NORTHERN WAIROA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIV, Issue 5018, 15 December 1877, Page 3

NORTHERN WAIROA.

Dakgaville. — Improvements are being made in this place at rapid strides. Since my last the billiard-room has been finished, and is litted up with one of Allcock's best tables. The Foresters' Hall will be finished during the week. The Church building is progressing very well. The doctor's house is quite finished, and, as a building, creditable to the river. A good road and tramway is being made from the large wharf at the end of Hokianga Road.' l'he trees which Mr. Dargaville had planted here are growing remarkably well, aud bid fail- to beautify our pretty township. There are already here court house, native hostelry, lock-up, hall, hotel, stores, blacksmiths', bakers', butchers', boat-builders', carpenters', and other shops, bank, billiard room, bowling alley, &c. Mr. Dargaville is now getting erected a shop and dwelling for a tailor, also for a barber, a parsonage, a hospital, and a great many more (20) residences, and from the manner in which the streets are laid out, Mr. Dargaville fully shows that he intends that Dargaville will truly be a model town. — During the past week one of the bushmen met with an accident by having his leg broken. He was immediately brought down here, and' Dr. Norton at once set the fractured limb, and now the young mau lies in River View House, where he receives every kindness and possible aid. Dr. Norton reports it to be a simple fracture, and that it is progressing very favourably. Some four months since Mr. Dargaville started a hospital fund at and all the men who vi rl; in his various bushes hero subscribe to this fund Gd u week, on ■•.•'/rsiduration of which they receive all assistance and aid when sick. Fortunately this man is a subscriber to '.his hospital fund, and consequently now that he has met with this accident, the fund r.o which he ha= j aid in .some eight or •t'.ii shilling wili esliay all his doctor's fees, .medicines, 'jiedh.r.l eo; lforts, board and lodgiri ;, ,i'.d attendance, until he shall get well ngai:i, which altogether will be little short of £-0. This fund, therefore, does away with the subscription Jiut system. Before Mr. Dargaville started this fund, subscription list? were very common. Mr. Dargavilie's undertaking in connection with this w* 1 bs the erection of a hospital at Dargaville.—[Own Correspondent.]

AUCKLAND SUNDAY-SCHOOL UNION. The annnal meeting of members was held last evening, Mr. J. C. Firth in the chair.

The Skciietahy (Mr. Lyon) read the minutes of the previous annual meeting, which were confirmed.

The Chairman, in opening the proceedings, said : The passage of another year affords the opportunity of considering the work we have done during that period, just aa a traveller upon the highway when comes to a mile-post is able to note how far he has journeyed, and to reckon with some degree of certainty the distance which remains to be accomplished. We can see, also, that from small beginnings we have grown into a vigorous and rnosc useful institution. We are enabled, upon such occasions as this, to look back and consider whether we have made any mistakes— whether we have been careless, whether we have been over sanguine, or suffered ourselves to become hopeless in the face of difficulties. Such meetings also afford us the occasions to concentrate our aims and energies for a renewed effort during the coming year. They enable us to see whether our officers have been at their posts, and to estimate what amount of confidence may be placed in them for the future. With regard to our officers, I am sure I only express the general regret that is universally felt outside, as well aa among the friends of this institution, that on the present occasion we have, as we had at the last meeting, to record the cessation from work of one of the most valuable officers of the Auckland SundaySchool Union, namely, Mr. F. Battley, who had for many years devoted himself, though not in robust health, to the best interests of this institution, and through this institution to the welfare of the whole community. You all know how greatly he needed change of scene and air, but wherever he is he may be perfectly sure of being followed by the best wishes and earnest prayers for his welfare of every one of his fellow-workers. (Hear, hear.) In consequence of changes of this kind, the greater need is there of renewed strenuous efforts, for the work is constantly increasing. The duty of educating the youth of a country has been recognised as paramount both by the Imperial and Colonial Parliaments. At the same time it has been definitively settled that the State is not in the position to give religious education. It has also been affirmed that the day-schools are not the places in which religious education can be imparted. 1 think that a perfectly philosophical and perfectly correct conclusion to arrive at. That being settled, the question remains, who are to be the persons to impart religious instruction * The duty, no doubt, devolves on the parcuts of children, but where they are neglectful or incompetent, the miuister of religion or the Sun-day-school teacher is ready to stand in their place. In the presence of this relation to the young people of the community, the position of the Sunday-school teacher has become more important than it has been at any previous time. The Sunday-school has become, perhaps, the most important institution in this or in auy country. (Hear, hear.) I may give you a few figures. The number of schools in connection with the Auckland Union is now 120. There has been considerable increase in the staff of teachers, and also in the circulation of the valuable literature which the Union distributes all over the country. The amount received from schools for sale of literature this year has been £900 ; last year it was £70$ ; showing an increase of 20 per cent. The amount of indebtedness to the stock in depot this year amounts to £73G, or about £100 more than last year. The amount due to the parent society this year is £437 ; last year it was £340. Of the £120 which our friends were kind enough to lend without interest, nearly one-half has been repaid. Of course, it would be an advantage to have much more money. I doubt whether it would be an advantage to have much more than would be required, but I do not think there is much fear of this society or auy other society of the kind being in such a position. (Laughter and cheers.)

The Secretary read the report, from which we take the followiug particulars : — One Episcopalian school at .Napier had joined the Union during the year. The Presbyterian schools at Pokeno, Wairoa South, Hobsonville, Wavcrley, Ponsonby, Tauranga, Maketu, and Warliworth had joined the Union during the year. The YVesleyan schools at Paterangi and Ponsonby had also joined the Union. Also the undenominational schools at Upper Waiapu, Ormond, Wanganui, Waiuku and Masterton. The Episcopalian school at Otahuhn had withdrawn in order to join the Church of Eugland Union. The undenominational school at Kawakawa had also withdrawn. Mr. Wilcocks had accepted the office of depot secretary. Two teachers' conferences had beeu held during the year, at which papers were read by Mr. Moginie and Mr. W. Spragg.

On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr. Enoch \Y ood, the report was adopted.

The Treasurer read the following statement :—Debit: To balance from 1870, £17 149 3d ; collection at annual meeting, £3 14s 2d; Induutrial Exhibition, IS7G, £44 Is sd; panorama, £2 os; loans from friends (without interest), £20; cash received from schools, £900 12s G-.l ; subscriptions, £43 lSs. Total, £1032 5s 4d. Credit: By remittances to Home Union, £SO7 ; cash purchases in Auckland, £40 Is Sd ; rent and insurance, C 37 3s Gd ; printing and advertising, £23 14s Gd ; loans without interest repaid, £50 ; exchauge freight and depot expenses, £71 4s lid; cash io hand, £3 0s 9d. Total, £1032 5s 4d. Assets: Stock in depot, £73G Ss 3d ; furniture, £135 ; library, panorama, and exhibition material, £210 ; cash in hand, £3 0s Oil. Total, £10S4 12s 7d. Liabilities : Duo to Home Union, £437 9s 4d ; on loans (without interest), £S2 10s ;

to schools, for teachers' libraries, £10 ; sundry accounts, £8 lis 4d. Total, £f>3S 10s Sd. Balance in favour of the Union, £540 Is lid. Total, £10S4 12s 7d. ELECTION OF OFFTCKRS. The following gentlemen were elected for the ensuing year: President, J. 0. Firth, Esq. ; vice-presidents, Mr. J. Kllyetb and Mr. F. Battley ; treasurer, Mr. Totter ; canvasser, Mr. Longmore ; honorary secretaries, Messrs. Lyon and Wilcocks (the latter to have charge of the depot). A vote uf thanks was passed to the chairman. The proceedings were opened and concluded with devotional exercises.