RESTORATION WORK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 24 February 1931, Page 6

RESTORATION WORK

DESTROYED CHURCHES APPEAL BY PRIMATE (By Telegraph—Special to "The Mail") AUCKLAND This Day. An urgent appeal to the church people of New Zealand to come to the assistance of the Diocese of W'aiapu and contribute to a fund to rebuild the cathedral at Napier, and other church buildings in the diocese, destroyed or damaged in the earthquake, is being issued by the Primate, Archbishop Averill. In a letter to the Bishops of New Zealand,' lie says : “1 returned to-day from a visit to Napier and Hastings, and To, Aute, where 1 had an opportunity of seeing the terrible devastation wrought by the earthquake and fire. The calamity which lias befallen W’aiapu Diocese is intensified by tho. fact that the northern part of Hawkes Bay is experiencing a severe drought in addition to the general financial depression through which tho Dominion, with other parts of the world, is passing. “I was able, to assure the Bishop and Standing Committee that the whole Province was ready and anxious to help them jn their great day of need, and 1 appeal very earnestly to church people throughout tho Province, to come to the help of their fellow-churchmen to the utmost of their ability. It is impossible to estimate the cost o.f reconstructing what has been wholly or partially destroyed, and in all probability the full loss cannot be made good in the present generation. EXTENT OE DAMAGE “The beautiful cathedral is a mass of ruins. The deanery is totally destroyed, and the Synod hall and diocesan offices with all diocesan records have been destroyed by the disastrous fire. Bishopseourt is seriously damaged, and the £SOO granted bv the General Synod will only be sufficient to meet a small part of the necessary_ repairs. The concrete church at Hastings lias also suffered considerably, and the. tower needs to be removed at once. The vicarage and schoolroom at Hastings are seriously damaged. Churches, vicarages, and schoolrooms at St. Augustine’s and St. Andrew’s at Nanior, at Havelock North, Taradale, Clive, Otane, W'aipawa, Waipnkurau. and W’niroa have all suffered more or less, and in 'many eases very seriously. At fTe Aute College the new buildings have been seriously damaged, but the Maori Purposes Board is prepared to afford the Trustees some relief, and the school with a smaller number of pupils will bo carried on in the old wooden buildings for the present. The Hukerero School for Maori Girls is damaged, and will not be used for twelve months at least. So tiie tale of woo continues, and the list of damaged properties could bo considerably lengthened. “How is the Diocese of W’aiapu to meet or begin to meet the cost of reconstructions? Many of the church people have lost their means of livelihood, and can do nothing. Many more who have been benefactors to the church in the past can do little, if anything, at present. There are practically no insurances available, and yet the work of (ho church must continue and buildings of some sort must be, erected and vicarages and schools made useable. llow are the clergv and deaconesses to be paid even a moderate sum? There are at least nine clergv and two deaconesses in the area specially affected by the catastrophe. “The spirit and helpfulness of many of the people are beyond all praise, and they will do in their power to help themselves, but tlie Province must come to their aid and help at once. People in the Dominion, considering the difficulty of the times, have contributed magnificently to the general funds for the relief of sufferers, but the public funds will not be available for reinstating damaged churches and schoolrooms, and possibly not for vicarages, and consequently there is a call for self-sacrifice on the part of churchpeople to help bear Waiapu’s burdens. “I hope every parish in the Province will respond to this appeal. For W’aiapu the practical sympathy of fellowcliurchmon will lie twice blest, for it will help them to sen some daylight through the dark cloud overshadowing them, and inspire them with hope and courage, and it will enable them to restore some of the ruined or partially mined buildings and continue the ministrations of the church.”