Letter from the Bishop.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume V, Issue 2, 1 August 1914, Page 14

Letter from the Bishop.

Bishopscourt. HSy dean: People, ■; I regret that I was unable m last Thorith's^number to give an acqotint of my visit to that part of the Dioce*2 which lies immediately north -of Napier — a tour which began ;at Gisborne and ended at Wairoa: I reached Gisborne, accompanied by Mrs Sedgwick, on June 3rd, ;after a delightful passage from Napier. There we were met by the "Vicar, and one of his parishioners, Mr Nicholls, who kindly drorve us m his motor to the Vicarage where we received a' warm welcome. There was" a civic reception m theScottish Hall m the evening of Thursday, June 4th, the Mayor presiding, and I shall not easily forget the warm welcome which we received at the hands of the city fathers. But the never to be forgotten thing was the way m which the .Church people of Holy Trinity, Gisborne, raised the sum of ,£l,lOO on Trinity Sunday, the day of their Patron al Festival. I am most thankful for this splendid effort, not only because it relieves the parish of a heavy portion of the debt, but it is further testimony to what ■can be done by prayer and selfsacrifice. I look forward hopefully to the time when all God's work will be done by direct giving, and bazaars and such like will be abolished. I wasi able 'to visit the surrounding district and saw with interest the steady expansion of the town, and realised the need of a strong clerical staff to meet the corresponding growing spiritual needs of the place. At Kaiti there is a good Mission Church which is now 'free of debt. One of the parishioners said thai: if the 00 was given on Trinity Sunday m the Parish Church, he would be responsible for the remaining debt (,£400) on the Kaiti Mission Church. This "he has generously done, I was also welcomed at Mangapapa Mission Hall where we st>ent -a delightfully happy evening. Here we shall have a Church before very long, for the people are spiritually alive and keen. I had the great pleasure too of meeting the C.E.M.S. members of Holy Trinity at a social gathering. It was at this meeting that the -.men decided to make a great effort

to* ; raise the remaining sum of something under for next Trinity Sunday, and with it will go the last burden of debt, on the Parish Church, tl have prpiiiisjed to be there; to consecrate; if. I ? bjeljeye 1 : shiait- ■ ;\ :' r '-j-[ i,.|^: i:. "1.. ,. \ After this happ)^ time &t Gisborne, 1 went to Paha where I was the guest of Mr h. Maclean, and on Sunday, June 14th, I reopened, the little Maori Church at Paha. The Church was full ."'to. overflowing. Here after service we were hospitably entertained at "lunch by the Maori congregation. At Paha I am placing a young Maori deacon after Christmas. On Sunday evening J preached at Patutahi where we had a full Church and bright, service, and a warm welcome fr*om the Vicar and his wife, Mr and Mrs Eawnsley. I am afraid that I am exceeding my space, so must leatve my Wairoa trip for the next issue. My visit to Gisborne was a very happy one, for I realised afresh what we are sometimes inclined to forget, that with all the superficial irreligion, there are strong, staunch, hearts that beat m harmibny with the heart of Christ, and are, therefore, capable of self-sacrifice. The Church of Christ is a living. < Church and the dear old Church of England is a living, part of it. I am, Yours very sincerely m Christ, Wm. WALMSLEY WAIAPU.