NEW ZEALAND'S RIVAL.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 11127, 16 November 1907, Page 6

NEW ZEALAND'S RIVAL.

Those who attend the lecture -by tlie Rev Robert Elder on Tuesday night m the Baptist Tabernacle are bound to have their interest greatly stimulated m the building of a new nation m what was so long styled "the neglected continent." At the conclusion of the lecture at Oamaru a few nights back the Rev D. Mclvor declared that it was the most interesting and instinctive lecture it had ever been his privilege to attend. In an interesting way (says a contemporary) Mr Elder deals with the historical, commercial and religious aspects of Argentine life. Even to those not greatly interested m these matters the study of the fine slides revealing the grandeur and material .prosperity of Buenos Ayres and other features of the country prove of compelling interest. Under the glow. of Mr Elder's words the vastness and fertility of the country grows upon one, and it is felt what a serious rival Argentine is to the great producing countries of the globe. I lie whole Republic covers an area larger than that of Great Britain, Germany, France, Spain, Italy,. Austria-Hungary, Belgium, Switzerland, andi Servia combined. British influence tells strongly m Argentine, notwithstanding tlie. great preponderance of Spanish and Italian m its population. Some men with British names were heroes m the fight for independence, and the first to attempt tlie evangelisation of Argentine after tne declaration of independence was James Thomson, the agent of tlie Britisih and Foreign Bible Society. He did a great work m founding Lancastrian schools. In Buenos Ayres thre were some . 100 schools, with 5000 pupils. Commercially, Argentina owes much to British influence. When exhausted by her fight for liberty, with empty coffers and almost bankrupt, she appealed to Europe for money. It was a British loan that saved her, and since that time nearly all the national loans and many provincial ones have been of British origin. It is not surprising, therefore, to be told that the gjreater part

of the 10,414 miles of railway m Argentine belong to British companies. The recital of -the Regions Be3 f ond M.U. reveals the splendid share gifted young New Zealanders arc taking m the enterprise. Mr Elder's piesent effort to build a new hall m Buenos Ayres is heartily commended by eminent men. Among his letters of commendation we notice the names of Sir Andrew Wingate, K.C.1.E., F. BT Meyer, 8.A., and Thomas Spurgoon.