MAORI MISSIONS.

Waikato Times, Volume XLII, Issue 3360, 11 January 1894, Page 5

MAORI MISSIONS.

[Contributed]. '. >r -, Those who attended the nieetine in the Trinity Wesleyan Church, Hamilton, on Tuesday evening mu«t have been pleased to have evidence set before them of the effect and value of mission effort among the native race.. The gentlemanly bearing and respectful demeanour of the three young men from Kaipara-" my,' boys" •as the Rev. Mr Gittos called them-and the manly, Btraightforward and earnest address ot the Rev. Hauraki Paul a Maori minister in full connection), would reflect great credi. on any system, and 1 could' well underetand the pride with which " father/! introduced them to the meeting. In doing so Mr Gittos said that they had beeneducated at Three Kings College, Auckland, the boys having been there for three years and Hauraki Paul for four (the full term). Referring to the work in Waikato, Mr. Gittos said they had not,made as much progress in the work as they had hoped to; but still there was much to be thankful for, Hauhauism had broken down and was now practi-i jpallyathing of the past; but the Maori people generally did not embrace Christi--anity/and appeared to be, •' halting between two, opinions." ; He also remarked that there was still a deep feeling of revenge, among the Waikatos. on account of { the war, and especially among, the older ones; many of whom had lost their nearest and dearest relatives in that deplorable struggle. During that war the Maoris had regularly, attended morning and evening service and had'"remembered the Sabbath' Day to keep, it;holy." .When < they saw the Euro-; pean soldiers doing things in direct 6pjpo- ! sition to the tenets of their religion they expected that the God of Battles would " visit for these things" and assist themin their,cause aeainst thp when thatJthey were / still > wir at<)»J |ip battle after battle, -they 3 determined I ; to ( eschew the relißioh*of*th"eiVenemies,Cand; told the missionaries to go and put their own people right and when they had done that they could come bu-k and they (the Maoris) woiM listen, to thein,\ but A ,until they ihad^done'so they,would not receive a*| hearing. HoWever, signs were not wanting at present that the work would / prosper, and he hoped before longshore would he a great ingathering. His term in Waikato was now nearly up, and, 1 as he felt that he ; was not: so young as he. u used ( t(.) be, he could worki had, been-engaged, in .for the (last three .years.' If a European—a' ! youne man willing to become a Maori in mode of life and undergo t all hardship incidental to the work' bfa ' Maori missioner—could not be found the fieldi;Wpnld ; : mainly,by the-naiive : now two stationed in thtf Waikato. When he returned "next J, year s he , hoped'to bring some: Waikato boys with' him, 1 there being several in Three Kings College undergoing a course pfj training. t During the,evening the "boys" rendered a mimber of musical selections in a'very creditable manner, and the Rev. Hauraki Paul gave two recitations, *' ThereVa Good Time Coming "and "The Burial of Moses." They also sang a purely Maori 1 song which ; took immensely with the audience and it had to, be repeated, Hauraki ithat-the meeting, evidently appreciated the peculiar, trine,.which he asking "(ill flat all ;tbe way along from end .to beginning," 'Hauraki also gave a short address, touching chiefly on the effects of the war upon his work,' aptly illustrating his-'remarks"' by relating his experience of horse-breaking, and in conclusion asked for financial aid to carry on the work amongst his benighted countrymen, appealing more particularly to those .who/had. "big, brains, doing little work but making plenty,money.";,Altogether a most enjoyable and profitable evening was spent. It is to be regretted that the meeting was, not advertised I am sure it would have been betterjattended had it beenmore extensively known. The collection amounted'to £l9a Cd which, taking the attendance, into account,, must be considered fairly' ffooo.j Those; whdjwere not at the meeting will have an opportunity of contributing their mite as they will be waited upon in the course of a few days, when it is to be hoped that all will do'their best to further the good work which is being carried onat their very doors, ir . i ..;.•