NATIVE ROW IN THE NORTH RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 281, 14 July 1888, Page 5

NATIVE ROW IN THE NORTH RELIGIOUS DIFFERENCES.

PROGRESS OF MORMONISM. Tjhiiik is a dispute here between two sec bions, or Hapus, of the Ngapuhi natives, about land near the Wai-tomo-tomo, near Whangarei, where a battle was fought in 1863 or '64. Both parties are camped near, and continue to hold foith in strong: language of a night by bho fire-right, bub il is not thought it will come to anything. The biaves are nearly all dead, or very much the worse for wear. It is pronosed,'by one of the parties, bo have the land passed thiough the Native Land Couit, and so ascertain the real owneis To this the others object. The weaker party have the advantage of a prophet — of what faith it would be dilhcult to lix— but it is a a mixture of the old liau-hau ritual and Judaism, with adabh of \\\c Maori Karakia. The Church of England or Episcopal have their followers amongst them, and the Roman Catholics also. The Saints of Utah, or JSlormon Church, have al-o a missionaiy about with the Maoris, who is trying, with very considerable success, to conveit them to the true church. He has cuculated a translation into their own language of one of his books. This I have not seen, but it is described as a statement; of the faith as held by the saints, in veiy indifferent Maori and bad giammar. This man moves about among&t the natives, and \\ hen he makes a convert, perform ■» the act ol baptism by immei&ion in a rivei or borne convenient water hole. This last rite of his church is very much to be approved of, especially if the dusky converts would use a bar of soap and rub themselves well. If the whole ciovvd would take to that, it would improve them immensely. — Whangarei Correspondent Auckland Star.