VISIT OF THE PRIMATE TO KUMARA.

Kumara Times, Issue 185, 8 May 1877, Page 2

VISIT OF THE PRIMATE TO KUMARA.

Last night His Lordship the Bishop Of Christchurch was entertained, at a concert, in the Theatre Hoyal, which was crowded'to excess. - The perform mers at the concert* were in every case, amateurs, and therefore their efforts should not he criticised by the rules as should those of professionals. Tlio programme was a Varied one, including songs of almost every type, from the height of sentiment to the depth of eccentricity, but the rules of good taste were sufficiently observed, even in songs of the last-named description. The ■ Misses Ferris possess good voices and are evidently accustomed to sing together. They were loudly applauded in all their songs. Mr Muir* head, besides having a powerful Voice and correct ear, has a keen sense of humour and a power of imitation of dialect which render his comic sin^in" o o most acceptable. Mr Morgan sang one song fairly. Mr T. Davidson made a gentlemanly ■** Captain dinks,” and Mr J. Jolly, an equally satisfactory “ My friend the Major.” Their encOt'e songs wore very effective. Mr Taylor lias a nice voice, and sang with feeling. MrJ. Williams was scarcely heard to advantage, as he was suffering from hoarseness, flis song was an extremely The accompaniments were but they showed a want of the vocalists in too many

cases. The concert was brought to an abrupt conclusion before the programme bud been gone through, by the announcement made by Mr Soddou that there was a house on fire in the MainStreet. At first there was a. disposition on the part of the audience to make a rush to the doors, but the consequences so foolish a proceeding were averted by the pnideoce of many who, whilst retaining their sente, c&lted on othete to do the same. The fact was that, before the announcement was publicly made, it had been whispered about in the theatre, and a large number had quietly withdraw 80 that When all became acquainted with the fact there WUS po necessity for any Confusion.

Daring the evening His Lordship addressed the audience to the following effect. He saw that his name had been put down On the programme for an address, but Im. fotfnd some difficulty in selecting a subject of general interest to speak Upon. Ho would congratulate them and thajfck them for being present, for it showed that they took an interest in the -church Which Was about to be built by the members of the Church of England. He hod not yet got over his surprise at what, he hod Been on his Visit to Itumnwu Haring the day he had traversed, what he believed was Sallied, the Lead as fat SS the path Would allow him to, gd. His surprise Was not merely at. the extent of the gold diggings but at their permanent character. Not ten months ago there Was not a building oh this place, now there was a large and flourishing township] ikely toextehd and to bo permanent, - He had had experience of the .goldfields of' New Zealand, but did not recollect one which had struck him as this had. The buildings Indicated that the inhabitants hadfouudgood reason to make up their minds; tb stay .on the spot. There were also good paths and roads.: The authorities 'had pursued a wise policy in making these. - The whom he thought capable of doing almost anything; yet required, tracks, toenable them to get about the country, and he (the bishop) would tell the authorities that they Would have to Country to enable the courage, energy and patience of the miners to obtain the gold from the bowels of tho earth. Not many months would elapse, he believed, before a much, larger extent of country would he found to be a gold field. It Was now twenty years since he landed in New Zealand. One of hia sons (not the Archdeacon) came to this part of the country With some Maoris, and went a considerable way down the coast. He recollected his son telling him how he had crossed the Hokitika, on a log pt wood, a Maori on one end and himself on* the.-. other. When in Hokitika the other day his son could .not'find the place where he had crossed, and he (the Bishop) was not surprised at that, for he never visited Hokitika but he found that the Hokitika had changed its course. HiS sott had been Unable td send a stone through th e branches, so dense was the forest, where now there Were fine roads and treasure not only of gold but of human beings, on land which at that time, would not have found him in food. In f&ct he had been obliged to live Upon eels and birds’ egg* It was one of the Wonders which must strikers person, having ex* pcrience of this coast—the Contrast there waß between : this and the other side of New .Zealand. Here, there was extensive bash, with coal and gold besides the timber, there were to be found broad level plains fit to produce corn in abundance and cattle. He thought the miners should work their way through to the other side, and so make a good way of coming across the country. (Laughter). No men have a larger amount of endurance, courage, patience, and fortitude than miners. They gained by these virtues something more than gold, for by them all the finer qualities of their characters were brought out, Everyone looked for gain, no doubt, but we should be careful not to make that the only object We bad in view,. but to look for something richer than the gold and silver of this world. He Was thafikful to see a school springing up here. It showed that the authorities were determined to

train the young in useful learning. He Was, however, especially interested in another object, one indeed for which he had Cotee.to Kumara. This‘was the building of a church in which those of his communion might worship the God of their fathers, and train up the young in their religion, and thus aid the general good of the whole. Community. This was really done by any denomination which tries to set before the people the truths of religiou, which kept up a sense of order and obedience to the law, so Characteristic of the Anglo-Saxdn race. The mining population were much more orderly than people at home gave, them credit for being: they had a very deep , sense of obedience to" the la# not only for the sake of the community but for their oWn, for they .knew that the greater portion of the happiness of the community and of individuals is bound up in this. He could call many of those present personal friends, for he recognised their faces, but he did not hesitate to call them all friends, because, their presence there proved that they Were friendly to the cause he had at heart. They knew that nO accident OoUld happen to any one, no Wife could be deprived of her hnsbattd, without the miners coming forward to-give the survivors what help and comfort they could* .He hoped that if they succeeded in building the church, they would Contribute to the comfort, and fix the good order and peace of the community in which their let was cast. He thanked them for listening to him so patiently. He was afraid he had found nO Subject of interest to them Upon which to speak, but rejoiced to see 80 many friends. He hoped to see them again soon,. When there Would CdiUe with him another, Who knew them better, the Archdeacon, and vfh.o wouldmake a point of visiting them. ■ It had been a great source of grief to the Archdeacon, that lie could not visit them On this occasion, hut the Sadie sense of duty which now prevented his coming, wilt: then briilg him here. (Cheers).

The: Revd. Mr PaSCoo, of Hokitika, also delivered ftn -eloquent address, Which Was loudly applauded-