Pukapuka Spends

Centenary

Celebrations

Pukapuka Spends Annual Income In 3 Days

THERE were some raised eyebrows and a good deal of adverse com ment in Rarotonga in May over

a report from Pupapuka—generally

considered as one of the poorer islands of the Cook Group—that over £5,000 had been spent there in connection with the recent London Missionary Society centenary celebrations.

The mission ship John Williams departed the island with £BOO in sash and a very large quantity of mats, hats, and rolls of sinnet rope aboard. Livestock eaten included 150 pigs and 430 fowls, in addition to much taro and other foodstuffs.

The sum of £5,000 is about equal to the total value of exports for an entire year from the atoll, which das an estimated land area of 1,250 acres and a population of 600 — JPS.

The following report is from the Widal “Cook Islands News” of May 15: For the past 2 years the people af Pukapuka have been preparing :or the centenary celebrations. Each member of the LMS Church sub icribed £4 and mats, hats and sinnet vere made in great quantities. The •aising of extra fowls and pigs and ;he planting of extra taro was also indertaken.

On May 5, the John Williams VI, jarrying the official visitors, arrived ;arly in the morning to set off a lay of excitement and rejoicing for ;veryone.

Large canoes decorated with palm eaves and manned by native varriors wearing the heathen ;ostumes of their ancestors inter ;epted the vessel and, with the Chief’s canoe in the lead, circled ler twice, singing a chant before foing alongside.

The Official party was then taken ishore to the very beach where the irst early missionaries had landed, iere the party was “attacked” by he Pukapuka warriors, just as the irst two pastors of the island, Luka md Maori, had been attacked.

After the “attack,” the party pre ceded to the various important >oints, where Luka and Maori were aken in the early days, and finally o the Church grounds where the )rayers and speeches of welcome vere made. Speakers here included he RA, Mr. Pamatatau, the Rev.

Hatanle, the Rev. Mr. Thorogood, md the Resident Commissioner, Mr. 7evill.

On Sunday, May 6, special church lervices were held, with an Uapou n the evening.

Monday, May 7, was the final day

of celebrations. The Boys’ Brigade and Girl Guides paraded, with Mr.

Nevill and Rev. Mr. Thorogood taking the salute. The neatness and impressive marching of both groups was commented on by all.

Next, Tarainga, an orator, with Mr. David Hosking interpreting, impressively read out the history of the gospel in Pukapuka, the taking away of one hundred of the people by the Peruvian slavers to Callao, and the last of all the names of the pastors who have served in Pukapuka from 1857 to 1956.

Following this were demonstrations of coconut husking and wrestling.

Finally, on the programme, was the presentation of gifts, which ineluded £5OO in cash to the LMS

Board in London; £3OO in cash to the LMS Churches in the Cook Islands; 175 mats, 113 hats, 178 sinnet (kawa), 3 wrestling smnet (kawamalo); 3 wrestling wrappers (talo); 1 wooden drum (nawa); 2 kits; 1 trolling mother-of-pearl fish-hook. About 150 pigs, 430 fowls, 200 coconut crabs, and many kinds of fish, as well as large quantities of taro and taro puddings were prepared during the party’s stay. .

It has been estimated that total expenses of the celebrations cattle to over £5,000.

The Mauke people, represented by Aitu Rairi and Raita Tararo, gave a Holy Bible with its wooden stand made of tou to be rested on the high pulpit.