OPENING OF THE MAORI CHURCH AT THE ONUKU KAINGA.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 176, 26 March 1878, Page 2

OPENING OF THE MAORI CHURCH AT THE ONUKU KAINGA.

Thursday last was a gala day with our Maori friends at the Kainga. For some. time past strenuous efforts had been made by them to procure a place of worship of their own. These efforts have at length been crowned with success, and Thursday was fixed upon for the ceremony of opening the church with Divine Service. The natives having intimated that they would welcome visitors, and the weather being highly propitious, a large number of Europeans availed themselves of the invitation, and the steam launch and several sailing boats were engaged from about half-past nine in running from Akaroa jetty to the spot. The acene was most picturesque and delightful. On the right of ■ the valley, looking iandwards, stands the church —a pretty little structure, well finished and completely seated—peeping out from a background of bush. On the other side of a creek which finds its way down the centre of the valley stands the house devoted to "korero," which was appropriated to the accommodation of the native visitors from a distance. In this enclosure had been erected two booths for the entertainment of visitors—one for the Pakehas and one for the Maoris. At about ten o'clock an interesting and characteristic ceremony took place. In front of the visitors' whare already mentioned was arranged an immense stack of provisions, amongst which we noticed half a bullock, several sheep and pigs (whole), a large quantity of flour, potatoes, &c, while such luxuries as tobacco, tea, and sugar were not forgotten, and a ten-pound note crowned the edifice.

A half-caste, George Robinson, then took his station behind these good things, and addressed the native visitors, naming each place from which they had come, which, to our surprise, included not merely the neighboring settlements, but the Chatham Islands, some places in the North Island, Otago, and the Bluff. He gave each and all a hearty welcome, thanked them for their visit, and, in the name of the Kainga they were visiting, presented them with the good things before him. After his retirement, there appeared from within the whare an elderly gentleman of venerable aspect, who, it appeared, was the spokesman of the Maoris from Little River, Port Levy, and neighboring settlements. He thanked his honorable friend opposite for the liberality evinced by their hosts, but, in the name of his constituents, begged leave to decline the proffered gifts. They would prefer that the whole should be handed

over to those who had come from a greater distance, as the North Island, Otago, &c. Motion evidently carried unanimously, amid sounds from within equivalent to " Hear, hear !" and " Bravo !"

By the time this amicable discusssion had terminated, a large number of European visitors had arrived, and the whole valley assumed quite a lively aspect. On the left of this valley, by the way, is about the finest bit of virgin bush left anywhere in the neighbourhood of Akaroa. Peninsular residents are, perhaps, too well used to these beautiful little bits to appreciate them thoroughly, but those from a distance were loud in their expressions of admiration, in spite of the depreciatory remark of one gentleman (evidently not aesthetic) who observed that the timber therein was " no good." Shortly after twelve o'clock the ceremony of the day commenced. The church was well filled by a congregation composed entirely of natives. They appeared to join heartily and intelligently in the services, uttering the responses in a kind of chant which had a very fine effect, as the tones now swelled into a volume of sound, and anon died away in a sort of minor wail. The service commenced by the Rev. Te Koti (Wesleyan minister of Rapaki) giving out a hymn which was sung by the whole congregation. The Revs. P C Anderson and G. P. Mutu read the Church of England service, the. lessons being, read by the Rev. Te Koti. An eloquent sermon was preached by the Rev. J. W. Stack, after which the' Rev. Mr Anderson proceeded to administer the Lord's Supper, assisted by the Rev. Mr Mutu. The services were conducted in the Maori language throughout, the offertory amounted to upwards of £4. A luncheon followed and all visitors were made welcome. At the conclusion of the luncheon the Rev. Mr Stack explained to the European visitors that as, through want of room, they had been prevented from attending the service in the church, an opportunity of aiding their native hosts to discharge a debt on the church would now be given them. This appeal was promptly responded to and more than £3 was collected. A pleasant day was spent, and the Onuku natives are to be congratulated on the opening of their church.