ANNUAL MAORI SYNOD

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21763, 31 March 1934, Page 13

ANNUAL MAORI SYNOD

WAIAPU ARCHDEACONRY MATIfERS AFFECTING DIOCESE [by tiilkoraph OWN correspondent] GISBORXE, Thursday The annual Maori Synod of the Waiapu archdeaconry was held at Hiruha.rama, near Ruatoria, this week. The Bishop of Aotearoa, Dr. F. A. Bennett, presided, and all the Maori clergy of the archdeaconry were present. The bishop explained to the meeting the new bill, which would be introduced at the .meeting of the general synod, affecting the Maori diocese of Aotearoa, and a committee later reported favourably on the measure. Bishop Bennett mentioned that the late Dr. Hocken, of Dunedin, had left a bequest amounting to £1123 to the Maori Church. It was resolved to send a letter to Dr. Hoc-ken's family, thanking them for the kindly thought that prompted the bequest. It was also resolved that the bequest be set aside for the Maori bishop's stipend fund.

The chairman mentioned that it hail been considered that to send Maori students to St John's College, Auckland, for training for church work was not tho success that was anticipated. It was resolved to ask the Bishops of Waiapu and Aotcaroa, Archdeacons C'hattcrton and McLean, and Sir Apirana Ngata to form a committee to inquire whether it would be possible to establish a college for the training of Maori students for work among Maori people. Jt was resolved to take steps to call a general meeting of the diocese of Aotcaroa, to be held at some central spot for the purpose of revising whatever bill would be passed by the general synod in respect of the Maori diocese. A resolution was also passed expressing the hope that the day would not be unduly delayed when complete autonomy would be conferred upon the diocese of Aotcaroa. A choir competition was held in tho open air. From a musical standpoint it was a decided success, and was much enioved bv the large crowd ot people that attended. The judges expressed dcMit with the pronunciation and enunciation, Dr. Wi Repa saying that every word could bo hoard. Marks gnen to the various choirs are as follows: Tokomaru, 466; Hikurangi, 463; Manutuke, 460; and Awapuni, 456.