Matawai.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume VIII, Issue 1, 1 July 1917, Page 8

Matawai.

Vicar : Rev. J. Pigott.

The latt two months has seen several changes m tha parish. From Otoko wo have' lost Mrs Hamilton who was .always a great help m all the Church work and a communicant. From Matawai we have lost Mr and Mrs Buscke and Miss Holmes. Mr and Mrs Buscke have been m the district many years and will be greatly missed. Iv the days when there was no resident clergyman in 1 Matawai at all their sitting room' was frequently used as a Church, where the neighbours gathered for a Sunday Evensong. They will be remembered, perhaps, most on account of their readiness to help those m difficulties, trouble or sickness. They were cheerful givers and "God loveth a cheerful giver." Miss Holmes had only been with us for about eighteen months but was a regular communicant and had taken complete charge of the Matawai Sunday School. Living some two miles away she gave, up every Sunday afternoon, wet and dry, to teaching the young the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God. The Ladies' Guild and Sunday School met m the Church on the last Sunday

m May to bid her farewell. ; A short service was held, after which she was presented with a little book from the children and a fountain Sen from the Ladies 1 Guild, Mr and Mrs tusoke arid Miss Holmes have gone to the Opotiki parish and Mrs Hamilton to Merivale, Christchurch. We welcome back Mrs Smith and Miss Howe who have done useful work for the Church m Matawai _ before, and the latter has now taken charge of the Sunday School. We still need another teacher. The Ladies' Guild meets on the last Wednesday m each month, they are now working for the Sale of Work at the usual time at the beginning of December. The Prayer Circles at Matawai and Otoko are still kept up, the former takes the form of an Intercession- Service m the Church every Wednesday evening at 7. 15 J. -the latter meets about once a month at Mrs Bilham's house. Services are now hold once a month m Mr Mac Lean's Woolshed at Oponae, the Vicar regrets that on account of this Service, he is only able to get to Motu on the fourth and fifth Sundays.