NEW WHAKATO CHURCH.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume III, Issue 422, 27 February 1890, Page 3

NEW WHAKATO CHURCH.

[BX OUB SPECIAL ]

Hkasiso that the Church which lias lately been built at Whakato for the Maoris waa about to be formally opened, I resolved to pay a visit of inspection to the sacred edifice, and to see for the benefit of readers what preparations were being made for the opening. I felt, however, that it would be as well to have an introduction, so I hunted up Mr E. F Harris, who in bis usual obliging manner immediately acceded to my request, and penned, in what I’ve no doubt was elegant Macri, a letter to Earners te Heuheu. Armed with this I set out on Saturday last, and arrived at the Church shortly five o'clock. The natives were busy at work, and as I didn’t know by the name given the person to whom I was to be introduced, I made enquiries for Bsniera. I was directed to a portly figure reclining on the ground, and when I got near recognised an old identity in Haoiera Turoa. THS tNTROnCCTIOS.

Bsniera teeing that I was a pakeha who wanted him, came forward to greet me, and wa ebook hands as if we had known one another for years. Natives are always ready to ahake hands with the first stranger they meet, and never stand on ceremony when they ’do so. Our introduction took place under difficulties. Like Judge Barton, I have never been able to grasp the intricacies of the Maori language, and Raniera for hia part would not, I think, put up as a master of the Queen's English as spoken outside a Maori kainga. £ say outside the kainga, advisedly, for I did hear two natives endeavor to surpass one another in concealing their mother tongue by murderous onslaughts on the English language. The effect, though amusing, was not altogether a success. Neither Raniera nor I made any such attempt. We Simply looked at one another as it we would have liked to ponr out our feelings in words but didn't know how to. I handed to him Mr Harris' letter. Raniera eyed it sorpiciously at first, and then opened it and . elanced at the writing. The result was not P satisfactory. Mr Harris had indited bis remarks with the editorial pen which bad become sharpened by the pointed sarcasms which have run from it in times gone by. The paper he wrote on wae supplied by the office, which disdains such luxuries as cream laid note paper, Baniera, howerer, was patient, and bv dint of going through it over Jpd over again, »t last got an inkling of its meaning.

ABOCT TKB SKTTt.EIiSNT. Ranieri’s success was signalled by a self satisfied exclamation and remark which might have been Greek or might have been Maori. All I know is that it wasn’t English, as I am acquainted with that language. Then a shout went forth which I Understood to be a call for the key of the t* big bouse.” The natives call the Church the big honse. The key having been found, Baniera bethought himself of replying to Mr Harris’ note and thereupon sat down to do so. Wbile waiting I bad a look around. Tbe natives in all directions were busy, Some were clearing the thistles away from about the Church. Others were busy in prMTptftiotintf a banquet hull* This hall is 240 feet in length and about 18 broad, The sides are thatched with raupo, with spaces to enter left at intervals. The roof Fill be covered with canvas, and down tbe pentre of the structure will run a table papable of seating hundreds of guests who are to be invited for the opening day. Other patlves again were busy at a more aubstan tial structure, which is bpilt |n the shape of a ball, and i* about 72 feet long, 26 feet wide, and about 14 feat bleb. On this building only one European, the Maoris told me, had been engaged, and that he, with tbe assistance of the Maoris, did all the work in oonneotion with it. The naiives were then busy decorating it with slabs on which all kinds of impossible figures had been painted, and in which red and black predominated. The artists were hard at work, two of them being not so noticeable for the quality of the work done as for the fact that they worked sri|h white chokers, collars, and white cuffa, Which cirpumetance teemed to stamp them as artists of note.

IXSIDB THE CHCBCH. Baniera at length finished his writing, and expressed himself ready to go with me to the church. Both inside and out the church is finished in European style, and compares favorably with the other chorohes in Poverty Bay. It is only when you get inside that yon see anything at all that connects it with the Maoris, and this is in the slabs of native carving which adorn tbe Interior. Even with these it is a long way ahead of any other place of worship that has been built in the colony expressly for natives. The church was designed by Mr W. P. Finneran, architect, and reflects great credit upon its desiener. The contractor for its erection was Mr W. 0. Bkeet, and tbe mention of his name is a sufficient guarantee that the contract has been faithfully carried out to the satisfaction of tbe architect and bis employers. The 'clear length of the body of tbe church is 60 'rget, and af the Western end there is a semipptsgonal apse si; feet in depth, and fitted with three stained glass windows of exquisite design. The width of the main part of the church is 24 feet, and on th! North and South are two transepts, each 18 feet by 11 feet 6 inches. Behind tbe Southern transept stands a compact littly vestry, 12 feet by 10 feet. Just above the entranoe to the church, which Is from the East, a ffircnlar window of stained glass similarly in design to those already fpentymed has bedn let in, and odds materially to the effect, At ‘ intervals around the church carved slabs which have been taken from an old Maori church are inserted. These are really beautiful specimens of carvi - and are so disposed through the bu.,a;ng as to give it an appearance of massiveness, and the feeling of rrwnr"""" for the sacred building seems jfo be heightened by thsir presence. The Karvings are all in an excellent state of raresegvation and are well worth seeing'. The church had not its seats arranged at the time of my visit, but will, I am informed, seat between 300 end 400. While we were inspecting the church the signal for the natives to leave off work was given and my guide expressed a desire to go. I left the church, well satisfied with my inspection, und conscious ’ that the Maoris were iossessed of a' church of which they might yrell fee| prcnd. The church with its belfry peaching 80 feet from the ground,' forms a striking feature in the country, and pan be seen from a long distance off. The cast of the church was about &1000.

I have said the Maoris are proud of their church, and so they are, and look upon it as g. phenomenon, They tried to impress me with its greatness and grandeur. One thought'it-the best church in the world, put subsequently modified his statement by saying that he meant of Maori churches. Another informed me as gospel truth that several people were coming all the way from England to see tbe carvings in that church. Yet another desired to know whether I had ever seen better carvings than were in the church, and so on. The natives had left off work and were amusing themselves in their own way. The ■majority of them had assembled In the hall J have spoken of, and while one discoursed tweet mcslo with ths assistance b! a German gcncertitja, some venturesome native name forward and essayed to dw on Irish jig op a fiogtoh reel, in a fashion tftat h»d neyep been paralleled. The eff-ot on the audience Was immense, and thunders of applause greeted the termination of the exhibition. The first performer wu followed by others, who acquitted themselves Just a« creditably and received no Jeu applause. The parties then took partners, the majority being of the male sex, but one or two short skirted, wyrtoeatad stockinged ladies tripped the light fantastic toe, and'added to the •. Ictarozquemu of thescena. Wb; ; is. ? going on ■naotators, yonng and old, i— : io great glee, end evinced their enthusiasm in the Mapping of bands, stamping of feet, an ' load borsts of laughter. 8o far for inside the -ill. Outside a lovely young damsel was mak.,>g desperate love to a yonng fellow who didn t offer any objection worth speaking about, especially whin she threw Bar bash noon his Sriy bosom iff a style which would te the mtvv of a White girls. Another damsel sat SlflM a cigarette, in a self «»«’«•* »V. fituteg nowend M »in advice to the persons faaide the hsli as to their style of dancing. The wboteeaeißSd to be aoioyingthMirtleu tharoartiy. and seemed io M k happy jwd IMtKMtHII MM MlbM Wfty

wise when Baniera called on the young men to go through a haka on my behalf, TUB GUANO yiNALS. About 30 young mon formed up into lines, and performed a haka in very good time. The natives. I believe, assemble every evening to practise for a grand one that is to come off on the opening day. Raniera himself took part in thia one, and as he is not so young as be used to be, his movements were not altogether graceful, a fact which Raniera himself aemed to recognise, and by his own remarks made the subject of many hearty laughs. But it Raniera is not first class at performing a he is at least kindly and obliging, and evinced a great desire to accommodate and give information to the “ Perebi ” (Pre»s). He told me that on Friday (tomorrow) all the natives would ensemble at the kainga, that on Bunday the first aervioe would beheld in the church, and on Monday, March 3, the opening ceremony would take place. To thia he aaid be intended to invite Europeans, Americans, Nigg-'rs, Chinese, Russians, and, added Raniera, as if an afterthought had struck him—lrishmen. They were to have a great dinner, at which everything was to be done in European fashion, Raniera mentioning as his leading idea of the European fashion that there should be knives, forks, and plates. He would, he said, be in town daring the week, and would insert in the Press an invitation to his white friends. It was now getting late, and I set off to catch my steed, which bad strayed away. After some trouble, accompanied wherever I went with a chorus of canine yelps. I at last found my animal, mounted him, and set off for home—and kai.

To Raniera Turoa (or te Heuheu) —Salutations ! Omy friend. This is the message of the “ Perehi ” unto you. Your kindness was exceeding great. In return accept our thanks. That is all from the Press !