OTAMATEA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4482, 25 March 1876, Page 1 (Supplement)

OTAMATEA.

TAUHOA CHURCH AJSTSTVERSARY. /• [FROM ODR SPECIAL REPORTER* ] The anniversary gathering •of the Taahoa Wesleyan Miaaion Charch waa held on Sunday, the 13 th instant, when the pastor of the church, the •Iter. Mr.' Gittos, officiated in Maori, in the morning and afternoon, the £ev. Mr. Worker, 'of Albertland, in the evening, to an English • congregation. On Monday the usual was . held in the Jarge house recently built by the chief Adam Clarke, at which -ISO Europeans-and Maoris git dawn- The tables were, presided'over. by Jlesdames -Gittos, Hazard, Symonds, garpres, Chadwick,;.and the Misses Gittos, 3Jirk, Hargreaves, and'others. The ooillpany consisted of.-settlers from Mataiohe, Paparoa, Pahi, Arapaua, and Albertland, jjch of whom make .it their duty -to be present .on .>such occasions, ..and by their aid and presence, •• encourage J the -Kev. JMr. Gittas in the noble work in 1 which he ,is engaged. .At the conclusion of. the repast the assemblage adjourned to.thej Jarge church, whero.a delightful treat.-was I ia store, able. choirs. from Albertland and ; Paparoa generously-coming forward to make , the anniversary'a success. The solos ren- j dereibythe ilesdames Chad wick and ilr. Coates, accompanied -by Mr. Wright on -the harmonium, .combined with the pithy addresses of the various speakers, formed -one of the most enjoyable, evenings I have spent in my ramblings North. The songs given by the Maori.children, under the conductorship of their.minister,..were really faultless, both as regards time.and harmony, reflecting great credit upon their tutors, the Kev. Mr. Gitto3 and ilr. .Hazard: the schoolmaster, both of whom. shew a most laudable desire to instruct, amuse, and elevate those who have been .committed to their charge. Upon the platform supporting, the. chairman {the Jtsv. Mr. Worker), were Messrs. Wilson and Cliff, Paparoa ; Haynes.and fcjymons, Pahi; Nicholson, J?. Worker, Edgar, and other?, from Albertland ; E. and T. Coates, Arapaua; Bye, Hull, .and Clarke, Otamatea,; and numerous.other European settlers. The following chiefs were_presont,.and took part in the proceedings.:-—Adam Clarke, Kev. Hone Waiti, Aroma .Karaka, Hemana te Tataua,- Heta' Paikea, . Eamehoha Paikea, Mehaka Makoare, Te' Hemara (Mahurangi),; Ifati Kikaha,:and Te .Pehi.—The Chair-'

he .proceedings by calling upon: join, in the hymn, "Jeans shall»r, .the .sun," followed by aripture. and prayer, in English Ir. Gittos, and.in. Maori by fche' Vaiti. . The.chairman, in his remarks, congratulated himself once .more such a number of Europeans, which evinced felt In the success of the akeri by . the jpastor ' of; the looked upon ,that evening's an indication of : a strong sndship which .cemented the dent in the district, and sinL that no cloud would arise to chain which had.ibeen so skil- , under .God's blessing, by the .heir pastor. In alluding' to he stated that,it ;would consist tging, and he exhorted those el musical voices t to cultivate f that they .might . be devoted 1 the service of' God. Referite revival that had brought Dnderful .changes.in England, :d Mr. Moody's services, yet mtributed in a great measure ss, for his singing, .which he , ild be the means, of introducing f praise into .divine worship j custom now.—"Hold, the and Sankey) was rendered by ir in English, and it .was really lfcli what perfection it was Mr. Gittos then read .the anfhich shewed that ".a. sum of used during the year by the aons in the district towards f the minister, leaving a dewhich is guaranted by the [n introducing the report, the he was glad to see the two iting together for the jjlory >f the King of Kings. He sated that bond of sympathy to exist, and hoped that ..the ar distant when a great feeling ould exist between the Maori in other parts of the colony, uly be gained by a closer ap--3 Holy Scriptures. He spoke , through want of health, to era oi other districts so often esire, and it pained him very in passive, as he would rather irness. He lioped*and prayed vould be rectified during the and that health might be im so that he could labour more earnestly, which was a —"How Beautiful upon the y the Maori choir. — The imented upon the fact that raised in the district; said it \ble sum, yet after all, when 'as made up to £200 it was ind, for himself, he would te the .duties for £500. )Ounds had been sent by the Hons from England to this dislopcd, without being thought r would give the Wesleyans ug obtained the first footing ttlers were under great obligaidy, and he trusted they would heir minister and give every such a good work, and they 3 to meet with their due reClarke, the principal chief of [n a few congratulatory re- } would maintain the cause of His arm was still strong to ith, and remain so to re.—Song, "Scatter Seeds of nkey), by the Paparoa choir, on, of Port Albert, added his he great contrast that was apdistrict now to what it was t knew it. Some Btrange lone under the tree outside >or f but now they (the Maoris) nd in their right mind, which s due to the minister, through >f God. The songs they had rom the Maoris were worth n Port Albert to hear. He advantages to be gained by ord of God their guide through ;ever talents young men might ted they would cultivate them, vould "leave their footprints >ftime."—Song, "Departure," Ibert choir.—The He v. Hone :ed that it would be well, when ' took place in the surrounding :hat an interpreter should be hen the Maoris would be more -hey were willing and anxious uropeans in the good work that oot in the district, and were found amongst those who Christ as the Head of the the Saviour of Mankind.— "What shall the Harvest ). Solo by Mrs. J. Chadwick, ictively, the lady possessing voice.—Te Hemara, of Mahu--1 wonder at you all; you are member the dying words of ner celebrated chief of the dis- & to the truth; honour and .y. laws of Heaven; be Minister, and take care of his jour the Queen, and obey her «ujd just to all Europeans in Glee, by Port Albert choir -Jlesdames J. and W. Chadhl°? d 3-"- Wilson, of Pa«ei and impressive address, . of ..training .the, body. " that they wiß life, and also live bo that

i-t aey'could- eujoy'th'at wlnclx-ia to coine^Ai I a schoolmaster,'he Bjxike.of.the respect due to children,- and urged, uponjparents-the.culti- , vation of a mutual feeling that would cement | each otlier-v/aen apart in' tlie'world.—"Kiss ' ine Mother,JEre-IDie, "by-Mr. Coates,inarisH 1 i tenor voicefthat-surprised the audience. .In . • response to the applause he gave, a selection : : from " Elijah,!" ":If with al! your hearts." : This was the 1 : well-known duet,. ; "What are the Wild -Waves Saying?" by the Mesdomes Chadwick. The meeting was ; then brought to arclose byrKataua proposing j a vote of ri&anks to the -ladies who had pre- ! sided and got up the_ tea, and also to the Paparoa aad'Port Albert -choirs, who had rendered meeting - so''Attractive tlieir ■ harmony. After-which" the Maori choir and children sang very; nicely " God Save the r Queen." TThe proceeds.-of this anniversary amountectto'~£3o;'which."will.be expended in ; purchasing :for the churoli a bell and har- ; monium, .-and will partially aid in. i fencing around the ground. Future funds will be .applied to the extension of. ! the Mission cause amongst the Maoiri settlements, where it is contemplated the building j of severaltchurches, viz.,.at Oruawharo and . Arapaua. Towards the stipend of the minister £147 was collected.' iThe difference be- , tween thafcand.£2oo, the.guaranteed salary, ; will be fuunished by the' Conference. Such, ;a deficiency rarely, occurs; for when the . Maoris aroiflush wifch :cash they are liberal iin sustaining their • minister. This year there are .several causes'- that .combine to make a deficiency, little land having changed hands, while produce has become very scarce. The present '.Mission was established eight years ago, .and at the request .of the Maoris, * who forwarded the first, stipend of £200, asking the Conference for the services of the Kev. Mr. Gittos, who was then" stationed some miles .away. At that time, the place of worship was .a native whare, but so j successful have .been the labours of the rev. gentleman, that, about three years ago, the erection of thepresent church was undertaken, at a cost exceeding £400,, which the late services have <freed from debt. Tbe church is really a pretty, and commodious one, partaking chieEy-of the Gothic style, and capable of seating..-comfortably 350 persons. It i 3 beyond exception the prettiest and most comfortable place of worship that I have seen out of Auckland. In conneation with the church, there- »is a Sunday-school, under the superintendance of Mr. Hazard its attendance being an. average of 50 Maoris. A' mile further up. the river is the dayrschbol, erected and under the control of the General Government. Towards the maintenance of . the schoolmaster (Mr. Hazard) the same ..authorities contribute largely, and.the Maoris -.the remainder. :The average attendance of .Maori children, jand youths is 40,' who are .taught the English language and the various grades of instruction that are to be.found in the Provincial suhools. The youths, adults in fact, some of -them are very apt and eager to receive the instruction of their -.teachers, obeying, unhesitatingly, tbe behests-of their instructor. Many of them are exceedingly ' proficient' in geography- and arithmetic, while the translation-of their Englisblessons into Maori is very rrapid: and correct. The • deportment and dress of many of the-senior females was neat and clean, and evinced a disposition' to profit from the - instruction they receive from Mrs.- Hazard, who occasionally teaches them to become adepts with,the.needle and other domestic duties.