MISSIONER’S VISIT TO WELLINGTON

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 261, 31 July 1937, Page 13

MISSIONER’S VISIT TO WELLINGTON

Special Services To-morrow Special church services are to be conducted in Wellington to-morrow by the Rev. J. G. Laughton, superintendent of the Maori mission work of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand. He is a native of the Orkney Islands, who has spent practically the whole of his ministry among the Maori people. With Taupo as his centre, Mr. Laughton’s superintendence covers that area aud extends into the Bay of Plenty, northern Hawke’s Bay, and the King Country. 8o successfully has he won the confidence of the Maoris that he has received the i 'ognition of adoption among them, and iu the Urewera has been given the name of a head chief of high rank. Among other achievements, Mr. Laughton hqs prepared a service book in Maori for use in their public worship, in the administration of the sacraments, and at marriages and funerals. Mr. Laughton will conduct the morning service to-morrow in St. _ Gilles’s Church, Kilbirnie, and the evening service in St. John's Church, Willis Street. At the latter a special feature will be the presence of the Ngati-Poneke choir. This , choir, composed of Maori young men and women belonging to nearly every main tribe in New Zealand and residing in Web lington, is part of an interesting Maori youth movement. A large number of the young Maoris of to-day realise that if they are to make a worthy contribution to the citizenship of New Zealand, they uuist. retain their background, their language. their arts and crafts, and the best iu their history. Hence they have formed an association which operates through throe committees. The welfare committee, with Lady Pomare as tlw ihairman. provides help for Maoris who are inmates of hospitals and for those who are indigent. The sports committee conducts the Poneke tlirls’ Hockey Club, and the social mission committee endeavours to develop »dioir work, i religious aud secular, arts and crafts, and j all games appertaining to Maori social I life. The choir which will sing in St. Joint's to-morrow evening is a result of the work of this committee.