WESLEYAN HOME MISSIONS.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1945, 23 December 1884, Page 2

WESLEYAN HOME MISSIONS.

, A Thh lle\&. ILiuiaki Paul and .T. Duke* have just concluded a very successful .series of Home Missionary meeting-^ in connection with the Wesleyan Church, The fivat was held at Whatawhata on the evening of December 2nd, Mr Skaateb presiding. There wab a good attendance. One very pleasing feature of the meeting was the number of Maoris present, together with their old and respected minister, Hatniora Ngaropi, a man who, by his loyalty in the ohuroh and Government, has rendered good xsrviooa to both, Miss Xweraon kindly presided at the organ, and a O'»l« lection, considerably in cidvance of last year's amount, was made. On Wednesday, December 17th, the deputation paid a visit to Tuhikaramea, and a most enthusiastic meeting was held in th» sohoolrooin, Considering the unfavourable weather, the attendance was very good, and the claim of the fund waa generally responded to. Mr Thomas Blackett, senr., was just at home in the chair, and he discharged its duties efficiently. A most enjoyable evening was spent. At Hukanui, a most successful Home Missionary meeting was held in the Hukanui If all, qii Thursday evening. It having been unnonnesd thai the l^ev. H.iuraki Paul would assi&t the na^ves turned out well, as out of the 150 present about 100 were Maoris, who throughout the evening behaved in a most orderly manner. Mr Cradock was unanimously voted to the chair, and introduced the Rev. J, D,ukes. who. read the report and explained tfte object of thp Hqine Mission. The Boy, Ifauraki Paul' $h.en' addressed the Maoris in their own language. Ifp gave a description of the meeting at Whafcii whatihoe after Tawhiao's return. He waa pleased to tell them that Tawlnao has determined to return to Christianity, as duriug «the twenty years during which the inissfojiaries have been banished, he has «eso Pff g99,4 ffisulfs froiji Hauhauisn and now wes fctjat Gifrjsti^njty Jjloije. means happiness and prosperity tft the Maoris. The Bey. Mr Paul then said a few words to the pakehas present, which were listened to with great attention. The Rev. J. Dukes then gave some very interesting parHcufars of the work in other parts. At a Scandinavian settlement between Napier and Wellington the psople, ttiough r vgry poor, have erected what the rev.gentleniai^

New Zealand." To lessen the coat the pastor had given weeks of personal work to the building, and his wife had herself done all tho painting, inside and out, and the result showed that house-painting may bo made one of the fine arts. After singing the evening hymn the meeting dispersed. During the evening the Maoris sang " Rock of Ages " in their own language with great feeling 1 . The collection amounted to £1 15s. The campaign for 1884 closed at Huntly, where a meeting was held in the schoolroom on Friday evening, the 19th, Mr J. Kaye in tho chair. Owing to counter attractions, the attendance was small. The deputation, however, were by no means dis coimiged, as it was the first meeting of the kind at Huntly, and the few present responded most liberally to the claims of tho fund. Mr Edwin Wright ably presided .'it the organ, and Mr John Wright sang in really good style, " The Secret of England.; Glow." Altogether the financial result in tho Hamilton circuit this year, on behalf of tho Home Mission Fund, is about 73 per cent. in advance of last year.