The Bishop among the Maoris.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume V, Issue 6, 1 December 1914, Page 63

The Bishop among the Maoris.

His I^ordship the Bishop arrived at Rotorua on Friday, October 29 th, and left on the day following for Tauranga. We arrived at our destination about 3.30 p.m., and after partaking of afternoon tea at the Rev. and Mrs Rice's artistically arranged new Vicarage, we went on to see the Rev. Ropere at the " Knoll." Here the Bishop went m to a number of questions re Maori Mission properties, repairs and renovation of the " Knoll," etc. It was discovered that when it rained, buckets and empty benzine tins had to be put into every room to catch the water as it trickled through the ceiling. Sunday morning and evening the Bishon spent with the pa&ehas. In the afternoon we went across the harbour m the Mission launch to a settlement called Matapihi. There was a very large gathering of Natives as well as pakehas here who had assembled from all atiarters to witness a fashionable Maori wedding. A brass band was also m attendance. The wedding was to

have taken place m the morning. On our arrival with the Bishop at 2.30 p.m., we were informed that the marriage was off, for the bride had eloped with a former lover of hers who had come all the way from Opotiki, then paddled across the harbour m a boat, and carried the bride off with him about 9 p.m. the previous night. ' The Natives rushed down about twenty minutes later to give chase. There was a launch anchored not far out. They scrambled on board, but they couldn't get the engine to . s.tart Cnot knowing how), so they poled the launch across to Tauranga. But the bride with her pakeha lover had meanwhile got a motor car and were off to no one knew where. Later it was .discovered that they had gone to Te Puke. The bridegroom took the matter a uite . philosophically, for he placed two chairs before the photographer, on to one he placed the wedding 1 garments and ring- of the bride, and on the other he sat nuite calm and collected. This is the only memento he now has of what promised to be a very interesting function. Fortunately for us the Bishop refused \to liave anything to do with a Sunday weddinor. But as Ropere had agreed to the wedding- he was sent over m the morning- to carry out the function and the Bishop was due to arrive when everything was over. As soon as the Bishop arrived on the Marae, short speeches of welcome wpre irtade by the three leading- chiefs . After we had both responded, an empty benzine tin was rprnii«si'tioried and m response to its anything- but musical tones, the bio-wlipre-rnnancra. was soon pao^d with a big- conereg-ation. The Bishop took a grip o f the situa-< t.ion and decided that we should have a short Mission service. He t^ok as his subiect " The Cross of Christ," and made a strong- appeal •to his audience to realise the love of Ood as_ SRPti through, the Cross of Christ. The maioritv of these people are not ' really Christian. Ma.tiv are descendants of Hauh'aus and others are indifferent. The bitterness resulting from the wars and from the confiscation of their lands are. not altogether forgotten yet. On Tuesday, November 3rd, the Bishop went out to Maunga+apu, where stands the only Maori Church m this district. An openair conference was held m front of

the Church, when the Natives brought up the matter of handing over the Church- site to the Diocesan Trustees, also a request for a successor to the late Rev. Canon Goodyear, and financial assistance towards enlarging the Church, and the Maori Church Board Hui to be held there for the Tauranga Archdeaconry. After the Conference a short service was held m . the Church, when the Church was nearly filled with an earnest and interested congregation. On Wednesday our party consisted of the Bishop, Rev. and Mrs Rice, Rev. Ropere, Tom (an able and willing Native), and self. We started out at 10 a.m. to visit some settlements on a large island between the Mount and Katikati. At Rangiwaea my messenger arrived to say we were expected at a place about a mile arid a half further on. We walked on and found a small child had died the previous evening. We all conformed to the Maori customs and entered the house of death and did respect to the dead, after which followed the speeches and a short open-air service. We then descended the hill and eot on board a -dray, and were making our way m the sea for our launch which was about 200 yards out. Unfortunately, the horse and cart- jrot into the mud and could not p/et out of it. We began to sink imtil the water iust a*>out touched the floor. The Maori driver offered at once to p-et I.ls out of a hole by carryi ng us one hv one to the launch. He then tried to p-et the cart out with no one m it, but the t)oor horse could not ranvp it As the tide was cotnincr mhe evident.lv decided. to leave the cart there, for when we passed about two hours later, we could just see the iron tor> of the cart. All the rest was submerp-ed. We p/ot back at 8 t).m. At Kutaroa we. had^.a very -interesting meeting. The old t)e.ot)le informted the Bishot) that no Bishop had ever visited that part before. On Thursday we went out to Wairoa, where the Bishot) baptised four Maori children, and gaive an address to about twenty adults and a larp/e number of children from Miss Baker's school. On Friday we left for Te Puke and held service at Te Manoeka at 5 p.m., and on Saturday went on to Te Matai and held service there at 5 jm*v ' ' "■ ' . ;■; ; '.;

On Sunday afternoon we left Te Puke at 2.30 and arrived at Rotorua at -5.45 p.m. # On Sunday morning the Bishop met the Maori clergy and layreaders at Ohinemutu, and held a conference and prayers m the new Maori Mission Church. He went out to the Whakarewarewa Mission House for lunch and caught the p.m. train on his way back to Napier. The Bishop had splendid weather and a very interesting- and memorable tour.