MISSION CENTENARY

Taranaki Daily News, 1 December 1934, Page 16 (Supplement)

MISSION CENTENARY

NEW CHURCH AT KAWHIA. FOUNDATION STONE LAID. In the presence of a large assembly of Europeans and Maoris, tite Maori “king,” Koroki, laid the foundation stone of the Methodist Memorial Church at Kawhia on Saturday morning. Visitors were present from all parts of the province, and high officials of the Methodist Church took part in the ceremony, which marked the centenary of the arrival at Kawhia of the Rev. W. Woon, the first missionary, on November 24, 1834. The site for the church is a hilltop, commanding a view of both the harbour and the distant hillsj and the section has been prepared for the building by voluntary Native labour.The “king,” accompanied by his wife and Princess Te Puea, was met by Native clergy, the coloured shoulder mats worn contrasting with the clerical garb. The Rev. W. J. Oxbrow, of Te Aroha, chairman of the district, presided, and the ceremony commenced with the singing of a Maori hymn, the choir being led by the Rev. Matene Keepa, circuit superintendent. An address was given by the Rev. R. T. Haddon, senior Maori superintendent, delivered first in the Native tongue and then in English. Mr. Haddon spoke of the historical import of Kawhia, and said it toas indeed wonderful that during the whole of the past century there had been no discordant note between the Maori people of the district and their pakeha friends. He felt sure that the new church would prosper “to the glory of God.” A mallet and trowel were then presented by the Rev. A. J. Seamer to “King” Koroki. In his address the “king” paid a tribute to the work of the early missionaries at Kawhia. He said his people had walked to the far north to bring the men of learning to them, and it was in this way that the teachings of Jesus Christ were a feature of the early life of Kawhia. The new church would further cement the great friendship, between pakeha and Maori. On behalf of the Kawhia Town Board, the chairman, Mr. W. P. Ward, restored to the Methodist Maori Mission the original bell used by the Rev. W. Woon in his early mission work. Mr. Ward said the bell had now completed 100 years of service, and it was the earnest hope of the people of Kawhia that it would continue to ring out its message of peace and goodwill, and that each succeeding year would still further cement the bond between the two races. A novel feature of the ceremony was the dropping of a message of goodwill from an aeroplane. The message, which was attached to a small parachute, was from Mr. C. G. Scrimgeour, of the "Friendly Road,” Auckland. It read aS follows: “On this auspicious occasion the ‘Friendly Road’ sends greetings as a tribute to those brave pioneers of the past, whose labours have achieved much in ths service of the Master. May the next century be marked by the same self-sacrifiding devotion and may the service thus given be written in the grateful hearts of the people of the district.” A message was also received from the chairman of the Methodist Church, the Rev. Clarence Eaton. On Saturday afternoon the “king” was entertained at a hui, a big Native feast being prepared for the occasion.