Waipawa.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XIX, Issue 2, 1 August 1928, Page 7

Waipawa.

Vicar : Rev. T. Pigott. % June 2&th, St. Peter's Day, tlie 'patronal festival m- ( Waipawa, tlhe initial meetings of 'the Mothers' Union were held. • ■ ' Matins were said at 7 a.m., Celebra- - tibn of the -Holy Communion at 10 a.m., Mothers Union Office and Litany at 2-30 p.m. We were very grateful to Mrs Henley for coming from Napier to address the afternoon meeting. The day was one of the worst we have had this winter, rain and snow falling m the morhing, , but about a dozen mothers turned up and received inspiration from the services and address. Mrs Anderson was appointed Presiding Member, Mrs MacGregor Hon Setc. and Treasurer, and Mrs Pigott Delegate to the Diocesan Council. • Great gloom was cast over this town on July 3rd,, when it became known about 5.30 p.m. that Mr Herbert IMelville Rathbone, the Mayor, had been accidentally knocked. down by a motor lorry and rendered unconscious. He was taken, iihmediately to Sister Anderson's Hospital, at Waipukurau,

but never recovered consciousness, slipping away about 9 a.m. the next day. A flood of sympathy went out to the widow and stricken family, who bore up bravely under tlhe awful shock. Mr Rathbone had been a regular attendant at St. Peter's, and his funeral on July 6th was one of the largest ever held m AVaipawa. A 1 short service was held at "Abbotsford," his home, at which Canon Cullwick, a former Vicar of Waipawa, read tfhe Lesson, Plsalm and Prayers provided m our Special Service Book. The Borough Councillors acted as pall-bearers, and the solemn procession, headed by the Vicar and Canon Cullwick, m robes, made for the cemetery through the main streets of the town, Waipawa piaid silent tribute to the memory of its chief citizen ; flags were half-masted and all bui sines s places [closed. At the cemetery the clergy were joined by the Rev Canon Rice and the Rev. R. Hall. The opening part of the service was read m procession by the Rev. Hall, the Lesson by the Rev. Canon Rice, the Committal to the end of tjhe Lord's Prayer by the Vicar, and the concluding Collects by the Rev. Canon Cullwick. Mr A. E. Jull read the Oddfellows address, on behalf of the Lodge, whose members were all present m regalia, and then the Vicar pronounced the Benediction. Memorial services at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. the following Sunday were largely attended by members of the family and sorrowing townspeople. The Diocese was represented at the graveside by the Dean of Waiapu and the Archdeacon of Hawke's Bay. On Saturday, July 14th, the Bishop of the Diocese arrived m the parislh, and we were all glad to see his face once more. Saturdajy afternoon was spent up at Abbotsford Home. On Sunday the day started with a Celebration of Holy Communion at 8 a.m. m St. Peter's, at which the Bishop was Celebrant. Another Holy Communion service was held at Onga at 10.30, followed by a Confirmation Service at 11.15, at which four adults were presented. In the afternoon the Bishop went out to Tamumu and preached, and m the evening conducted a Confirmation at St. Peter's. At the beginning of this last service the Bishop dedicated a beautiful Litany Desk, kindly donated by Mr James Prattley, m memory of William Augustus Marsden Cockerill, Acting Vicar of Waipawa, 1913. After this ceremony there was an adult baptism — Louisa Burt, and then the Confirmation. The congregations at St. Peter's and Onga were excellent, aPd they listened attentively to the Bishop's impressive ad-*

dresses. Sixty-three communicants made their communions at the two services, and twenty-five candiates were presented for Confirmation. On Monday evening a vestry meeting was held at the Vicarage, which, the Bishop attended. The two main things discussed were Church property and Duplex Finance. In regard to the former, it was decided to seek permission to sell the present Vicarage and adjoining cow paddock, with a view to building a new Vicarage on the more conveniently situated site next the church. We are working hard at the direct giving and the results, are '(most encouraging. Next year Ithe Bishop will £o to Tikokino