NATIVE CHURCH BOARD.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXII, Issue 9711, 5 January 1895, Page 6

NATIVE CHURCH BOARD.

The Native Church Beard of the Diocese of Auckland met yesterday, under the presidency of Bishop Cowie. The Board consists of the licensed Maori clergy, at present fifteen in number, and lay representatives elected by the several Maori districts between the North Cape and Stratford. The Taranaki archdeaconry, however, was not represented. Of the clergy present the Rev. Heta Tarawhiti was the only ilaori who had been ord&ined by Bishop Cowie's predecessor, Bishop G. ,A. Selwyn. The Board sat in the gymnasium building of St. Stephen's School, Parnell. The Bishop, in his opening address, expressed great pleasure at seeing a lay representatative from Otorohanga, in the so-called "King" country, and spoke of the good work being done in that district by the two Maori missionaries whom he sent there in 1893. Many, notices of motion were given in for to-day. At one o'clock the members of the Board were entertained at dinner In the dining-room at St. Stephen's, the Bishop and Archdeacon Clarke sitting at the ends of the long table and doing the carving. At half-past three the Board met again, under the presidency of Archdeacon Clarke, in the absence of the Bishop. The Board meets this morning at half-past ten. Before yesterday's meeting the members of the Board received the Holy Communion in the private chapel, Bishopscourt. To-morrow, at St. Mary's Cathedral, Parineli, the Bishop will admit another Maori to deacon's orders, to assist the Rev. W. Turipona, ii the Thames district. The service will begin at eleven o'clock, and the sermon will be preached by the Rev. Hone Papahia, minister of Hokianga, one of the Bishop's chaplains.