THE MAORI AND THE CHURCH.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1084, 24 March 1911, Page 6

THE MAORI AND THE CHURCH.

GREAT GATHERING AT WAIAPU, OFFERINGS TOTAL £742. (By T<£ogrA'ph.— Snccial Correspondent.) Tokomaru Bay, March 23. The triennial -Maori Synod of the diocese of Waiapu has just finished its sisMmi at Waiomatatini, tile headquarters ol' the Ngatiporau tribe, and tho chief settlement in tho Waiapu Valley from which the diocese received its name. Representatives from all parts of the diocese attended, and oil Sunday 1000-people were present. The necessary organisation for the reception and entertainment of the visitors were in I lie capable hands of tho Hon. A. T. Ngafa, and the success of this remarkable gathering is due mainly to his efforts. . A great welcome was given to the visitors in true Maori custom on Saturday afternoon. In tho evening the' great tribal meeting-house called I'orourangl held a congregation of GOO, while_ 200 nioro stood outside. The Bishop of Waiapu delivered a, stirring address, his remarks being interpreted by the Rev. I'. Bennett. Oil Sunday special services were held in the open-air, and in the evening addresses were delivered by Archdeacon Williams, (ho Revs. Goodyear, Wi Paraire, and Bennett, their respective subjects being "The Church," ''Practical Religion," "Spiritual Life," and "Temperance." A feature of this gathering the fine singing by four Maori choirs, the hymns' being, sung by each choir between the addresses. • On Monday morning the ineotings were opened with a special service for clergy and laity at 7 a.m. At 9 a.m. the offerings of each tribe were collected and amounted to the magnificent sum of ,£74:!. The Hon. Ngata handed over ,ESOO to the Bishop for the Hukarero Girls' School (which amount is to be subsidised £ for £ by Mr. J. N. 'Williams), and .£l5O to Archdeacon Williams towards the Manutuke Cliurcl; Fund, the balance going towards the e.cjenses of the gathering. On Tuesday the Synod , was continued till 10 P.m., thirty-six resolutions affecting the Maori portion of the Church beins tabled. Tho meeting dispersed on AYednesday. This is probably the largest Maori Church gathering for the last sixty years.