MAORI MISSION RECRUITS.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 29, Issue 2, 1 April 1938, Page 1

MAORI MISSION RECRUITS.

It is with a real feeling of thankfulness to God that we welcome several new workers to the Maori Mission field. In the Wellington. Diocese Miss Grace Bargrove has been appointed to take the place of Miss Kenworthy, to carry on the mission work, m the Otaki-Levin district. Like Miss Kenworthy, Miss Bargrove will be a C.M.S. missionary placed under the direction of the Wellington Maori Mission Authorities. She is a sister of Sister Bargrove, who is doing such splendid work m China. She had a short experience as a teacher m Polynesia, after which she went through the course of training at St. Faith's House m Christchurch, and for the past two years has been Matron of that institution. At the time of writing she is having a few weeks' practical experience of Maori Mission work under Miss Newman at the Mission House at Ruatoki. It is hoped that very shortly we shall be able to build a Mission House on the section adjoining the Maori Church at Otaki, and Miss Bargrove will make this her headquarters for working the district from Levin, to Waikanae. She is to make her home with Mrs Swabey, of Otaki, until the new house is built. Miss Roberta. Taylor joined the staff of the Ruatoki Mission House just before Christmas, and is there training under Miss Newman for Maori Mission work. She has gained the St. John Ambulance diploma, has passed the Matriculation examination m Maori, and has had. special training m the work of the Girl Guides. She gave up a good position m an office m Auckland to devote her life to the work amongst the Maoris. Miss Muriel Seymour, of Te Awamutu, has just joined the staff of the Whakarewarewa Mission House. She too has felt a very definite call to the work of the Maori Mission, and will receive her training experience under Miss Snoad, who has been appointed Superintendent of the Whaka House m the place of Miss Bulstrode, who with her sister, Miss

Emily, retired at the end of the year!: Miss Bulstrode, who is a specially qualified trainer of mission workers, has undertaken to help Miss Seymour m the theoretical part of her training. Miss Nora Coulter, of Rotorua, has been just over a year at the Mission House at Ruatoki. She has almost completed the Board of Missions Test, and is assisting m the work at Ruatoki until she is finally, accepted for work m Melanesia, to which she has felt a special call. She lias a great gift for the teaching and management of children, and her leaving for the Island field when the time comes will be a decided gain to Melanesia and a loss to us; but we shall be proud to think that the Maori Mission has trained a worker for Melanesia. Miss Snoad has received a cable from an English friend of hers, at present m Canada, expressing her readiness to join her m the work at Whakarewarewa. A year ago we were wondering who was going to fill the many gaps which were appearing m the ranks of our Maori Mission workers, through the retire^ nient of 013 and experienced memhers'of the staffs; but the last two months have shown .us piice again that when God calls one of His labourers to well earned rest, He can always supply a recruit to take the place. ' . \ \