A GOOD WORD.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 483, 25 June 1890, Page 2

A GOOD WORD.

TgOs the Gippslnnd Mercury : —“ A good many of our readers have been or are interested in the town of Broken Hill, which certainly bids fair to become one of the largest in Australia, despite the “boomers” in silver, for nothing apparentlj’can diminish the natural resources of the place, The Rev H. S, Buntipe, Presbyterian minister at Narande.ni, N.S.W, has been charged with the task of foundings Presbyterian charge there—a very important mission, and he has furnished some Bale friends with a very lively description of the place, which we are sure will be read with interest. He says : ‘This is a marvellous place, with a population estimated at between 17,000 and 22,000, and 65 hotels, yet a more orderly and better behaved town I never saw. No drunken men are to be seen or rows to be heard. A stranger has no idea of the size and importance of the place. We have one gas company in full working order, and two electric lighting companies are about to he formed, so light should shortly be very cheap, The climate at present is perfect, and I believe very healthy all through the year. There are two daily papers—one a morning, and one an evening, the latter particularly good Therearp in churches; Anglican, Roman Catholic, Congregational, Baptist, Primitive Methodist, Wesleyan, Bible Christian, Salvation Army, Plymouth Brethren, etc., and no>y,a Presbyterian. 1 think our church will be strongest of all. There is a class of highly cpltured musicians and a Liedertafel. Wift a large and enthusiastic congregation qnd a good choir, I think we shall get along. The buildings, especially the hotels and coffee palaces, are very good. Wberp I was staying is just iike Victoria Coffee Palace, Collins-streot, Melbourne, with every convenience and very moderate charges. One can get as many comforts here ns at the metropolitan cities- Of course there are thousands of small houses some canvas, some iron—but they are fast giving way to better structures. This town five years ago was not, and now it is! What will it be in ten years ? its growth at present is enormous, and is expected to reach 50,000, and will pot go back for many years, even if the worst h.ippeg, for the mines haye many ye: ts’ silver in sight at present without any more; and the probabilities are that in 10 or 15 years will rival Melbourne or Sydney.”