ARGENTINA.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2042, 20 November 1907, Page 2

ARGENTINA.

‘THE LAND OF TO-MORROW.”

Tliciro was a dirge jittGDdillco ab the. Baptist Tabernacle last overling, when tlhc Rev. R. F. Elder, of .tllieRegions Beyond Missionary Urnon, delivered a lecture on l the above sub-’ loot. The Rev. W. Grant presided. The Rev. Mr. Elder, who is a Now Zealander and a native of Oarnaru, iinislied 'bis theological situ dies _ m 1 x>ii(io 11, anidi has for tile past eight years acted las a missionary in the Argentina. Ko mastered the Spanish 'language, and. as he has tnavellled over nearly the whole, of the country he is qualified, _as few men are, to speak of the social, political, commercial, and religious life o-f New Zealand’s rital. The lecturer, who lias a fine stage piresence, and as a fluent’ and onlhured speaker, stated that ho had borrowed itlho title of his lecture, “Argentina,' the Land of To-morrow,” from a phrase used by Mir. Elihu Root, U.S. Secretary of State, .after a visit the latter bad pa,id to t'ho Argentina, lire lecture was illustnated by a fine series of lantern slides, tile machine being manipulated' by Mr. J, Robb. 'jibe lecturer stated that there was a. great destiny before the Argentine, which had now a population of five and a, bait millions, which was exactly that possessed by England. AW years ago and the United States 100 years ago. The United States bad oallled halt to the tide of emigration which had been pouring in of recent years, and 1 this was now being diverted to the Argentine, which bad vast undeveloped resources. Last year the Argentine exported 3,50U,000 carcases of frozen mutton and 100,900 tons' of beef. The country exports as much whealt as Canada, and Australia combined. Buenos Ayres, the capital, was a magnificent city, with the most modern and up-to-date improvements. It was tlie centre of thought of tlho country, and it was said tbit “when Buenos Ayres took snailf all Argentina sneezed.” It liad a. papulation of 1,019,000, which was twice as large as that o,f Melbourne and larger than the whole of New Zealand, the magnificent offices of the newspaper, La Preiusa, were shown. This paper, the lecturer stated, had a daily circulation of 70,000, and had a- dispensary in its buildings, where medicine was dispensed free to the poor of the oity, lecture rooms, ©to. This paper had correspondents in every_ European centre, and supplied its readers with more information than a,my of the London dailies. The beautifully laid out Plaza Mayo was shown, with its l'ovely gardens, fountains, and statuary. This lovely park is situated in the very centre of the oitiy, aind is its chief lung. The magnificent Avened'a de Mayo was described, in which no. building is allowed to be erected lower than 9DRt by municipal decree. A contrast to the-magnificence and wealth of the city was afforded by a graphic description of the convenbillios, where the poor are huddled together like sheep in single rooms. Some most ■•interesting scenes of country He

were depicted, tlie chief-df these being .gauebos gambling, branding ailves on- a oat-tl# estancia., and an immense stack of 500,000 sacks of wheat at Tres Arroyos railway station. The important centres of Las Flore©, Coronal Suarez, Tres Arroyos, and Tandil were interestingly described and their chief features of interest illustrated.

The Regions Beyond Missionary Union has a band of about 18 worker's, and their church now numbers about 180 people. Mr. Elder’s mission is to raise fund's to erect necessary buildings in Buenos Ayres. The reaponse.to tbo appeal for'funds was liberal at last night’s .collection. At the conclusion of the lecture, which was heartily enjoyed, by all present and attentively listened to throughout, the Rev. Mr. Grant moved a. hearty rote of thanks to Mr. Elder, who, in responding, warmly thanked Mr. Robb for his work at the lantern. Both votes