The "Hui Topu."

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume I, Issue 11, 1 May 1911, Page 173

The "Hui Topu."

The "Hui Topu" or Triennial Native Church Board meeting of this Diocese was held on March 19th at Waiomatatini on the East Coast. This was probably one of the most interesting Maori Church gatherings held m any part of the Maori Mission Field during the last 60. years. It has been the custom for many years past to hold the "Hui Topi" at Manutuke near Gisborne. But on account of the beautiful and unique church at Manutuke having been destroyed by fire, some of the leading Rangatiras of the Ngatiporou tribe approached the Bishop and asked if he would allow this particular meeting to be held m the Valley from which this Diocese received its name — the "Valley of Waiapu. After a few weeks consideration, much to the joy of the Ngatiporous, the Bishop gave his consent. Waiomatini, the headquarters of the Ngati-Poru was the chosen village to be honoured by having the Hui Topu. In the same Waiapu Valley, but on the opposite side of the river is the settlement called Whakawhitira, where the Gospel of Christianity was preached for the first time m this Diocese m the year 1836. There were many other interesting features about this Hui apart from the locality,

from sill parts of the Diocese attended, and on the Sunday there were close on 1200 natives present. This is probably the largest gathering oft Maoris who have met together for purely Christian purposes since the outbreak of the Maori wars of 1860. On Saturday night (March 18). the Bishop preached a very powerful sermon to a congregation of about 800 natives. He took as his subject St. Pauls statement "Ye are the temples of the living God." The Bishop drove home with great emphasis a splendid lesson on the need for a deeper flow of the spiritual life. This sermon struck the key note, for the rest of the meetings. On Sunday, as there were so many communicants it was arranged that all the English speaking ones should partake of the Lord's Supper at 7 a.m. and those who understood Maori only to have their communion at 11 a.m. The Bishop celebrated at the first torvice and Archdeacon Williams at the second. There were about 90 communicants altogether. Porourangi, the magnificently carved tribal meeting house of the Ngatiporou, although the largest Maori house m existence, was not nearly large enough for the great crowd on Sunday. It was therefore arranged that all the Sunday gatherings should be held m the Open air. The Bishop preached to a congregation of over 1000 natives at 11 a.m. Several of the Maori clergy took various parts m the service. In the afternoon Evensong was held at 3, and the Bishop delivered a short address to the Pakehas present, and Rev. Nikora Tautau spoke to the Maori congregation. In the evening at 7. 30. a very interesting meeting was held m the open air, and special addresses were delivered by Archdeacon Williams, Revds. Goodyear, Wi Parairi and F. Bennett; their respective subjects being "The Church," "Practical Religion," "The Spiritual Life" and "Temperance." A feature of this gathering was the splendid singing by the four Maori Choirs present, each choir numbering about 40 voices. On Monday morning a celebration was held at 7 a.m. for the clergy and lay-representatives of the Synod, and the Bishop delivered a special address,

At 9 a.m. the offerings of the various Maori parishes were deposited m a large tin dish placed upon a table m the centre of the "Marae." This way of presenting offerings is a relic of the Communistic system of the Maori. Each Parish received an intimation that at the Hui Topu offerings would be received for Hukarere and Manutuke Church. The leaders m each of these Parishes set to work and collected a number of small sums from their parishioners. , On the day of the "pereti," (plate) a single representative of each Parish steps forward and m a few suitable remarks, deposits an amount into the collection plate. The following particulars may be of interest: — Waiapu, £292 14s; Hikurangi, £240; Kawakawa £47 Is; Te Kaha, £24 Is; Archdeaconry of Tauranga, £15 10s; ex-pupils of Hukarere at Kotorua, £25; Tokomaru, £19 4s 6d; Whangara, £12 0s 6d ; Nukutaurua, £12 ; Wairoa and Mohaka, £33; Hawke's Bay and Wairarapa, £7; Pakehas, £14 12s. Total £742 3s lOd. This amount was placed m the hands of the Hon. A. T. Ngata. He divided the amount as fololows: — For Hukarere Girls' School, £500; for Manutuki Church, £150 ; for expenses of gathering, £92 3s 10d;— total, £742 3s 10d. On Monday at 2.30, the Synod was continued. After passing about 36 resolutions, the meeting was closed at 10 p.m. On Tuesday two services were held, when the Bishop delivered addresses for the deepening of the Spiritual Life to the clergy and" layreaders.