EARLY MISSION

Hokitika Guardian, 13 January 1930, Page 6

EARLY MISSION

CENTENARY OF ESTABLISHMENT

(By Telegraph—Press Association)

AUCKLAND, January 10..

An interesting link fi'ith the service to be held at Waimate North to celebrate the centenary of the founding of the Mission Station there, is provided by Mrs J. Stewart lteid, of Dilwortli avenue Remuera, who is a daughter of the Rev. James Hamlin, one of the first missionary workers. Mrs Reid will attend the centenary service, when a brass tablet to tbe memory o'f Mr Hamlin will be unveiled. One of the most important ceremonies in connection with the service will be the Unveiling of a lych-gate by Archbishop Averill, who will be accompanied by Bishop Bennett. Tbe gate will commemorate the founders of the Mission and Mr Hamlin’s name appears on this. Waimate North was selected as a Mission station by the Rev. Sameul Marsden in 1830, on his sixth visit to New Zealand. A block of land was purchased, and among those appointed to undertake its establishment was Mr Hamlin, the others being the Rev William Yate, and Messrs George Clarke and Richard Davis. Mr Hamlin, who was born in Somerset, England, in 1803, left England on August loth, 1820, and arrived in Sydney at the end of the year. The following March be continued his journey to New Zealand and arrived at the Bay of Islands on March 2oth 1826, settling at first at Iverikeri. Tn 1844 Mr Hamlin was admitted to Holy Orders by Bishop Selwyn, being ordained priest at Wairoa, Hawke’s Bay by Bishop Williams in 1863. He died three years later.