Opening of a New Church at Whakarewarewa.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXII, Issue 52, 29 December 1904, Page 4

Opening of a New Church at Whakarewarewa.

(Farom an occasional correspondent.)

It is with pleasure I have to report another addition to flhe numerous churdhes that have been built by tlhe Mill Hill Fathers for the Maoris of the Auqkl&nd di/bcese, the latest being that erected at Whakarewarewti near Rotorua. The plans were designed by Father Kreymborig, of Rotorua, whose abilities as a buillder are welt iknowm in the district ; arid for the past four mlant/hs he and his confrere, Father Lattgerwerf, fhajd devoted all their spare time t)o the erection of a pretty little churjch. At the very, outset great difficulty wias experienced im preparing the site, as the ground is very sin l^hiur o*u s arud full of steam holes atid mud po|ols, which necessitated the use of brick piles jnsttoad of w,ood bliocks. These difficulties, h/owever, were overcome, apd where before the steam used to rise -out of the ground there now stands a neat civuw* ('4oft x 18ft), fault in basilica style. Trie six windows are glazed with pi(nk cathedral glasls, diftusuig a pleasant soft light. The ga|We and is s\up)portad by four white columns, forming a (pleasing contrast to the pale blue color of the body of tlhe chiu'rcih. The diagonal lining is of tlhe choicest rinvu, whiclh has been tastefully decorated with Maori designs painted by Father Kreymborg. The carvings, in/cljujtlfyig, a beautiful tabernacle, are valuable relics of the oldest Maiori Ch>irch soufli of Auckland. Tflxe new chlu'rc'h is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception, anjd tAhe blessing took place on tlhe Sunday wiflhm tile octave of the feast. Weeks beforehand invitations had .been sent out to the native settlements of the whole diisitiri'ct, and on the eve of the great day large crowds of Maoris arrived in the settlement and were heartily welcomed by their friends with the wellknown ' Hkaremai ! ' and the flying of bartnars 1 and flags —among t/he latter being the Papal and Itisfa flags and the Uniton Jack— fnom the c'hureh.

The ceremony of blessing was performed by Father Linger werf at 10 o'crock on Sunday morning. Dmrihg Mass Father KreymWorg addressed tihe Maoris in tfreir own tongue, congratulating them an the erection of their new chaitfdh and dwelling on the many cWaracteiistflcs of tftie Catholic Church, wlilose greatest treasure is the Blessed Siacrametnt, whose greatest ornament is a pious and de,vdut congregation, and whose greatest glory is the Cross*, which, like another fihgeripost, potato out to me(rt tibe way of salvation. He also arillressed a few worlds to the Europeans, of whom a good niumber were present, inckifdSng the Bon. John Meagher, M.L.C., of New South Wlales. Several of the Natives approached the Holy Tasble during Mass, and a collection was taken tup whilch well nigh liquidated the debt on the new ohuijah. After Mass the visitors, botlh MaK>ri and Qutfopoan, were enttertaindd at a generous rapist in the native mjeetilng hiodise. After Vespers, which were Slung by Vhe Maoris <at 3 p.m., iti their owm lan^a^ge, Father Kireymborg once more alddressed the congregation on the close rel'atitafns exiting between the Catiholic a/h(d his Ohturoh. The enrtlhU9i!asim of tlhe Maoris re-acjhed a clfmjax during Benediction (gitven by Father SohbQnhof,, of Miattatla) vjheh they heard their own children sing in a creditable mariner the • O Salutearis,' ' 0 Sanctissima, 1

aired Uhe ' Taorttum Eugo,' vftiioh welre followed by 'Mlary tiearqst Mqftjher,' ajnd ' O Mother, I could weefo for mirljh.' Tftis brtfu-giht to a close the ceremonies of the day— a day which will for ever remain memorable in tjhe annaLs! of the Church of WJiakarewarewa.