BIG NATIVE GATHERING AT MOTUITI.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 3733, 22 December 1927, Page 2

BIG NATIVE GATHERING AT MOTUITI.

UNVEILING OP MEMORIAL,

TO LATE REV. 11. T. PAERATA

One of the largest gatherings of Natives that has been held on this coast for many years will take place at Motuiti pah during Christmas. The occasion is the unveiling ceremony of the tombstone erected to the memory of the late Rev. Tuturu Hone Teri Paerata, who died locally a couple of months ago, and who was buried in the Motuiti burial ground. Already Natives from all parts of the North Island arc assembling at the pah and by to-morrow they will number some hundreds, representatives of the Taranaki, King Country, Gisborne, Hawke’s Bay and Wairarapa tribes. On Saturday the monument will be unveiled by Sir Maui Pomore and Sir Apirana T. Ngata. The time-table drawn up for the assembly is as follows: Thursday, December 22nd: Ist bell 7.15 a.m., morning prayer; 2nd bell: 8.0 a.m._, breakfast; 3rd bell: 10.0 a.m.: conference; 4th bell: noon, lunch,"sth bell: 2.0 p.m.: conference; 6th bell: 5 p.m., tea; 7th bell: 7.30, evening prayers; Bth bell: S.O pan., entertainment. Friday, December 23rd: same.

Saturday, December 24th, at 10.30 a.m., a Confirmation service will be conducted by the Bishop of Wellington and at 8 pan. an open air ‘concert will be held.

Sunday, December 25th: Ist bell: 7.15 a.m.: morning prayers; 2nd bell: 8.0 a.m.: breakfast; 3rd bell: 10.30 a.m.: unveiling ceremony; 4th bell: noon, ’Xmas dinner; sth bell: 5.30 pan., tea; 6th bell: 8.0 pan., service; 7th bell: 8.30 pari., relaxation.

The service in connection with the unveiling ceremony will be as follows :

Hymn: “O God our Help in Ages Past,” Seriptual reading from II Timothy IV. 1—8; addresses by Canon W. G. Williams (Wanganui), and Rev. Pine Tainahori • (Gisborne); hymn: “For Ever with the Lord,” prayer and blessing, unveiling of tombstone and addresses by Sir Maui Pomare and Sir Apirana T. Ngata.