MAORI MISSION.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 187, 2 May 1908, Page 11

MAORI MISSION.

• The R,ev; A. 0. Williams, Superintendentof the Ailglican Maori Mission for tho Wan- ■ gariui- district, gives some information! ,'in : the " Church' Chronicle" about the present". .' state of tlio Mission. ' There"has been a very, marked improvement in the Eangitikei and Otaki' districts in the, matter of church at- t tendance and increase in the number of lay. t readers, and considering, the . inadequacy of the staff,, tho Church has' every, reason to bo satisfied." We urgently need at .least A three more Maori clergy, arid. I do riot .know v how the work is.' to be carried on without thomand yet, with our .present small and, ; underpaid staff the year just ended has closed - with a largo deficit. The* large and important Rangitikei district, which, is as largo as Hawko's. Bay, is at present without a .it . Maori clergyman, and funds will not permit ,-r us to try and procure one, and'in this dis- . • trict Mormons and Plymouth Brethren are carrying on a vigorous crusade. -It is. easy, to.foretell what. tho result will be. now that . ■■>. we /have no man in. charge. : Surely one, is • >-, warranted in appealing for: a. largo incrcasb in subscriptions and contributions geriei ally; from, Church people, • for; a, glanco at tho fol--:' ■ lowing.'statistics' will prove . that, our puny . efforts arc not unsuccessful:—'Year ending March 31, 1907: Lay-reader's, 50; communi-.. cants, 1 369. ■ March 31, 190S: Lay-readers, 03; communicants, 434. -Maori contributions - to the Mission Fund, I am. sorry, to. say,: ro- ' * main about tho sanio .as last year, viz., £50.. •' ; r v Tho Mission in the Wanganui district, Mr. Williams concludes, , is. being asked : tovmako bricks .without clav. ' 1 "If the diocese- really cannot carry on the work:as it ouglit.to, bo . carricd; on, 'let us be honest arid say so, for, at present we are only playing at missionary, : . work." ■' '■•- - '■