Taupo

New Zealand Tablet, 17 December 1914, Page 19

Taupo

(From an occasional correspondent.) His Lordship Bishop Cleary motored through to Taupo last week from Napier, accompanied by his friend and guest, Rev. P. F. Kehoe. The journey of TOO miles over the wild mountain road was negotiated in good time, and the two visitors were met at Taupo by Father Langerwerf. On the following morning they crossed the lake, in very rough weather, and met with an extremely warm reception, in true Maori style, with ancient chants, from the, native population of Waihi,, In the evening another reception took place in the beautiful big meeting house of the village. To several cordial speeches of welcome, his Lordship replied in the native language, much to the delight of the large gathering. Father Kehoe also made a happy speech, which was interpreted by Father Langerwerf, who afterwards addressed the meeting in a humorous strain which was received with marked appreciation. His Lordship made a visitation at Waihi and confirmed several adults who were absent on the occasion of his previous visit. During their stay at Waihi Father Kehoe showed himself to be an adept angler, two large catches of lake trout, from 51b to 61b weight standing to his*credit in a short time. - The visitors expressed themselves as greatly delighted with the model native village of Waihi and its people, and took a lively interest in Father Langerwerf’s scheme for reticulating water to every house from the adjoining waterfalls. Father Kehoe was greatly impressed with the piety of the people, the whole village assembling (as is their custom) in the pretty church, at 6.30 every morning, and chanting their morning prayers and the Mass prayers in four-part chant, and singing hymns also in four-part music with a peculiar and winning sweetness. Night prayers and hymns are chanted together by the .whole village at 7 o’clock every evening. There are Communicants every morning, and, on the first Friday morning, about half the congregation received Holy Communion at the Bishop’s Mass, His Lordship and Father Kehoe celebrated Mass for the small Catholic congregation at Taupo on Sunday, and on the following day left for the thermal regions of Wairakei and Rotorua. ‘' v