CANTERBURY BUSH MISSION.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1374, 11 July 1878, Page 3

CANTERBURY BUSH MISSION.

Tho annual meeting of the Bush Mission was held last evening, Mr W. H. Hargreaves in the chair. The report of the committee was read as follows : “ The committee of the Canterbury Bush Mission, in presenting this their third annual report to the subscribers and friends of the Mission, as well as to the public generally, desire to place on record tbeir thanksgiving to Almighty God for the encouragement

which a review of the missionary’s labors during the past year afford. “ The object which the Bush Mission has in view is to afford our fellow-colonists in tin’s provincial district who are living in loca lilies beyond the roach of regular ministerial oversight, occasional opportunities of public worship; also the visitation of isolated families for the purpose of reading the Scriptures and prayer, visiting the sick —in short, to do whatever, as the servant of God, the missionary may find to do among the distant and widely scattered settlors. “That the work thus allotted the missionary has been faithfully attended to the reports of his journies, in the opinion of your committee, clearly show. Religious services have been held not only on the Sabbath, but also on week-day evenings. Numerous families have been visited, and the sick ministered unto. Meetings have been held with shearers, men employed on public works, laborers on farms', and with employes of sawmill proprietors. The services rendered by the missionary have been generally appreciated and gratefully acknowledged. Your committee have been encouraged by the testimony borne by persons to the usefulness of the Mission, and amongst them by a lady, who in addition to her verbal testimony, forwarded a contribution to the fund. “ The need of an institution like the Bush Mission, in the opinion of your committee, is as great at the present time as it has ever been. The number of families settling down in localities far away from the centres of population goes on increasing. It is beyond the power of settled ministers to reach such, and but for the occasional visits of the bush missionary numbers of persons thus located would be unavoidably left destitute of any measure of spiritual oversight and care. “ In Mr Turvey, the missionary, your committee have unabated confidence. His suitability for the work they do not question. During the year he has labored to their entire satisfaction. His journeys have been long and trying, and sometimes, through the flooded state of the rivers, even dangerous. The committee desire to express their thankfulness to all who have by their hospitality to Mr Turvey, and in other ways, aided the Mission. “ The balance-sheet for the past year will compare favorably with that of any previous year. This is accouuted for, in part, by a few additional annual subscribers, but chiefly by some of the old subscribers doubling, and, in a few cases, even more than doubling their subscriptions. To Mr Packer, the treasurer, the Mission is greatly indebted for his pecuniary aid. What the committee really require for the efficient sustentation of the Mission is an increase of regular annual subscribers to the fund, and to such as share in the labors of the missionary, as well as to others interested in the spiritual welfare of our distant and straggling fellow-colonists, they beg earnestly to appeal for help. An institution like the Bush Mission, the committee venture to state ought to commend itself to the favorable consideration of Christians; and, favored as Canterbury is with a large measure of material prosperity, surely the Mission should not lack support. “ Since the above report was written (the annual meeting having lapsed, by reason of the non-attendance of subscribers), the present committee decided to continue the work of the Mission. The committee regret to announce that the missionary has been compelled to place his resignation in their hands, in consequence of ill-health. The balance now due to the treasurer is upwards of £69, and the committee urgently need subscriptions to defray this liability to the extent named. “ Subscriptions may be forwarded to the treasurer, Mr H. W. Packer, or to Mr T. Pillow, who is authorised to receive the same on behalf of the Mission.” W. H. Hahoeeaveß, President. The report was adopted on the motion of Mr Packer. Mr Hargreaves said that the missionary had made six journeys—three in the northern district, one in the south, and two in the peninsula. During these journeys he had travelled upwards of 2500 miles, and visited some 600 houses and places. In every he had been well received and requested to repeat his visit. Reports of each journey were in the hands of the secretary, and could be inspected by subscribers. The committee had received the resignation of the missionary with great regret, owing to the cause which had led to it, viz., ill-health. The meeting then adjourned.