TARANAKI MISSIONARIES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2416, 23 March 1915, Page 6

TARANAKI MISSIONARIES

SPECIAL METHODIST SERVICES. (By Telegraph—PreßS Aesoclatlon.) New Plymouth, March 22. Yesterday, Sunday, was a day of special services throughout the Methodist Church in the Taranaki Province, due to the fact that seventy-live years ago missionary work in this area was begun by a Methodist minister, the Rev. Skevington, then located on the Waimate Plain, the first service being held at Waingongoro. A lew months later, January 14, 1841, to be exact, the Revs. Charles Creed and J. Waterhouee landed from the "Triton" by whaleboat at tho Sugar Loaves. With them came Mrs. Creed, the circumstantial account of whose landing describes lior as being carried ashore by seven Maori women. In a raupo building near the landing-place the first services were held, and yesterday's services fittingly celebrated this interesting anniversary. At the evening service at the Whiteley Memorial Church, tho Rev. A. IS. Chappell delivered a highly-interesting review of tho missionary achievements of the pioneer Methodist workers of this provinco, and paid n tribute to the Row Sauiuel Marsden and his friend the R-ev. Saiuuel Leigh, the first Wesley.™ missionary in New Zealand. Reference was al6o made to the murder by the Maoris of tho Rev. John Wliiteley. On Thursday of this week there will he a pilgrimage to the original landingplace.