BISHOP CLEARY AMONG THE MAORIS

New Zealand Tablet, 24 December 1914, Page 27

BISHOP CLEARY AMONG THE MAORIS

(From an occasional correspondent.)

On December 1 his Lordship Dr. Cleary, on his way to Taupo, went to Napier to visit the Catholic Native school kept by the Sisters of the Missions, and was pleased to find there several' pupils from his diocese, some from as far as Hokianga. His Lordship was greeted with Native enthusiasm, and after having heard songs of welcome in Maori, rose to address the v children. He did it in Maori, and fluently, too, a fact which evoked an expression of astonishment on the girls’ faces, quickly followed by one of joy, the whole resulting in a frantic salvo of applause at the conclusion of the address. Immediately after, and to commemorate the occasion, a photograph was taken of the pastor and his flock, after which his Lordship, accompanied by Father Kehoe, took his departure. Prior to leaving, he gave the children his episcopal blessing. After his Lordship had left and the awe inspired by his presence had disappeared, it was rather interesting to hear the questions asked by the Maori girls of each other: Is he a Maori? Was he born in New Zealand ? Doesn’t he speak Maori well ? Isn’t he nice ? and a hundred other similar questions, expressing the pleasure given the children by his visit. A few days later a visitor of a different kind—one that generally brings terror to the very hearts of the children—also visited the school, the Government inspector. But what did it matter this time to the Native childrenwas not Bishop Cleary’s blessing with them ? And strangely enough, all the children passed.