PURANGI MAORI CHURCH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 8155, 12 July 1906, Page 2

PURANGI MAORI CHURCH.

New Plymouth people are plainly interested in the work of the Maori Mission now being conducted by the Anglican Church The Vcn.' the Archdeacon of Taranaki, Archdeacon Cole, is taking a very live interest in the work, and the speoial efforts now being put forward are having most beneficial results. There are now throe missionaries engaged. Mission houses exist at Urenui, lUhotu, and Purangi, the last-named having just been completed by Maori labor and dedicated for the worship of God, Last night n concert in aid of the furnishing fund of Wiis church was held in St. Mary's Church, New Plymouth, and was very well attended. The doors yielded noarly £5, and this was augmented by over £4 from the sale of a number of Maori kits sent in by the Purangi natives a» a contribution towards the funds. The A r ea, Archdeacon Cole gave a very interesting address on the progress of the Maori Mission. In concluding, he said it was his hope to make the mission self-supporting. The actual cost of the support of the missionaries was only £l7O per annum. Kov. F. Latter, priest in charge of the FiUroy portion of this parish', had kindly consented to become secretary and treasurer for the Maori mission here, and Miss Skinner and Mrs Webster still continue their good work of collecting for this work. " I commend this mission," he said, " and its agents to your sympathy and prayers. It is a noble work to maintain. It is to the interest of every man, woman, and child in Taranaki that the Maoris should become Christian and be civilised in the true meaiiing of that term, by practical, technical, and agricultural education and the gentle influence of Christian nurses, and thus be enabled to take their place shoulder to shoulder with their Pakeha brethren for tho development and welfare of this beautiful province of Taranaki."

The concert programme was a capital one, and the audienco was in a most appreciative mood. Miss St. Clair, of Wellington, the possessor of a rich contralto voice, was encored for each of her three numbers, as she deserved. Similar honor was conferred on Mr J. C. Summer for his humourous contn-. butions. Other contributors to the programme were Mrs Pope, Miss Taj* lor, Dr G. Home, Rev. P. Latter, Messrs C. A. Mallett, J. Taylor, and A. Cowie, The accompaniments were played by Mrs Pope, Mrs Latter, Miss Standiih and Miss Bayly.