In the early days, the only means of communication with the West Coast was by sea, and the discomforts that travellers encountered were considerable; still as early as the year 1865 provision was made for man's religious and moral wants on the Coast. In that year the first Roman Catholic missionary was at work in Hokitika, where he established St. Mary's, the first Roman Catholic church on the Coast. Shortly after that, Anglican services were provided, under the auspices of the Right Rev, Dr. Harper, the first Bishop of Christchurch, and afterwards Primate of New Zealand, who travelled overland to the West Coast from Canterbury—a great undertaking in those days. Two years later the first Presbyterian church in Hokitika was opened, and St. Paul's Wesleyan church was erected in the year 1872. Since then, various other churches have been established in the province. A large number of smaller settlements have church buildings, and services are held in many other places.

All Saints Cuurch , Hokitika, is a fine wooden building in Fitzherbert Street, and has seat accommodation for about 300 persons. The church was thoroughly ronovated in 1882, when the walls were raised and other improvements effected. The altar, which is one of the finest on the West Coast, is handsomely carved, and was erected in commemoration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 1897. The church is tastefully finished throughout, and there is a fine manual organ. The Sunday school is attended by 120 scholars, who are in charge of thirteen teachers. The parish in cludes Arahura and Maori Pa.

Interior of All Saints' Church.

The Rev Henry George Hawkins was appointed Vicar of All Saints Church, Hokitika, in February, 1899. He was born in England, and subsequently went to Queensland, Australia. Prior to his present appointment, Mr. Hawkins was for five years vicar of Courtenay, Canterbury.

The Hokitika Charge of the Presbyterian Church was founded in the year 1866. Services were conducted by the Rev. J. Hall for about six months before the first resident minister (the Rev. J. Gow) was appointed. The distriet extends from the Teremakau river, in the north, to Jackson's Bay, in the south, and from the sea coast to the hills, and includes Ross and Kumara, where home missionaries are now in charge. The church in Stafford Street was opened on the first Sunday in February, 1867. It stands in two acres of ground, and is capable of seating 320 persons. There are two Sunday schools connected with the church, one of which is at Arahura. The church is a substantial wooden building, with a prominent spire. The manse is a convenient residence, and stands on part of the church site.

The Rev. William Douglas, M.A., Minister of the Presbyterian Church, in Hokitika, was born in Argyllshire, Scotland. He was educated at the Grammar School at Greenock, and graduated at the Glasgow University. Mr. Douglas afterwards came to New Zealand, and arrived at Port Chalmers on New Year's Day, 1874, by the ship “City of Dunedin.” He was appointed to the charge of Akaroa, Banks' Peninsula, and in the year 1881 received his present appointment.

The Hokitika Parish of the Roman Catholic Church extends from Arahura river on the north, to the Hokitika river on the south, and from the seaboard to the Central Alps. The principal church is known as St. Mary's, and is erected on part of a section of two and a quarter page 502 acres in extent, which fronts Stafford Street, Tancred Street, and Sewell Street. The building, which was erected in the year 1865, was probably the first church on the Coast, and it has accommodation for 400 persons. On the same section there is a primary school for boys, and also the presbytery. A large convent, conducted by the Sisters of Mercy, stands on a fine site on the corner of Stafford Street and Sewell Street, and is referred to in another article. The Very Rev. Dean Martin is priest in charge, and is assisted by the Rev. Father Paul Aubrey.

St. Paul's Methodist Church at Hokitika was erected in the year 1872, at a cost of £1200, on a site of two acres of land, with frontages to Tancred Street and Sewell Street. It has accommodation for 300 persons, and there is a fine pipe organ, and an excellent choir. The Sunday school has an attendance of about sixty children, under the charge of six teachers. The district includes Ross, Kanieri, Blue Spur, and Humphiey's. The church at Ross is under the charge of the minister at Hokitika. It is a wood and iron building with accommodation for about 120 persons. Services are held monthly. At Kanieri, where a small church was erected in the seventies, services are held every Sunday afternoon. At Kumara a home missionary is stationed, and the district is under the superintendence of the minister at Hokitika.

The Rev. William John Eliott was appointed to St. Paul's Methodist Church in Hokitika in 1904. He was born in 1866 in Waikato. Mr. Elliott was ordained in 1897, and prior to his present appointment was stationed in Wellington for three years.