Memorials of the Past.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXI, Issue 8833, 13 July 1905, Page 1

Memorials of the Past.

Under the above title tho late Rev. A. I 1!. Todd wrote a series of reminiscences covering pretty nearly the whole of the years of liis ministerial labors. These are being published in the Outlook, the last number of which deals with records of .Mr Todd's early experiences in Oamaru. We quota these portions : At the close of the Synod in January. 1869, l)r Stuart proposed that the Moderator be appointed to preach for a month m tit-. Paul's, Oamaru, which was then vacant, and in an unsettled state. As 1 tilled the office of Moderator that year. I went north to fulfil the appointment, not knowing the things that might- befall iiik there. At- tho end of the month 1 received unanimous call to be the, minister of Si. Paul's. It was a great wrench lo 1.-iave Tokomairiro, but a sense of duty constrained me to accept the call, and on May 12 I was inducted into the charge, and I never regretted the step then taken ; and I never forgot- the words in the induction charge spoken by Mr Will—"Let your aim be to lead a Christian life, and thus commend the truth to your fellowmen.''

Oamaru was then a small town, containing a little more than 2000 inhabitants. There was no breakwater for vessels to lie

in safety at. The passengers from steamers and sailing vessels were landed in surf boats, and had often to walk on a plant; from the boat to the shore, or be carried by the boatmen. There were then no railways leading to and from the town. There was only one schoolroom, situated in Greta street, and one schoolmaster. There were four congregations—Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Wesleyan, and Roman Catholic. St. Paul's was the mother church of the Presbyterian congregations in the connlry dislriets round. My parish then included the Waiareka district and the Waitaki up to Omarama and Betunore. These districts I visited at- regular intervals, and held service and organised committees. Everywhere I was kindly received and hospitably entertained by runholders, fanneris, and shepherds. And thesi visits I had reason to believe were not only appreciated, but were also made profitable to not a few.

The beautiful and fertile valley of the Waiareka was originally a part of the parish of Oamaru, and was under the pastoral charge of Mr Connor, while minister of St. Paul's from September, 1863, to June, 1868. During that period the inhabitants were few and far bet ween. They were accustomed to attend Divine service in Oamaru, and received occasional visits from the minister. A prayer meeting wns sometimes held in Mr HasseH's. Cave A'allev.

When I was inducted in St. Paul's. Waiareka was an out-station of (lie Church in Oamaru. From time to time I paid occasional visits, and hold meetings in Gave Valley House, in Mr Reid's kitchen or barn at Klderslie: in Mr Menlove's. Windsor Pari; : and Weston Schoolhouse, The fine mansions in the valley had not. been built, and the present road from Whilstone in and bv the mill had no!, been formed. The village of Enfield hail then no existence. The population was very sparse, and few could realise that the hills and valleys around would soon be under cultivation, and the railway whistle would soon resound through the valley. These early times were quiet and uneventful, but pleasant and happy. In 1873 I arranged to hold a monthly service on Sabbath afternoons at Weston Schoolhouse. In 1876 Waiarcka was formed into a ministerial charge bv the Synod, and in October, 1877, Mr Cameron was inducted as minister, when I ceased to have the superintendence of it. In 1870 the three stations of Awamoko, Papakaio, and Pukeuri were formed into a. sanctioned charge by the Synod, under the name of tile Lower Waitaki. For several years it was supplied by preachers under my superintendence, and in 1875 Mr Steven was ordained as pastor. Both before and after his settlement I made frequent visits tip the Waitaki, and the following may be regarded as a specimen of my journcyings and work on such occasions.

By appointment of the Presbytery of Oamaru, I visited the stations along the Waitaki River during the month of February, 1881, and held service at various places. I left Oamaru on a Friday afternoon, making the Waiareka manse my first halting-place. Thence I proceeded to Livingstone, via Ngapara, reaching my destination on Saturday evening. This village is situated oil undulating ground, and consists of about 20 houses, with a few in the neighborhood, inhabited chictly by miners. On Sabbath forenoon service was held in tho schoolhouse, which was filled with an attentive audience. In the absence of a settled minister, the schoolmaster conducts service, every Sabbath evening, and reads a sermon of some popular preacher. ITe also holds a Sabbath School in the afternoon, and thus helps on the good cause. From Livingstone T drove to "Ountroon in the afternoon—a distance of 10 miles—and „ preached in the schoolhouse, which was well filled. There were upwards of 60 persons assembled, some having driven or ridden several miles to bo present. Here, as at Livingstone, the schoolmaster holds a Sabbath School, and conducts service in the evening. Leaving Duntroon early next day, I proceeded to the Ivurow, visiting several settlers by tho way. The Government durng the past two years has opened up a part of the country near Kurow by selling the land on tho deferred-payment system. What was recently a single uncultivated plain is now an agricultural district, dotted over with houses. Tho railway line is finished as far as Kurow, and thus affords a means of transit for the grain. There is every probability that in a few years there will be a large population oil the land around. At Ivurow there is now a railway station, goods shed, and other buildings, and it is expected that a school will shortly bo established. I held a service at the. New Zealand and Australian Company's Station with the shepherds and others, and next day proceeded to Rugged Ridge, a station on the banks of the river, about 60 miles from Oamaru. Tho shepherds and workmen assembled in the evening, and listened to the Gospel preached in a humble hut. Thus far the weather had been hot and generally windy, but on the Tuesday night a welcome shower fell and refreshed the parched ground. This part of the country has a very rugged appearance, and hence the name Rugged Ridges, which is very appropriate. From this place to Omaram'n the road is rather hilly, and crosses the Almriri Pass.

Two years ago -I passed a small settlement of Maoris, who had taken possession of part of a run. Being very troublesome they were compelled to leave; and are now located near the mouth of the Waitaki.

At Omarama the shepherds had just returned from the hills, where they had been mustering during the two previous days. A meeting was held in the house of Mr Sutherland, when Divine service was conducted.

The next journey was a short one from Omarama to Benmore, through a plain somewhat similar to Tokomairiro, but surrounded by higher mountains. Occasionally this journey is rendered rather difficult when the River Ahuriri is high, as it has a swift current and a shifting ford. At this time of the year it is generally low, and was so when we crossed. Benmore Station is situated at the base of a hill, and commands a fine prospect of the country northward, with snowclad mountains in the distance. The shepherds here had just returned from the hills with a large drove of sheep, so that a good meeting was held in the evening with them, and the manager with his household. This was the furthest limit on our upward journey on this occasion, and on the following day we turned towards Oamnru again. I went a little off the route to visit n family located on a very solitary spot, and was pleased to see the interest taken by the mother in instructing and training her children. Halting for a little here and there by the way, we reached Rugged Ridges in the evening, and Kurow the following evening.

Next day being Sabbath, I held service in the forenoon on the verandah of the house at the company's station. In the afternoon I drove down to a settler's house and held a second service. By the way, I addressed a few harvest men resting beside a cart. Among them was an American

negro, who .saitl, at the close, the won!: spoken h;nl done him good—lie fell more philanthropic in his mind. Having preached to a good assemblage : of settlers in one of their houses ,'it Otiake. 1 drove on to Otekaike, the residence ol iho lion. Itobert Canipliell, where I liddressed a line audience in the even inn'. That was the last of the meetings held during this tour, and was a good termi nation to a series of very successful meetings, going and returning, it is to hehoped that a preacher will soon he settled in this important district. In the coun" of my visitation I reeei\cd contribution which will enahlo us to fence a part ni Die glebe at Duntroon. so that the preacher may have a paddock for tiis horse. ,Mh' get'her, 1 greatly enjoyed this visit. JOverywhcre 1 received a cordial wclroii" 1 . and sincerely pray that the l.ord of tin Harvest, may blcfcs the seed mhvii, :i'n speedily scud forth a laborer to occtipv the /icld. ,