Tauranga.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume VII, Issue 9, 1 June 1917, Page 97

Tauranga.

Vicar: Archdeacon Tyke. Lay Readers : Messrs. G. J. Butcher, F. A. Stevens.

Before this issue is circulated I am hoping to visit Opotiki and Whakatane. Archdeacon Ruddock very kindly consented to take my Whit-Sunday Services to set me free for this visit. This will enable me to take the Services on Whit-Sunday at Opotiki for the Vicar, who will be able then to attend the Mission at Whakatanej where I hope also to spend a day or two on the return journey. The Mission is being taken by the Rev. C. G. Mutter. We pray th'ait much blessing may attend it. '■-•■>'"•. Our annual Confirmation will be held, oi^

Sunday evening, June 10th, when we hope that our Bishop will have favourable weather for his work m this district, and will have; fully recovered from the effects of his severe rheumatism contracted on a very wet journey earlier m the year. . The Confirmees have been most regular m their attendance, many coming some miles through bad roads to their classes. The Sunday Schoolroom will shortly have the electrio light installed m it. This is being arranged through the offer of the Junior Guild, which the Vestry thankfully accepted. . The Service held at Oropi this month was well attended. It was. a Lautern Service; and though the road was not too good for carrying slides over, everything got there safely. The Service was much appreciated. The read. to Whakamarama was too bad after heavy rain to attempt such a Service there, so the ordinary Service was held for the few who attended. Mr and Mrs Sharplin most kindly hospitalised me as did Mrs. N. Kensington -.at Oropi. Next day I visited the Omokoroa people and drove home m a downpour and a heavy thunderstorm which made the road almost beyond foothold for any horse. Our Sundays have unfortunately been wet for so long that the attendance has not been encouraging. Still there has been no excuse for many of our strong and .younger members. The Picture Shows can draw crowds on a bad night, but a shower will keep many away from a Service. Several of our parishioners have responded well to the Wardens' appeal for a Stipend Fund. We hope many more will do the same, and that m our next notes we may be able to say that all have sent m their quota of support. We especially ask those who do not often attend to support the efforts of those who regularly give m the offertory. Much sympathy will be given to Mrs Macrae who has just lost her husband, Mr Lewis Couillard Macrae, whose end came to-day after a long life of nearly eightyeight years. Mr Macrae was for many years a devoted member of the Church and much respected and beloved by those who were priveleged to know him. His earnest and devout character will be long remembered, Mr Whitcombe auother old parishioner is lying very ill m the hospital. Mrs Macdonald from Ngawarro is also there and we are glad to say favourably progressing. The Belfry tower, erected through .the energy of our late esteemed Churchwarden, is still incompleted. The Vestry feel that an appeal to all our Church people for small sums m order to complete it and paint it could well be made, seeing how deeply respected the late Mr Philpotts was by all who knew him, who will surely Wish to help to complete this memorial of his last labour for the Church.