Maoris Say Haere Ra To Bishop Bennett

Chronicle (Levin), 12 April 1948, Page 3

Maoris Say Haere Ra To Bishop Bennett

■ GISBORNE, April 11. The Bishop of Aotearoa, the Rt. Rev. P. W. Bennett, was given an informal farewell by elergy and laity, at the triennial meeting of the Native Church Roards of the Waiapu Diocese, on Saturday night. Bishop Bennett leaves shortly for London and Amsterdam to attend the Lambeth Conference and World Conference of Churches. Mr. Honi Ngata, brother of Sir Apirana, said the Maoris deeply appreciated the honour of Bishop Bennetts representation but they valued even more the work he was performing among his own people. Gifts of cash towards expenses of the Bishop 's trip, were _ made by the Maori delegati'ons and in acknowledging thein Bishop Bennett referred to contributions froin the Nelson, Wellington, Hawke 's Bay,- and Waiapu Dioceses totalling over £400. The additional latest gifts, including those from the Turanga Te Kaha diStrict, Wanganui and the Arawas, would be welcomed. The Synod adopted. a submission referring to the possibility of • a yacancy occurring in the Maori bishopric and expressed the desire that, in such an event, Bishop Bennett 's -shccessor should also be a meinber of the Maori race. - The Synod approved a proposal to re-establish Te Rau College in Gisborne for the training of students for the Maori Ministry, the proposal to be submitted to the'standing committee .for presentation to the Anglican °General Synod. The proposal was submitted by Sir Apirana Ngata, and the speakers indicated that the board of trustees held' approximately £1100 from the old in3titu'tion which was sold and removed some years ago and which would for ra the nucleus of a fund for the new iastitution. Synod recommended the board of trustees to appropriate £20,000 of which the Maoris would be expected to provide £5000, to extend the accommodation a't Te Aute College and Hukarere School," to take the maximum number of pupils which were fixed at 150 for Te Aute and 130 for Hukarere.