Marton Audience Hears About Work Among the Pahiatua immigrants

Wanganui Chronicle, 23 July 1949, Page 3

Marton Audience Hears About Work Among the Pahiatua immigrants

The needs and problems of the work among the new settlers in the Pahiatua reception and training centre, especially among the Lutheran section } numbering 3OO, were stressed , by Pastors Reinfelds and Koch, when ’ speaking to a well attended meeting in the Marton Lutheran Church this ; week. The Lutheran group consists I mainly of Latvians and Estonians , with a few other nationalities. The Rev. Reinfelds, addressing the meeting, first expressed thanks on be- , half of himself and the immigrants . for the warm welcome and helpiul- ' ness that had been extended by the . 1 citizens of New Zealand and by their ; I fellow Lutherans. Mr. Reinfelds statI ' ed that he had chosen to come to New ■ Zealand because the offer of the New . Zealand Government was the most humane. [ The Rev. Kich, Lutheran camp ■ j chaplain, in his address r e niinded i | members that these new Lutheran ~ settlers were their responsibility, especially in caring for their spiritual . I needs. As they were destitute little . financial support was to be expected from them for some time. Members 1 in Christian charity and sympathy for their misfortune would have to dig ; just a little deeper into their pockets. The speaker also outlined other , avenues in which assistance could be given. Mrs. Latisheva, a Latvian, delighted . the assembly with the renderding of three musical items, “Alleluja” by , Mozart, “Intermezzo” in Lettish and . the “Lord’s Prayer” in English with music by a Latvian composer, Jurjans. . Mrs., Latisheva is an opera singer of some note. Her only daughter of t three years was killed during the war . at a time when she herself was in- - jured. Her husband is missing, be- ) lieved dead. Miss Jacobsen, an Eston- ? ian, accompanied the singer on the 7 ( organ. j i Pastor M. R. Heidrich, welcomed • I the guests and introduced them to the 5 meeting. He thanked Mrs. Latisheva • for the pleasure she had afforded the i assembly with her singing. At the • conclusion of the meeting supper was l served in the schoolroom where mem- , besr had an opportunity of meeting l their guests. ' Arrangements were made to send a i number of cars to the camp at Pahiai tua for guests who will be entertained ■ by Marton members of the Lutheran I church this week-end. I SUNDAY SCHOOL ANNIVERSARY HELD AT MARTON JUNCTION The Christian Convention building ■ at Marton Junction was the scene of unusual activity recently when the I combined Gospel Hall and Marton Junction Sunday Schools held their anniversary. Refreshments were provided for the children and their parents and friends k in the large dining hall, there being ample provisions of pies, sandwiches ' and cakes, together with “fizz” for the j children. - Tea was followed later by a musical . programme in the lecture room, there being duets, solos, recitations, etc. Mrs • Johnstone was the organist and Mr J. ■ Mcllwaine was in charge of the proi; gramme. The conductor was Mr J. II Gardiner. A short address was given ■ to the children by Mr R. Hathaway prior to the prize-giving. I The policy of the Assembly concern- ‘; ing prizes is to award them for Ist, 12nd and 3rd in each class, with an adJditional prize to each scholar who obtains 50 per cent, of marks, this making it possible for each child to obtain a prize. There is also a roll of honour which bears the names of scholars who have had a full attendance for the year, and this year the following ’names were added: John McLeay, Donald Stewart, Kelvin Gardiner, . Ronald Taylor, Joan Riddell. Manu Goldsmith, Massey Makatea. Joan Riddell, having had three years’ full attendance, was awarded the £1 prize, while D. J. Stewart completed five years’ full attendance and received the £3 prize. C. Blackwell , obtained the merit in membership scheme prize. Mr Berryman judged the items and awarded Elvie Pritchard first prize for girls and Holgar Whitelock the - boy’s prize.