Fijians to be guests of Methodist mission

Press, Volume CXI, Issue 32666, 23 July 1971, Page 14

Fijians to be guests of Methodist mission

Arrangements have been made for 41 Fijian workers who have been employed by the North Canterbury Nassella Tussock Board to stay as a community for a few days in Friendship House, part of the Christchurch Methodist Central Mission’s headquarters.

The workers will finish their four-month period of employment with the board today and tomorrow will arrive at Friendship House, where they will stay until they depart for Fiji by ait next Wednesday. Tomorrow evening, a function has been arranged at the house to which representatives of the Methodist churches in North Canterbury have been invited. The Fijians will provide entertainment and demonstrate cultural activities through song and dance.

On Sunday, the men will share in both services at the mission and the Cambridge Terrace Methodist Church. Some of the Fijians are lay preachers

of the Methodist Church, and part of both services will be conducted by them in Fijian. The evening service at 7 p.m. will have a multi-racial character as the 64 youths from the Rehua Maori hostel will attend the service. The guest speaker will be a wellknown Maori leader, Dr Rina Moore, a psychiatrist, of Nelson. The service will be conducted by the Mission ministers, the Rev. W. E. Falkingham and E. Mackie.

On Sunday afternoon, if enough cars can be arranged, the Fijians will be taken on sightseeing tours in and round Christchurch.