MAORIS BID FAREWELL

Chronicle (Levin), 12 August 1946, Page 2

MAORIS BID FAREWELL

Bishop Aid Mrs. Hoiland PRESENTATIONS AT OTAKI Yesterday • saw a memorable gathfering at Otaki Avhen Maoris from all the pastorates in the Wellington diocese assembled to bid farewell to the Bishop of Wellington, the Rt. Rev. H. St. Barbe, Hoiland, who is leaving in the near t'uture ' for England. Service at Rangiatea Rangiatea, 'the historic Maori Church, was more than comfortaoly filied at 11 a.m., at wnich the Bisnop, attended by -the Rev. Honepa Taepa,. as chaplain, preached the sermon. Among those present were the Prime Minister, Mr. Fraser, as Acting Native Minister, the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr. C. F. and Dr. Atmore), the Bishop of Aotearoa (Rt. Rev. F. A. Bennett), who was attended by Rev, P. Kokiri, of Wanganui, the vicar of Rangiatea (Rev. Paora Temuera), Rev. Manu Bennett and the vicar of All, Saints' Church, Otaki (Canon H. K. Fry).: in the. congregation there were piany visitors from various paris of New .Zealand. " The hymns and prayers were appropriate to the occasion, and. were in. Maori and Engiish, while the singing was provided by the Manawacu-Ra'ngitiKei Maori pastorate choi-r.'- The organists were Mrs. Te Hana and Miss Weno Tahiwi. The first lesson was read in Maori by Mr. Taepa, and the second in Engiish by Mr. Bennett. During the course of a most interesting sermon taken from Isaiah 30, verse 21, Bishop Hollapd said that ten vears ago he had taken as his text, "I beseech ye to walk worthily," which could not have been better ehosen. ■ A" little more than 100 years ago they had been walking in darkness, and then light had broken iii on the darkness. Ten years ago he had preached his first sermon and had laid stress on the jexperience of Christian life spent lin connection with both Maori and : European. Itj was with regret that Ihe could not stay to take part in the coming centenary celebrations. In mentioning this he spoke of the fine work done by Bishop Hadfield, who had carried 011 after the erection of the church, which had been built nearly 100 years ago. . He spoke of the interest taken in Christianity/'of the work accomplished, and of the work still to be carried out; Bishop Holla)ndfvoi&ecT the hope that. they would con'tinue to work- for God, - and they could rest .assured that God would walk be§id^ them. r# - 4 At the Marae' After the service' an adjournment was made.To the marae, where a large numbers of Maoris had con.gregated tq give a fitting reception to the visitors on t'heir entrance. The welcome was a hearty oue, after which Mr. Temuera stated that they had assembled that day to bid farewell to their beloved Bishop and Mrs. Hoiland. Mr. Kipa Royal, 011 behalf .of the Maori people of the whole of the district, from Wellington to Taranaki, said they had met to greet the Prime Minister, and to take part in the farewell ceremony to Bishop and Mrs. Hoiland, whom they regretted were leaving New Zealand. The Bishop, he said, had performed good work, both for Maori and Pakeha, and now the time had come to say, "Fare thee well, fare thee well." Mr. Royal, in speaking of the coming centennial celebrations, expressed regret that Bishop and Mrs. Hoiland ■ — : — -j

- --- j might be absent from the' func- ' tions. ivir. Rota Jones acted as inter- ! preter. • ; 1 Bishop Bennett expressed thanks i to Bishop Hoiland lor nis heip aij all times, and at the same time 1 gave a welcome to the Prime Min- 1 lster. Both had taken a keen 1 interest in the Maori race, as well as the Pakeha, and it was pleasing to know that they had met the Maori people in many parts of New ' Zealand. He assured both Bishop Hoiland and the Prime Minister that .they would never be f orgotten. for their fine services 10 the Maori' people. They certainly had shown great -interest. Their interest had 1 also exten'ded to the Maori children. who had been given every encouragement in the rorni of education. The Maoris appreciated this. In d ealing with ihe cathedral, Bishop Bennett spoke of the splendid work ' accomplished by Bishop Hoiland, and hoped that later when the cathedral was ■ built Bishop and 'Mrs. Hoiland would be present. ■ > - . The Mayor, Mr. _ Atmore, in exTgndiiig a:"waiiti Weltbifie "on-- behalf ; of the Borough of Otaki, said that j it was not often that thev had the privilege of greeting two so distinguished guests at the one and the same time as the Prime Minister and the Bishop of Wellington. He s-miiingly offered his congratu- ' lations to the Prime Minisier on the excellency of the company he kept, and suggested that had the Leader of the Opposition been preseni also, there wouid then liave been present a perfect earthly trinity, and all would have said, i ''Behold, there are definite signs of the apnroach of the millemum." He assoclated himself with the sentiments so eloquently expressed bv his Maori friends, and added that the peopie of Otaki were genuinely sorry at the pending departure from New Zealand of their Bishop. By his spiritual guidance, by his keen interest in, ana Suppori 01', everv movement for the welfare of the people, and by his friendliness and heip, he had made a lasting impression 011 the members of his diocese. His strenuous work during the ten years of his episcopacy, including the six years of the World War, had taken a toi! on his health and strength, and .made it neces'sary to seek some measure of relie'f. The Mayor concluded by wishing the Bishop and Mrs. Hoiland many long years of service and happiness in the church sphere, and added that if when they reached England their recollections of their associations with the people of New Zealand would give them as much pleasure as such recollections would always give to Ihe New Zealand people, then they would be very happy indeed. The Prime Minister stated' that he was very grateful for the reception given him, and he appreciated the invitation to be present at the farewell function to Bishop and Mrs. Hoiland. He also expressed thanks to Messrs. Royal and Atmore for their appreciative remarks. Mr.. Fraser spoke highly of . the Maori race, rnd especially of the sacri'iccs.. made during the war oeriod. The ' Maoris, he said, had given every assistance. He also thaiike'd Bishop • Bennett for his . remarks, ! and' then spoke most favourably of j the Maori people in general. He knew the race was one capable of j helping in the country's affairs. In j referring to Bishop Hollandi he ' stated that he had not only helped I the people of the Anglican f aith, I but had shown- enthusiasm for otker churches. He regarded Bishop Hoiland as a man of sincerity, one of experience, and one' with wide views, and he was sorry that New Zealand was about to lose him. He would, however, go to England knowing that he had the best wishes of the Native race, as* well as the European, and had the satislaction, therefore, of knowing that be was leaving behind many 1 friends. All regarded the Maori people with respect, and he knew what people on the other side of the world thought of them. He knew the feeling of Their Majesties

? towards them, and he hoped their Highnesses would at some future date be able to visit New Zealand. in conclusion, Mr. Fraser said he hoped that Bishop and Mrs. Hoiland would have a pleasant time overseas, and that the Bishop would be restored to good health, and be able to come back to New Zealand to take part in the centenary celebrations in connection with the Maori Church. Mr. Temuera, on behalf of the Maori people, then handed to Bishop Hoiland a lovely carved inkstand and to Mrs. Hoiland a carved occasional table. He expressed pleasure at the way Bishop Hoiland had treated his Maori people, and . thanked him for his ten years of assistance. He extended good wishes to the Bishop and Mrs. Hoiland. Bishop Hoiland warmly thanked all for their kind remarks, expressions of appreciation and gifts. The expressions by representatives of the Maori race were greatly appreciated, and he regretted leaving such fine people. He appreciated the good work of the Maori peopie, and the expressions of goodwili. The Maoris had indeed been good to them, and he knew that when he reached England he would be asked many questions regarding them, although many aiready knew of their heip during wartime. He said he hoped that the Maori people would continue to work for Christianity. In speaking of Mr. Temuera, Bishop Hoiland stated that he regarded him as one of his dearest friends, and would like to take him back to England. He thanked God that they had such a man among them. In conclusion, Bishop Hoiland stated that he would carry away very pleasant reeollections of his ten years' stay in New Zealand. May God bless you all, he added. The Maoris, in their usual generous style, -placed a dinner before the large number of visitors, the' dining hall being too small to accommodate all at one sitting. During the remainder of the afternoon the various Natives and others joined in renewing friendships. .