THE MAORI BISHOP

Hokitika Guardian, 5 December 1928, Page 3

THE MAORI BISHOP

natives pay a tribute

HASTINGS. I Be. A

A large gathering of .Maoris in the North Island, includng Sir Apiraim Xgata. hoys from To Auto ( ollogo. girls from Hukurere School, as well a 3 visiting bishops and a number <>i pakohas assembled at Paki Pa.ki yesterday afternoon to pay a tribute to the Right Rev. F. Bennett, the new bishop of Aotearoa. Speeches were delivered by local and visiting chieftains. Sir Apirana Xgata, on behalf of the natives, thanked the General Synod for creating an assistant bishop to surorvLe the work anm-ngst the Maoris and said that in response the Maori p-ople would have to make good. I’he new bishop was faced with tremendous responsibilities, but with the goodwill and sunport of the Maori clergy and laity his work would be made much easier. He emphasised the Rmt the work of the Church must G ! ]f.‘ adapted to the needs of the Maori race while the fundamentals remained intact.

The Primate, in reply, sjiiu that it was well to learn to walk before be•dniting to run, hut he knew that some desired to see a step yet further lor\warcl. He hoped that if the present • ,; (’7cp r ’i'iinout was a success to establish a definitely Maori diocese, it would denend on how the Maoris hacked it up.