RANGIOTU.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LI, Issue 120, 22 April 1931, Page 10

RANGIOTU.

[ (From Our Own Correspondent.) 1 RANGIOTU, April 20. I The forward step taken several yeais ago | lo appoint a Maori Bishop has been eori rectly considered to be a move in the right lircction, and the fruits of that appointnent are now much in evidence. Though .hoy had only got a suffragan bishop, possessing the right to enter any diocese, it was deemed quite sufficient at the present juncture, and would meet the needs of the Maori'people. Whether they would get the | whole bishopric time would tell. To-day there now seem (o be no grounds for the fear once entertained that tribal differences would create other differences, for since the founding of the bishopric many Natives who had joined the various schisms have come back to the Church. In a recent sermon delivered by Bishop Bennett, he voiced a plea for a -spirit of. continued encouragement toward the new Maori bishopric. He recalled the deeds of the missionaries of Maori blood and remembered that, throughout til:' critical times of the Maori warn not a single Maori priest or deacon had left the church to which he owed allegiance. During the past two years and quite recently periodical visits have been made by the Maori bishop to the surrounding districts embracing the Matakarapa Pas (Foxton), Poutu (Shannon) and Raukawa (OtakiL These visits have borne much fruit. Evidence. of the encouraging assurance’ of Maori support is being shown in this district and, imbued with that spirit of purpose, a combined movement is afoot amongst local Natives to create and revive interest in matters spiritual, which was a predominant feature amongst the elders of the tribe in bygone years and the Maori of yesterday. Many years ago the old Native church building at Pukctotara Pa, along the banks of the Manawatu River about two miles south of Rangiotu, was shifted to Rangitane, but during later years the structure was destroyed by fire, it is interesting to note that for many years the European section of the com-

munity held church services in the present Maori meeting house. To Rangimarie, while up to the present day the Natives of the locality hold their services there. To Rangimarie meeting house was erected to commcmoi-atc the ending of tribal wars and differences between the warlike Rangitanes —occupiers of the Manawatu country and the powerful Ngati Raukawas—Ngati Ton tribes, who migrated -from their ancestral home at Kawhia during the early period of the past century. It also served to mark that era when these tribes embraced the Christian faith. The site of the present church building adjoining the Rangiotu public hall was the subject of a free grant made by the late chieftaincss, Ema Te Awe Awe, mother of the late Manawaroa Larkins. Application for a church site was first brought forward by certain members of the Presbyterian denomination and the land in question was given over on condition that the Anglican Church would have joint interest in file grant. The Natives, however, have always held their divine services in the meeting house or at the various settlements in the locality as they deemed necessary from time to time. In order to raise funds for purposes in that connection and to renovate the meeting house in particular a representative gathering of local Natives assembled at Te Rangimario recently to review and discuss matters on general lines. As a result a strong committee was formed and it was unanimously decided to hold a function early next month to raise and augment the funds of the movement. It was also resolved that at an opportune time Bishop Bennett he. invited to visit Rangiotu. A meeting of local parishioners of the Anglican Church was held in the public hall last Friday. Matters in general concerning the welfare of the church were discussed. The meeting decided to form a committee for the purpose of raising funds. It was decided to hold another meeting next Thursday evening in oi-der to go fully into the question of holding a function at a future date.