THE REV MR. CALDER ON NELSON.

Colonist, Volume III, Issue 262, 24 April 1860, Page 4

THE REV MR. CALDER ON NELSON.

(From the Some and Foreign Record of the Fret Church of Scotland-August Ist 1859.)

The following interesting letter is from the Rev. Mr. Calder. We rejoice in the hopeful spirit in which he labors, and id whicb^ he writes. Writing to Dr. Bonar of February 25, he says:— My state of feeling in regard to Nelson will be understood when I say, that had I again the appointment to this place in my offer, I would accept it with far more cordiality than I did when it was before offered me. There are here difficulties indeed, such as will be quite understood by those who know anything of colonial life. . . . We have here the same element of materialism to contend with from which the Church of Christ suffers so much in all the colonies; and ministers, and indeed all Christians, have here to struggle against a perpetual downward tendency in divine things. Still I have had in Nelson very much to encourage me. You are aware that I recognise the town and suburbs as my pastoral field, making such missionary visits to the country districts as I can reconcile with the primary duty of attending to the town. Other bodies are doing the utmost to strengthen their position in this capital of the province, and I have, since coming here, been acting as far as possible on the principle of concentration. Those districts which I can reach without being absent from my pulpit on Sabbutb are regularly visited, but tbe more outlying districts are visited more irregularly, as I cannot get to them except when supply is found for Nelson.

We have two services in town every Sabbath; we have also meeting in the church or Sabbathschool attended by upwards of seventy children, and superintended by myself. Once a month I preach at Richmond, a village about Beven miles from Nelson, in the afternoon, and ride back to Netson ig time for evening sermon. On Thursday ev«ning we have our congregational prayer-meeting in the church, at which we have an average attendance of from sixty to seventy. Our church which was considerably enlarged shortly before my-arrival, is felt to be again too small, and we are to meet next Week to have ifc enlarged. I think I am not going beyond the truth in saying, that the average attendance at the cburoh is double what it was on my arrival—is is right to add that the other congregations in town are also increasing. You will see that lam now occupying the manse, which I entered some months ago, and which is one of the most comfortable

houses in town. I should mention that I am now receiving from my congregation ,£3OO ayear and a manse.

The people in the country districts are widely scattered. One of our most hopeful dirtricts is that of Massacre Bay, distant from Nehon about sixty miles. I spent eight days there lately and found a considerably number of Scotch settlers, who will, I hope, be soon in a condition to call a minister. When at Massacre Bay, I had a perfect specimen of the New Zealand bush. Thus, in Nelson, there is very little to remind us that we are not at horne —things have here an 1859 look. Over at Massacre Bay I saw New Zealand as it exists in the imaginaion of many at home, and I very much enjoyed t. On the week-days I was engaged from dawn to dusk wading rivers and paddling canoes iv my search after my countrymen, and I ocrtainly never preached with more comfort than when on Sabbath, standing on the stump of a tree, I declared the message of salvation to an audienoe, most of whom had not heard a sermon for years. A strong desire was expressed in th« district for a stated ministry, and I hope tbat the increase of the population will soon warrant an application being sent to your committee.

Nelson is exactly the. place which you described it before I left Scotland. It is universally allowed to he the most pleasant residence of all the New Zealaad settlements. The agricultural resources of the province, except for pastoral purposes, are howevfr limited, arid the material prospects of Nelson depend on her minerals. Still the town is growing,in population and importance. ;Jt has recently become the port for the arrival and departure of the New Zealand and Australian mail steamers, and it is expected by mapy that it will soon become the seat of the general government, and the political capital of New Zealand.

A college is about to be erected here, with some funds which were secured for the province at its first start. The projected building will cost, I believe about .£BOOO, and endowments have beea formed for the teachers or professors. We have here what is called a " government scheme of education " —ita tendencies, however, are all against religion. We have suoceeded after a struggle in getting the Bible introduced into the schools in the town. Still we have some delightful Christian friends of various denominations. So far as my own observation and experience go, no field can be be more inviting than that whic'i is presented in this country —it is most gratifying to hear what progress our cause is making in Canterbury. Altogether, I belive in the Preseyterian Church of New Zealand, and hope that we will soon be better organised—the increased steamboat communication will greatly facilitate our movements.. The deoision of the Assembly in the division on the Australian Church has greatly gladdenned me. , I hope that Australia will have but one Presbyterian Church.