Letter from the Bishop.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume V, Issue 3, 1 September 1914, Page 26

Letter from the Bishop.

Bishppscourt. f | Augullfß|h, 1914. Myldfaif'J^opiej £jf f ;,| i f f *|" if am afriidithat)l=am= scto^ia| liatg m recording ivy trip to Wairo& and Frasertown, but it is yet fresh. m my memory, so I will do so. I left ".Naurea," the home of Archdeacon and Mrs Williams, where I had been their guest on Monday, the Archdeacon driving me down to meet the Gisborne--^ Wairoa coach. It was cold and forbidding and soon settled down to heavy driving rain. The driver was a cheery person and would not let the rain damp our spirits, only ourselves, he having forgotten to bring the waterproof sheets. He :said apologetically (?) that it was .good to forget things sometimes ; it was the only way of being remembered ! and m this he was quite right. I have not forgotten liim. We reached Morere three hours late m pitchy darkness, and thoroughly chilled. Left m the morning m pouring rain. It was my intention to stay at Nuhaka and hold a service for the Maoris, but m such pouring rain there was no Tiope of a congregation, so I went through by coach to Wairoa. The Vicar met me and I was glad to get his warm welcome and the cheery fireside. On the Thursday, at 7 a.m., we had a 1 Celebration of Holy Communion m the Parish Church at "Wairoa. Alter breakfast the Rev. Hemi Huata, the Maori priest m ■charge of Wairoa, drove me as far as Waihua, where we had lunch with Mr and Mrs Glendinning, who gave us a kindly welcome. Here the Rev. Heiiare Wainohu, the Maori priest m charge of Mohaka, met me, and after lunoh we continued our journey to Mohaka, ; ■crossing the river by a wire bridge m a box for the river was m heavy flood. At Mohaka I was -the guest of Henare. In the evening I held a Confirmation m S. James', the Maori Church. The 'Church, which is a large one, was full, and. eight candidates received the rite of confirmation. On Friday I rode back to Wairoa witli " Henare, visiting several settlers on the way. On Sunday, Holy Communion at 1 Wairoa English Church, service at « 11 a.m., with Holy Communion m ■]

thejlM^qri Church at Ruataniwha, wbebre; there was a good congregation; I/unched witk the Maoris and held an afternoon service : Then on ito* Frasertowu, motored by a kinjd friend}, ancl .vpr^eachejd .pi,, the .evening. The? Church? waslMl.l . ■'.■ ■•;• ? jS ";■ '. ■•-'■ .■;:>■ i' : ■ i =3 v ''■:■>■ .7 *■ ;pri Monlday I left fo^|TmirQto 6n| horseback^ with the Vicar ibf'Frasertown, m piercingly cold weather, visiting en route. We had an evening service m the School and I was theri™~we^ Butler is doing, good work as a lay reader. We left Tiniroto on our Teturri" journey," calling at th£ ; Maori" Pah at Te Reinga, where we had a service, which the Maoris much appreciated. A social of welcome at Frasertown m the evening. Wednesday afternoon, : motored back to \Vairoa «and took the funeral of Mr Mitchell, an old Maori warrior who had fought for us m the Maori Wars, addressed \ the communicants m Wairoa Church m the evening, and met th c Vestry m the Vicarage afterwards. On Thursday I celebrated Holy Communion m Wairoa Church at 7.30. Addressed children m day school at 10.30. Visited m the afternoon, and was entertained at a social m the evening. On Saturday T drove with Hemi to Nuhaka, where I was hospitably entertained by kind friends. Met the Church people m the School X oom m the, evening : very wet and cold. Small attendance. Sunday : Morning service at 10.30 a.m., with Holy Communion for English and Maori ; a good attendance of English. At Nuhaka there is a large Maori population. The Maori Vicarage is now completed,' and here I hope to put a strong Maori priest. Nuhaka seems to me to be the place m the Diocese that especially needs attention arid love and prayers. It would respond to a loving ministration, and real self-sacrifice, but I have no one m view, and we need someone at once. Will you pray that such a priest may be found to take up again the work here which is crying but for a man. On Tuesday I left Wairoa for Napier by the "Magic." We didnot do twenty knots but we got here, and the captain was most kind. ■ ; '■:'■• ■ . ■•■■ ■■; - .:■■■.: ■'. •.■' I wish I could visit Wairoa oftener. Some day I hope to get a motor car, and. then I will keep m close touch with it, and. with Mohaka and Nuhaka. I can then run

up when I have an fbddfday to spare- ■ . ■ \i : .-j Since my Wakoa visit things Jiaye happened. Europe is plwigtp info war, and Britain j is taking her share m it - with Jher usual gallantry arid courage. The sons, o. New Zealand have, responded splendidly to the call %of the Empire. Let us do our part and remember them daily m our prayers ... I have: issued .prayers ior , the clergy to use at our services. Copies of these can be obtained for private :, use, on a^ Mr J . B Fielder, Diocesan Secretary, Napier. •_.,-;.;-. ; •^■•<'\V^^ ■' .■./■'■: -i . ' May God m His mercy grant us deliverance, arid may we humbly learn the lesson He would teach us. ■■ . I am, ; .■'••:: .■. • ■ ■ Yours very sincerely m Christy Wm. WAIvMSLEY WAIAPTT.