CHURCH OF ENGLAND

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18068, 20 April 1933, Page 12

CHURCH OF ENGLAND

MAORI CONFERENCE LARGE NUHAKA GATHERING (Herald Correspondent.) The Maori Anglican conference, whitdi lias continued in Nuliaka over Easter, has been a great success, there being between 70(J and SOI) people present. A great measure of the success was due t,o the beautiful weather experienced.

Last Thursday afternoon when Jlis Lordship the Bishop of Aotouroa, the Bight Rev. F. A. Bennett, accompanied by the Lev. Mr. Hakiwai and many visitors from all parts of tlu* Aorlu Island, arrived, they were given a great welcome in the native style by the Nuliaka Maoris. His Lordship, in a brief speech, thanked the Nuliaka people for their very kind welcome and hoped the conference would lie a great spiritual help to the residuals.

On Good Friday, Divine services were held, both for Maori and pakelia, when there was a big gaUiering. Synod was held on Saturday, when many matters pertaining to the Maori people were discussed, it was then decided that the next conference will be held in Wairoa next Easter, and it will tie an annual conference with a possibility of an amalgamation between the Archdeaconries of Waiapu, Tauranga and Hawke’s Bay, which comprise the diocese of Waiapu. In tiie evening a dance and entertainment were held, the hull being literally packed. On Easter Sunday Holy Communion for pakchas was held at S ami., there being GO communicants, and at 11 u.m. for the Maoris, the services being veiy largely attended. In the evening a confirmation service was held by tiie Bishop of Aotcaroa, there being ft! candidates, who were presented by the Rev. Wi Mataira, Nuliaka. This was a most impressive service for the large congregation of Maoris and pakeluc.g and ono that will Jive long in the memory of all present. Monday was specially set apart for sports, which were held on the Nuliaka showgrounds. The outstanding feature of the day was the crowning .of tiie winner of the queen carnival. Miss Ida Tipoki, Frasortown, was the successful candidate, Miss Tautau, Nuliaka, running her close second.

The crowning ceremony, which loan place on a specially-constructed dias, was performed by llis Lordship, who, in a happy speech, congratulated the queen, who was gowned in a beautiful frock of floral satin, on her success. He also thanked her and all the Nuliaka people for that great effort, which was the means of raising over £f)o for the church funds. Mr. T. Hapi played tiie general salute, after which all stood and sang the National Anthem.

The following were the sports resuits:—Silver cup, presented by the Bishop of Aotcaroa to tiie KahungaTuuiga Club. —Nuliaka. Silver cup, presented by Mr. G. C. Ormond. — Waituki, Gisborne. Single men’s race.—A. Bennett, 1; li. Schwass, 2. Married men’s race.—H. Taylor, 1; H, Scott, 2. Thread the needle race.—A. Bennett and -partner, 1; S. Jones and partner, 2. Men's ' sack race. —11. Taylor, 1. Married ladies’ race.— Mrs. Jones, 1; Mrs. Salaman, 2. llop, step, and jump.—A. Bennett and 11.

Taylor, tie, 1. Single ladies’ race. — Miss A. Oiemmel, 1; Miss L. Brown, \ 2. The prizes for the races were presented by the queen of the carnival/ The Maori address w:us won by Hast--, ings, who also won the choir competi- 1 tion.