SOUTH WESTLAND.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 October 1919, Page 4

SOUTH WESTLAND.

NEED FOR CHURCH EXTENSION. Christchurch, Oct 18 At the Diocesan Synod on Friday evening, the Rev C. E. Wilson, of Ross, made an eloquent appeal.tor a great forward movement in Westland, and moved, “ That.the Stands iug Committee be recommended to o-ive. earnest attention without delay to the needs of the Church in South Westland.” Mr Wilson said that the Westland portion, comprising 8000 square miles, was about one-third of the whole diocese, and his own cure, extended over an area of about 6000 square miles. He appealed to the Canterbury people to supply the funds to provide _ a church in Ruatapu, a sawmilling community of splendid people. A suitable building, already there, and situated on a freehold section which had been given for church purposes, could be secured for £IOO. The church at Ross, situated iu : a most inconvenient positiou, difficult of access for old people, was old and should be replaced by a new church, and the old building, used as a Sunday School. Moreover, a new vicarage was needed. Ross was going ahead fast with.,the development of sawmilling, and the work he had mentioned was absolutely necessary* It would take about /1600, which the people of the neighbourhood could not find. Unfess the Church was to languish, this work must be done. At Waitaha, a settler had promised three acies as soon as the Church was prepared to put up a building. At Hari Hati a parish hall was very necessary for the social life, of the place, as at present the only recreation the young men had was to get a keg from the hotel and to finish it. This was simply because there was absolutely 110 place for them to go. There were no picture shows, no travelling entertainments ever came, and a parish hall would be a boon. A storekeeper there had offered to give his billiard table, worth about T6O, if the hall was built. Some places, further south, he was able to visit verv rarely, and it was not rivht that the people there should be"without ministrations for three or four months at a time. At Jacob’s river there was work of a different type. The great majority of the populatiou were Maoris, who were very poor because their land, 8000 acres of the finest laud, was held on the communal system, and there was no security that they would be able to retain the result of their labours. Nearly all these Maoris were communicants, although they had not been confirmed because on account oi the state of the roads and rivers the Bishop had not been able to get there for 15 years. They had a great opportunity of commencing a great work at Hari Hari if they could get two clergy in there, and hold the country they were already in possession of. If they did not do it God would raise

up others who would, but why] should their Church uot do it ? It needed men and it needed money, but these should be found, and in time, say 50 years, if fresh cures were hived oft as the population increased, there should be eight or 'nine where now there was only one. Vi'hat he wanted the Synod to do was to tell the new Standing Committee that the field must be looked into, the opportunity must be seized, and the men and the. money must be found. He himself had had to give up the work temporarily on account of his health. Who would go in and carry on ? Whoever went, whether as his substitute or his assistant, should receive proper treatment. Mr F. D. Ferriman said he felt that the state of affairs in Westland was a reproach to the Church. His district had recently collected hi one month- for Church purposes by direct giving, and many of the Westland people could help with the money required. Still, he felt that Canterbury should help all it could. He seconded the motion. Archdeacon Ensor drew an analogy between the position of Canterbury in the early days and Westland now, and he felt that this question was a missionary one, and he would like to see a Canterbury. Association formed to develop Westland as Canterbury had been developed. The Rev Dr Holloway, of Hokitika, cordially supported Mr Wilson. On behalf of Westland he wished to thank the Canterbury people for the establishment of St Agnes Hostel in Hokitika, and for the work which the deaconesses' were doing. With regard to South Westland, he thought it should be regarded not as a parish in the ordinary sense of the term, but as a missionary district. His Lordship Bishop Julius said he felt the Church was being led of God in its work on the West Coast. Some of the best men in’the Church had served their apprenticeship on the West Coast. They had a unique opportunity tlrere. The people were waiting with open arms to receive them, and they should be prepared to do a big thing there. Two men should be placed at Hari Hari and another man at Ross. Means of communication had improved tremendously within the last ten years, and-that meant an everincreasing population. The Church should be ready for it. In answer to Mr Ferriman, Mr Wilson said the people were by no means idle on their own behalf. They raised annually towards stipend, and £BO for local needs, and the people at Hari Hari were eager to set to work to raise funds for theirmew buildings.