Kawhia Congregational Church.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 275, 7 September 1906, Page 3

Kawhia Congregational Church.

The following matters of local interest are taken from the New Zea land Congregational Union Home Mission News “Kawhia Mission. This is our newest Mission work. It was started by Rev. G. Carr as an out-station from Bn#! an about four years ago. He wont there, a distance of 80 miles, once a month during the summer. Three years ago Rov. R. Mitchell Came out from England, sent by the Colonial Missionary Society Bt the request of our Congregational Union, to take up tho work. The first thing was to get a church built. A situ was purchased and a very substantial building was erected, which was opened two years ago by Rev. J. Wilkins, of Auckland. Since then regular ervioes have been held morning and evening, and a Sunday School in the afternoon. Kawhia is one of the roadless districts, and until the past summer Mr Mitchell has been unable to open up work in the sur rounding settlements, but his now started services at three outstations, at two of which services are bold fortnightly, at the other occasionally. The population of the township is about 200 white people ; but in the whole district—about 40 miles x 40— nearly lODO people are settled. The special difficulty in this connection is the wide-spreading, deeply indented harbour, which makes communication most difficult. The district where many new settlers are going is on the south side. Three other districts, where services might be held, Mr Mitchell has not yet been able to reach. In the outstations opened up, his were the first religious services ever held there.”

“ Our Forward Movement.—ln response to our appeal for £2OO to enable us to render the help needed in the Raglan and Kawhia districts, our church a>t Timaru has more than fulfilled its promise and raised the sum of £5 10s. Canterbury District is trying to raise for this fund £25. Auckland will do better than the £76 promised previously.”