SOUTHERN MAORI MISSION.

Otago Witness, Issue 2299, 24 March 1898, Page 40

SOUTHERN MAORI MISSION.

The Committee cf the Southern Maori Bit sion met on tbe 16th mat. in tbe Bible Depot* board room, the following being present — Tha Rev. R. R. M. Sutherland (in the chair), Rev. D. Borrie, Messrs William Brown, A. C. Bagg, John Hercus, E. Rosevear (hou. treasurer) , and W. L. Logic (hon. secretary). The agent's re1 ports were read, showing that since November last visits had been paid fco tho kaiks extending ' from Puketeraki to Kaispoi. The i emits of ■ tha vi*its were such as to leava no doubfc tbafc • good work was bdeg done under the auspices of the mission. At tbe Kaiapoi kaik, ihft in or si status of which did , not appear to be as bigb as tbo?e to the s..utb of it, members of th 9 ' Presbyterian 'and Wealeyan Christian Bndea- ' your Societies had taken up regular «etvices under . this mission. Mr Morgan united with th«m during hia etay and had good meetings, some of tbe Natives professing conversion. Taumuta was nest visited. Hera a gentleman suggested advisability of two or three Carislian v Maoris being trained for the work, and offered to opsn a small Iraioiogr home. Christian work . in fcbis kaik ug&in proved that the Maorie were, by God's grace, able to live a3 Christian lives ag ! the Buropaan. This district, ibough a small one, supported a married Native te-icher in New Grainea ; the Natives and Europeans uniting their contributions. Litfcle Kiver, WainriUf, Akaroa, Port Le?i t and Rspaki baiks wars in tbe same vicinity. At tbe last-mentioned, ooe Sunday recently a very hearty service waa held in tbe iittls up-to-date church. Hare tha agent was assisted by Mr Kobere, a T8 Aute College Native traiainjj for Maori mission work in tbe North Island. The commitUe hoped that : he (Me Kohsre) would be able toward the encJ | of this year to accompany their agent on a viaifc to all the South Island kaiks. The Marlborough, Nelson, and West Co*sfe kaiks were now beiog visited by the agent. This mission was conducted on undenominational lines, and appealed to the bsuevolence of all Christians. Offers have been received from three who were willing to go out us Maori missionaries, bat funds were not sufficient to provide for them. Tbe treasurer bad pleasure in acknowledging v , the following subscriptions, and will be gUd of ' j any amount if left at tbe Bible Depot, Dunj edin :— Columbi (Oaaaaru) Presbyterian (per P.S.C E.), £2 10s ; Friesdi, £5 ; Miss M. f 5s ; 1 Riv. D. 8., £1 ; Frieud, £2 > In tbe Native Lnnds Cour'u Judge Gfudgeon | has awarded the Crown over 100,000 acroa ia } the various Kiuo&abu West Blocks, extending- ; from Kawbia to Awakino-. Many other blocks , wiil be dealt with in tbe next few day*, and the Government will then have fully 600,000 acres ; available for settlement. { It was reported at Wanganui on Friday that a notable Maori chief named Haimona Hirofci, 85 • years of age, had died at an up-river settlement, and instructions were sent to Wangauui to engage an undertaker to embalm the body and prepare ' a coffin. After travelling all night tbe under- . taker found the old chief alive. He had mejely collapsed and was mistaken for dead. He is ia ' receipt of a pension for bravery during v thft ' Maori war. It was owing to his courage at tha battle of Moiitoa (an island up the Wanganui Eiver), in 1864-, wben he rallied the friendly Natives by saving, "Here I fight and here I i die," that the H&uhaua who were coming to 1 attack Wanganui were defeated. Tbe chief is ' suffering from cancer in the throat and his death is hourly expected.