MAORI MISSION

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 243, 8 July 1921, Page 7

MAORI MISSION

REPORT TO DIOCESAN SYNOD. A report upqn. the operations of the Maori Mission during the -year ended March 31 lost has been presented by the Maori Mission Committee to the Wellington Diocesan Synod. The report states:— ' “Undoubtedly the most difficult portion ' <>f the dioceses is the Wairarapa. The Maoris in this district have always divided into, a Jiuniber of strange sects, of ’ which one is Mormonism, and claims a considerable percentage. Death also has claimed u terribly heavy toll of victims in tho 'Wairarapa during the past few years. On making a recent revision of tho rt'gister, with the help of the local Native assistant and the leading chief, I was amazed to find that there are only some twenty Church, of England families . left in the whole district, and these are scattered in five different centres. "The Native offerings towards the. stipends of their clergj* have again been small; tho balance-sheet only shows the sum of .£BO 12s. 6d. under thia head, though a further amount of about £l5 was collected, but not sent down in time. When we recall the fact that the Native staff is just half wiiat it was, nnd that one of those whom we lost was Katene;; when we realise also that the loss of Katene. Metera, and Paora, each of whom had a motor-cycle, has meant that the best provided centres, outside Putiki, Otaki, and Pipiriki, have a Sunday service now only once a quarter, whereas formerly practically ever*- place in the diocese had a service once a month, it is easy to account for the drop in the offertories. In addition to tho regular offerings, considerable sums have been raised bv the Natives for special objects. A further £9l was collected by them (o complete the cost of the Koriniti church, i making n total of £240 raised bj* the Natives themselves for this object during the past three years. The church was completed lost September, and is a credit to tho Native carpenters. The sum of £2O was subscribed by the Maoris at Putiki towards tho cost of timber and paint for repairing the Mission School, the work being carried out by themselves. "T7e have been very fortunate in procuring a truly missionary-hearted teacher, in the person of Miss Rutherford. to carry on the work of the Mission School at Putiki, whore we now have thirty-fivo children on roll. We are grateful for the help of Miss Lee, , who works in Otaki under the auspices of the C.M..V. It is hoped shortly to conduct a special mission in Otaki, the missioners being the Rev. Canon A. F. Williams and the,'Rev. Piri Monroe, who have been much used of God in this work jnTffo Yv'aiapu and Auckland dioceses.”