HISTORIC OCCASION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 September 1938, Page 4

HISTORIC OCCASION

BIG GATHERING OF MAORIS. IMPORTANT PROBLEMS TO BE. CONSIDERED. (By Telegraph —Press Association.) HASTINGS, September 9. The historic marae at the Maori pa at Pakipaki was the scene of animation throughout today when visiting Maoris from as far afield as Taranaki arrived for a meeting organised' by the Catholic Maori Missiofi to consider the participation of Catholic Maoris in ■the National Eucharistic Congress at Wellington in February, 1940. The meeting will also consider problems relating to the social and educational .welfare of the Maori people. Arrangements for the meeting are being superintended by the Rev. Father J. Riordan, Superior of the Catholic Maori Mission, who is being assisted by Father J. Cullinaner Other members of the clergy attending the meeing are Father A. Venning, Superior of the Otaki mission; Father J. Durning, Otaki; Father J. Dynan, Superior of the Wanganui River and Taranaki mission; Father F. Wall, Wanganui; and Father D. Fouhy, Wanganui.

Attending the meeting are delegations of Maoris from Otaki, Foxton, Wanganui, Taranaki, the King Country, Dannevirke and Wairoa, as well as a large representation of Hawke’s Bay Maoris. All the visitors are expected to arrive by tonight except Sir ■Apirana Ngata, who was expected today, but was detained in Wellington by Parliamentary duties and will arrive tomorrow. The central feature of the meeting will be the celebration of Solemn High Mass in the open air on the marae on Sunday, which is expected to be attended by possibly a thousand Maoris and Europeans. The celebrant will be Father Burning,the deacon Father Wall, the sub-deacon Father Fouhy, and the master of ceremonies Father Cullinane. A sermon in Maori will be delivered by Father Venning. Visitors were welcomed today on behalf of Hawke’s Bay Maoris by Te Pohue Heemi, Waimarama Puhara, and Tehore Chadwick, of Pakipaki; Tuati Meha, of Waipawa; and Nikeera, of Waipatu. Replies on behalf of the visitors were made by Tonihi Te Ra, of the Ngati Raukawa tribe, and. Te Manihera Keremeneta, of Wanganui.