REV. HEPA TAEPA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 December 1939, Page 9

REV. HEPA TAEPA

WELCOMED IN MASTERTON BY CHURCH OF ENGLAND CONGREGATION. PRESENTATION OF MOTOR CAR. Last night, following the evening service, the congregation of St Matthew’s Church adourned to the Parish Hall where a very happy function took place. Mr J. Ninnes, people’s churchwarden, extended a welcome to the Rev Hepa Taepa. They were (he said) proud to have a Maori clergyman as a member of the staff. He had already endeared himself to all. In fact they wanted to give tangible expression to their interest and sympathy in the Maori work, and so he asked Mr Taepa to accept a small car from parishioners of St Matthew’s Church to enable him to get about his district and assured him of the prayers of all parishioners in his important duties. The Rev Hepa Taepa. on rising to reply, was greeted with long and prolonged applause. He spoke of the kindness he had received on every hand and said that not only he but all the Maori people would feel deeply such kindness. It would never be forgotten and for his part he would try to repay by giving of his best in the service to which God had called him.