THE CHURCH AND THE BACKBLOCKS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 813, 10 May 1910, Page 5

THE CHURCH AND THE BACKBLOCKS.

Sir,—l have been reading a great deal lately in the papers about the "activity in the Church," in what a flourishing condition are the various parishes, and how they all thrive. I hear of concerts, bazaars, "at homes," "tea; fights," and even tableaux got up in aid of Church requirements; and doubtless these functions provide a good lining for the proverbial "hat." But J notio. that all this zeal and activity exist only in the cities, towns, and fat agricultural and fruit-growing districts, while the residents of the backblocks seem to be considered as a lost tribe, not worth hunting up. I have been a resident in the backblocks for (in my present place) _ some twelve months. During that period I have never seen a clergyman of any kind; certainly none have, ever visited these parts. I read of missions to heathens, and of eloquent sermons preached on behalf of our poor brethren abroad, but the poor benighted backblocker "at home is not considered worthy of consideration. There is quite a colony, of young men here, and'l regret .'to say they make no distinction between Sunday and Monday. Last Good Friday was devoted to shearing,' grass-seeding, and dipping, and just last Sunday was spent horse-breaking, packing in wire, etc., while one mild young man was busy at the But there is even a darker shado of' things existing. In another portion of .the block. are married couples and little ones; no school, either secular or Sunday, for these poor littlo chaps, who evidently may grow up regular Zulus for all the Church cares. Are we to wait for some foreign Power to send missionaries into the New Zealand backblocks to convert .our heathen? Yes, sir, it is a fact the parson is indeed a rara avis in these backblocks. We are far worse oft than our brethren' in Melanesia, who at least are well looked after.—l am, .etc., * ONE OF A FLOCK WITHOUT A SHEPHERD. May i, 1910.