METHODISE IN TARANAKI

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16338, 22 March 1915, Page 7

METHODISE IN TARANAKI

ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS.

• ' (Fboii Oub Own Cobbespondknt.) NEW PLYMOUTH, March 21. Tho Rev. P. W. Fairclough, who had a good deal to, do_ with early Methodist work " : in the Taranaki province, participated to- . : day in the seventy-fifth anniversary of the • •' first arrival of Methodist missionaries ixi Taranaki by conducting the services at Hawera. Work was commenced by the Rev. Mr Skevington,..who was located oa the Waimatp,Plains, the' first service being held at Waingongoro. It was in 1840 that the Rev. Messrs Ironside, Buttle, and - Aldred traversed the; South Taranaki district on a missionary expedition. • - They • • •• brought with them a band of freed slaves, whose masters had come under the Christian influence of .the missionaries, with theresult that their captives were liberated,:and these -were brought back to their tribes/ - By this means tne missionaries found _the seeds of Christianity already springing up . in the district through'the "efforts of. a con- f* verted Maori named .Wiremu Nera. '. On January 14, 1841, the Revs. Charles 'Creed - and J. Waterhouse. landed from the ■ by whaleboat at the Sugar Loaves, New Plymouth, and .with them came Mrs Creed. ! ' The anniversary services at New Plymouth were on a large scale, the Veterans' Association, • Defence Rifle Clubs, Scouts, : and Y Citizens' Band taking part/at the morning : ; service. The evening service was specially , reminiscent of the. early days. Arrango-' - - ments have been made for a pilgrimage-oac- 1 Thursday afternoon >io the Waingongoro -- 1 •Beachj where the landing of the first.'mk»" ' ' sionarics took place. . ' v