TAONUI.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIV, Issue 281, 26 October 1934, Page 12

TAONUI.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) TAONUI, Oct. 25. Congratulations have been extended to Betty Walker, a pupil of the local school, who was successful in obtaining a first prize for her essay in “Lighthouses,” in the competitions conducted by the Wellington branch of the Navy League. Her success is very gratifying in view of the large number of entrants.

The friends of Mrs Wealleans will regret to learn that it has been necessary for her to enter hospital .to undergo an operation. All will wish her a speedy recovery. Beautiful weather favoured the garden party held at the residence of Mr and Mrs Mason Durie, of Aorangi, yesterday. On the lawns stalls were erected and good business was done. There were games for young and old and also an interesting exhibition of Maori art. The function was largely attended by residents of the district and visitors from Feilding, Bunnythorpe, and as far as Pohangina. In his address Rev. Canon Petrie said he was pleased to be present and to assist in tho object for which the garden party had been organised, for it enabled the pakcha to return a measure of the support which tho Maori people of Aorangi and district had always accorded tho efforts of the Feilding Anglican Church. Ho was pleased to notice so many members of the Anglican parish present, for it showed appreciation of the generous assistance always forthcoming from their _ Maori brethren. He also expressed the view that the time was not far distant when the separate activities of the Maori mission should be merged with those of the pakeha. All were Anglicans together and there was no reason for the continuance of separate organisations for carrying out what was really tho same work. In conclusion, Canon Petrie once more mentioned the splendid work done by Mr and Mrs Durie to whom all were deeply indebted.

Canon Williams, of Wanganui, superintendent of the Maori mission work, in his address stated that he was very grateful for the privilege of being present, for it was widely known that Mr and Mrs Durie were doing very valuable work on behalf of the Church. He likened the development of the Maori mission to the four periods in tho life of an individual, recalling the first Christian work among the Maoris when the earliest missionaries came to these shores to introduce the Gospel. Some 30 years later there developed the beginning of a more concentrated instruction which witnessed the creation of Maori deacons and priests who worked under the instruction of European ministers. Then it was decided to divide the country into Maori districts with Maori priests and deacons in charge, and tho last development witnessed the creation of a Maori bishop and fully ordained ministers. He was proud to think that he was the last of the full-time superintendents of the Maori mission. The work of the Church among the Maoris was now entirely in the hands of the Maoris themselves. It was recognised that the Maori population in the Wellington diocese had undertaken a bold step when it set out to finance the whole of the mission work in its area, and the fact that last year the diocese had come within £4O of achieving that object indicated the excellent progress made, and the desire to become independent of outside assistance. There was little doubt that the success was due to the splendid organisation of Mr and Mrs Durie, and he was glad of the opportunity to make public announcement of the fact. If there were such splendid leaders in every parish many difficulties would vanish. The undertaking of the Wellington Maori Diocese to be entirely responsible for raising funds for its work was a splendid thing, and lie wished to express to Mr and Mrs Dune, on behalf of tho Maori clergy, their very sincere and n-rateful thanks. Thanks were also due to The people of Feilding for their generous support. P In concluding, Canon Williams declared the gathering open and wished it every success. Afternoon tea was served, the tables being arranged along a beautfiil avenue of native ferns. A well attended dance was held in the ©venI in", bringing to a close a very successful day.