LINK WITH EARLY MISSIONS

Hawera Star, Volume LII, 3 September 1932, Page 5

LINK WITH EARLY MISSIONS

MISS MARIANNE WILLIAMS DIES. PIONEER DAYS IN POVERTY BAY. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) NAPIER, Sept. 2. Miss Marianne Williams, aged 89, the last surviving child of the first Bishop of Waiapu, died at Napier to-day. Miss Williams was born on August 22, 1843, at Kaupapa, near Manutuke, Poverty Bay, where hdr father had the first mission station in the district. At that time the population of the eastern part of the island was almost entirely Maoris, and when the diocese of Waiapu was formed in 1858 if consisted of the portion of the Auckland province to the east- of the 176th meridian. The synod of the diocese was a Maori one, the only Europeans sitting on it being the bishop and his son, who subsequently became bishop, and the Rev. E. B. Clarke.

Miss Williams then was thoroughly familiar with the Maori in his uncivilised state, and she witnessed the stirring scenes of the Hauhau movement in 1865, which broke up the mission and l compelled the bishop to leave Poverty Bay. In 1868 the province of Hawke's Bay was added to the diocese cf Waiapu and the bishop took up his residence at Napier, building liis home, ' ‘ Huka, rorc,” on the hill looking eastward to sea, and there Miss Williams had her homo ever since. She saw Napier grow from its infancy. Miss Williams always, with her sisters, took a keen interest in the development of the Hukarere Maori Girls’ School, founded by her father, and in other church activities. She served for many years on ) the committee of the Hawke’s Bay ' Children’s Home, and though she had retired from active duty for some years she will bo much missed by many friends in Napier.