OTAKI.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 51, 19 December 1901, Page 4

OTAKI.

On Sunday. December 1 (says the Otaki Mail), the funeral of the late Ngati Raukawa chieftain Enoka te VVano, took place, there being a very large attendance of both natives and pakehns. 'J he long procession was preceded by the Otaki Maori Band, who pla\ed the funeral march most impressively. A service was held in St. Mary's Catholic Church, during which the Rev. Father Melu, who officiated, spoke in terms of praise of the deceased, who hud been a staunch supporter of the Church. The body wae laid to rest in the Catholic cemetery, the Rev. Father Melu reading the burial service. Sunday, December 8, was a red-letter day for the Catholics of Otaki, on account of the opening of the new sanctuary. It has the ordinary octogonal shape, with two Gothic windows en the fides. The dimensions are lGft. wide by lb'ft. deep, and 18ft. to the ceiling. The old sacristy has been removed alongside of the new sanctuary, and enlarged. Another sacristy, 12ft. x 10ft., has been erected on the opposite side. The contractor, Mr. H. Freeman, deserves great credit for the manner in which he has carried out the work. The arch, which is Gothic, is a fine piece of workmanship. The sanctuary ia, no doubt, a very great improvement. It gives to the church a far better appearance, inside and outside ; but the principal advantage is that it gives more accommodation f\r the congregation — the crush, which of late has betu so evident on special occasions, is not likely to bo repeated fur some time to come. Tha congregation on Sunday last was unusually lar>je at Mass, and also at the Benediction. In the t vening the grotto of tho Luly of Lourdes by the side of the hill was most effectively illuminated