ANGLICAN MISSION SERVICES IN WAIMARINO DISTRICT.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVIIII, Issue 12123, 13 March 1896, Page 2

ANGLICAN MISSION SERVICES IN WAIMARINO DISTRICT.

• [Bt Georob Frbb Alien.] i [I wr'to the following accouot of tbo intsrasling journey from which tho Reverend Reginald Hermon and myself have just returned, ie the first pw-jon, not from egoism, but 113 a matter of con-venience.—-G.F. A.] To begin at the beginning : Some two months since, tho Biehop wrote to Mr Hermon asking him -whether he could arrange to make a pastoral tour in the noithera pare of tho Diocese of Welling- , ton, and requesting him to report as to the placos to be visited, the cost, ths time, kc. As Mr Hermon was unacquainted witb that country, he consulted with me, and asked me to accompany him on the journoy. I told him that tho principal places were Karioi, Ohakune, Raetihi, and Pipiriki, that they could be visited via Field's Track in about ton days, and that the cost for ourselves and horses' might be taken at something under £10. The Bishop, having received Mr Harmon's reply to that effect, laid the matter before the Standing Committee, who voted <810 for the purpose. On Monday, February 24th, Mr Hermon met mo at Mr Mason's hospitable house, at Tauangatutu, on Field's Track. Hero, after tea, some of the neighbours assembled, and Kvensong (with sermon) was held, and we stayed the night. On Tuesday 26tb, we rode to Parapaia and stayed to dine. Mrs Stephens, tho landlady of the accommodation house, made us very welcome, and here wo found our old friend, Air J. K. Manning, in charge of the school. Mr Manning seemed verr happy in his new home, and was enthusiastic as to the progress hiß pupils have made. The school was only opened last October, and the work of all tho children seemed to us excellent ; that of the Maori children being almost wonderful, considering that when Mr Manning took thorn in hand they wove quite ignorant of English. We asked Mr Manning to try to teach them a hymn to be sung at a Service on our return, which he kindly undertook to do. Then we remounted " Dick " and " Sunbeam" and proceeded, arriving at Mr Edward McDonnell's house at Karioi at 6,30 pm Mr McDonnell roceived us with his wellknown hospitality, and we spent a plbosant evening with him and Mr JBorIbqo, picking up come usoful information as to the settlers and their homes in the neighbourhood. On Wednesday, 26th, we rode to the Ohakune accommodation house, where Mr and Mis Manson welcomed us. We male visits to s-aven houses, taking tea at Mr Fred Crawford's, where a short Service was held. Iv the evening we held a practice of the musio for the Sunday's Service at Mr Bowater'e House, at which nine gentlemen and seven ladies were present. A short Service and addresa followed. On Thursday 27th, we had prayers and reading at Mr McLean's, and then rode on to haetihi, and put np at Mr Pike's aooonimodation house. In the afternoon wo went a round of visits, and had tea and a shori; set vice at- Mr Ford's. On Friday 28tb, wo visited six houses on the Pipiriki Boad, and dinod at Mr Alloway'e, where a short Bervice was held. Then wo rode on to Pipiriki, arriving at 5 p.m. We had been told that there were only five people at Pipiriki, and some folks had endeavoured to persuade Mr Hermon not to. go there, involving 88 it did a journoy of 34 miles (there and back). However, the coach brought six pjssengars, nnd tho steamer five ,- and tbe result was that over twenty persons attended Evensong, including six or seven Maoris. Mrs George Manson (Bits), formerly a pupil at Churton College, was the principal soprano of our choir, aud 6he deserved, thanks for the able style in which (with her baby in arms— often fidgetty) she led our bymog and canticleß. The Service was held in a large room at Messrs Huddle's occommo dation house, where thore gentlemen ■woro very kind in making everything smooth for- us. On Saturday, 2£tb, wo rode lack to Raetihi. In the afternoon we made several visits, and Mr Hermon baptised the child of Mr and Mrs Bolton*. Mr Bolton is a brother of Messrs Amos and William Bolton, of Mungamnhu, and his wifa (when Annie Major) was formerly a pupil of mine in the Sunday School of St. tjoorge's, Turakina. In the evening a practice of the music for the Sunday Morning Service was held; about 20 bsing present, aft T which there was a short Service and address. On Sunday, March Ist, a congregation of about 60 assembled in Mr Pike's dining-room for Mattins and Holy Communion. ■ The canticles were chanted to simple single chant 3, benedioiti being sung with tbe verses taken alternately by men and women, all joining in the refrain " Praise Him and magnify Him for ever." 'ibere were eleven communicants. Beveral people had r.omo all the way from Ohakune to thit service, which was a remarkably hearty oue. We have speciully to thank Mr and Mr* Pike for tbo trouble they took for us about the room, and Mr Ingram for his offer of his store for the Service, .Mr Webberly and Mr Punch for the loan of forms, and Mr Garner for looking.after our horses, ond other kindnesses. After a hssty dinner we rode off to Ohakune, accompanied by 1 some of the Raetihi folks. Here, Mr Manson had offered us his dining-room, but on our way up we had notices! a new smithy just completed, and the owner, Mr Robinson, had put that at our disposal ; and on our arrival wo found that he and the builder, Mr Osborne, had fitted it up with forms, platform, and prayer desk, which the Misses Manson had ornamonted with flowers, as tho Misses Pike had done the Communion table at Raetihi. About 30 were present, and this Service was also a very hearty one. After refreshment at Mr Manson's, we rode on. to Waiono, accompanied by same of tho Ohakune people, and there Mr Hermon baptised the daughter of Mr and Mrs Llewell. Then away to Karioi where Mr McDonnell had tea ready, after which we proceeded to the old billiard room, which Mr Howard had fitted np with forms, table, lamp, candles, <fee. We had told Mr McDonnell of the good singing we had had at tho other pace?, and he had said he was afraid we Bhould not be able to mßnago much music at the Karioi Service. I replied. ", Well, we shall have a hymn before the Bervice, and if that goes right, then I'll try chanting tho Canticles." The flrbt three notes of the hymn, " Pleasant are Thy courts above," showed me that there need be no fear of the singing not boing hearty. Unfortunately in one case it was too hearty. Where there had been opportunities! of previous practice I had requested those present to allow me to preceot the first half verse of each oanticle, joining in ab second half verse. At Karioi, this not being understood, two or three struck |in at once at the " Nunc Dimitbis " before tho chant was established, and the result was not satisfactory. 1 The intended chant (Dr William Hayes, in D) was not what was sung, Mr Hermon's sermon was on '■ Tbey that run in a, race run all, but one recoiveth tho prize, bo run that he may obtain," a very appropriate subject just affetr the Hanoi races, The congregation consisted chiefly of wool scourers, shearers and shepherds, about 35 men being present and ono woman, Mrs Cook, the hostess of the accommodation houso. iVo had teen told that wo might expsot somo pretty rough customers among the Karioi folks. All I can say is that thera was not a word or a sign indicative of irreverence of disrespect, and a better bobavod and more attentive congregation could not be found in any town churoh. Except the slip in the " Nunc Dimittis," the singing was excellent. We ajfain slept at Mr McDonnell's. On Monday, Maroh 2nd, we paid a visit or two, and then rode to the Parapira accommodation house. When we were a quarter of a mile away, on the hill down which tbe road winds, wo heard Binging in the school ; and, stopping our horaGß, we recognised tho roteß and even tho words of "Lord, in this Thy Mercy's Day." Aftei- tea we prepired for the Service, which was certainly the most novel and intn-esting I ev6r attended. It consisted of Evensong, the 19th Psalm, the Canticles being chanted and four hymns sung. About 30 wera present, inoluding several Maori women and seven Maori childron. iVhon tbe minister and reader onturcd all stood up. After a hymn the Service proceeded to tho end of the Loid's Prayer, which was then repeated in Maori. At the place of tbe anthem, " Lord, in this Thy Mercy's Day " was sung, (To be continued,)