy occurring in the charge at Pio Pio, some little delay occurred in arranging for the continui ance of the work, but a deputation from the my Union visited the Pio Pio district some weeks ago, and met the settlers interested in the carrying on of church work there. The friends in the Pio Pio district 'asked us to send another man, promising to contribute generously towards his support, and to this appeal the Union gladly made an affirmative reply. A minister of magnificent promise has been engaged in England, by cable, and is now on his way out to take up the work at Pio Pio. The Congregational Union intends to prosecute the work in the King Country with unabated vigour, and it is as well that the residents of your district should know it officially at once. 'I am, etc., H. STEELE CRAIK, Chairman Executive Committee. Auckland, May 19th, 1913.