WESLEYAN HOME AND MAORI MISSIONS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXV, Issue 225, 20 October 1903, Page 2

WESLEYAN HOME AND MAORI MISSIONS.

The local services in connection with the obove missions were brought to a close last evening, when a public meeting was held in Whittley Hall. There vras an excellent attendance, which wasno doubt accounted for by the facttha" the preachers at the Sunday service? were to be the speakers at the meeting. Mr R. W, Nt al occupied the chair, and gave some interesting statistics concerning the work of the Mission. In tho Maori branch, there are employed 2 European Missionaries, 8 Maori ministers, 7 local preachers, and over 60 lay readers, Sunday school teachers, clas9 and prayer leaders. There are 1196 recognised as church members, 000 Sunday school scholars, 1200 members of Band of Hope, and 8000 adherents. At the Native School at Three Kings, Auckland, th. re are 30 youths receiving instruction. In connection with the work in outlying districts and back blocks, there are 28 home missionaries employed. The in tome of the fund for 1902 was £2721 and expenditure £2718. The deficit brought forward for the previous year now stands at £269, The ftev. R, Haddon gave a most interesting and eloquent addrefg. He described, in true Maori fashion, how his people had been neglected by the Government and the European people generally, and allowed to go their own way. They were indeed in the condition of children, They were looking for some one to lead and guide them into a better life, It was a greit work, but the paucity of labourers increased

the difficulties of the position, It was simply scratching the surface when a deeper and more thorough method of cultivation would give better results, He was glad to report that his woik on behalf of Temperance rtfo m had given him great encouragement. Mr Hsddon's address was lit up with flashes of humour, and the idiosyncrasy of the Maori in the . use of illustration and metaphor was manifest throughout. ' The Rev T, G. Hummond next addressed the meeting, reciting many incidents indicative of a change of feeling that wag coming over the Maori racs. He was hopeful that better days would come, and that the gospel of Jesus Ohrist would again assert its influence and power over the race. They

muse patiently work on, and wait until the Beed that bad been sown brought forth its harvest, The Rev J. N. Buttle moved a vote of thanks to the speakers for their services on Sunday and addresses that evening. A similar acknowledgment was givon to the chairman. A collection was taken up in aid of the fund, amounting to £2 15s 9d. The Sunday offdrtories were £lO I9s6d ; a donation of £1 was also given by a gentleman who was present at the SuDday evening service, and was so interested in j Mr Haddoii's address that he wished to put that feeling into practical shape. When the returns are complete from Sunday Schools and other sources, it jis expected that £3O will be raised by j the New Plymouth circuit towards this j worthy object. |