THE CATHOLIC CENTENARY

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22347, 10 March 1938, Page 12

THE CATHOLIC CENTENARY

. » COMMEMORATION OF FIRST % MASS SCENES AT HOKIANGA GREAT MAORI ASSEMBLY

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KOHUKOHU, March 9. High on a bluff overlooking the camp .t Totara Point Hokianga, where Lusands of natives andipakeha assembled at the celebration of the centenary of the R° man „ f Church in the north, candles _ were lighted this morning on the missionary altar of Bishop Pompalher. The mist lay all round and the dawn was just breaking over the hills revealing a scene of splendour, but there at the altar, 'a Mill Hill Maori missioner was celebrating Mass. It was the opening scene of the day when the Apostolic Delegate, Archbishop Panico, landed at the point, re-enacting the drama of a century ago, when the first Roman Catholic mission, led by Bishop Pompallier, landed at the same spot, and the first Mass in New Zealand was said. All through the night koreros had been in progress, the elders of the various tribes extending from North Cape to Auckland speaking at length on the past heroes and past days of the mission. Now all was activity about the cooking pits, and in the dining marquee was bustle as the Ngapuhi hosts prepared for the day of days. More than 2000 visitors, pakeha and Maori, arrived during the early hours, the huge city transport passenger buses traversing one-way country roads and bringing visitors to the most inaccessible part of the northland. Traffic problems were numerous, but full preparations had been made by the Trans-r port Department, and the least possible difficulty was experienced for visitors • from the south, but the long journey was well worth while. Arrival of Apostolic Delegate In the exquisite setting of bush-clad hills, and the sunlit waters of Hokianga, the Maori camp presented an enlivening scene. When the "all clear" signal was given from camp, the official party, headed by the Apostolic Delegate, left Rawene, and as soon as the launch was discernible the Maoris assembled in strength on the hallowed hills of the point, and the wailing cries of the wahines heralded the party. With the traditional welcome repeated continuously, the scene at the landing had all the elements of romance. As the feet of the Apostolic Delegate touched the soil four southern chiefs and iour wahines advanced to greet the Apostolic Delegate. The Maori custom was not fully observed. There were no hakas and no rubbing of noses, but the piu piu and mat-clad warriors and women, with gesture and symbolic posture, waving meres and taiahas, added a picturesque note. As the apostolic party, in purple and full advanced up the hill, the assemblage of Maori women, still waving green twigs, and still crying "Haeremai ra," parted, and between the two lines Archbishop Panico, smiling and bowing, reached the crown of the hill where was erected the memorial plinth that was to be the scene of the Mass.

Here the native greeting ended and the church ceremony began. Met by a cross-oearer and soutane-clad priests, the Archbishop was led to the vesting tent behind the altar, and shortly afterwards the procession emerged again.

Choir of Maori Children

The scene now centred round the .altar, where Bishop Brodie, the first New Zealand-born Bishop, celebrated the Centenary Mass. To the colour ox ancient ritual was added a unique note —a Maori choir of 240 children from the Napier and Northland Convents singing unaccompanied the Gregorian Mass.

It was a most impressive spectacle. Extending far into the maere meeting ground, and far across the liill, the huge assemblage knelt reverently and joined in the responses. Now came a further ceremony. From the altar at the conclusion of Mass Archbishop Panico was led to the plinth, which was unveiled amid a tremendous ovation. Then the voice of the new representative of the Pope was heard in a short address dealing with, the significance of the occasion. This, toe, was dealt with in the now revealed bilingual inspection: "In grateful acknowledgement to God Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, for the blessing of the Roman Catholic faith, brought to New Zealand by the Rt. Rev. John Baptist Pompallier, Vicar Apostolic of Western Oceania, and of his offering the first Mass in the land on this site in the house of Thomas and Mary Poynton, January 13, 1838." V/ith this religious aspect the ceremonial ended, but still to come was the continuation of the hui, which reached a climax in the late afternoon when the various tribal leaders extended to the Apostolic Delegate ceremonial greetings and addresses.