THE OLD STONE CHURCH.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 616, 15 March 1921, Page 5

THE OLD STONE CHURCH.

VISITED BY LORD JELLICOE. SOME HISTORIC ASSOCIATIONS. VALUABLE COLLECTION OF CURIOS. If Lord Jellicoe is seeking to make himself the most popular GovernorGeneral New Zealand ever had, he certainly appears to be going the right way about it, for he takes advantage of many of his spare hours to visit places of historic interest and become acquainted with the people with whom he deals. Not only al public functions does he show a desire for a further understanding, but he even arranges private engagements which will bring him in contact with those who are in the middle stations of life rather than with men who hold high office. His interest in the history ,of this province prompted him last Sunday fortnight to pay a visit to the residence of the late Rev. Gideon Smales, who was a missionary and pioneer of New Zealand. With Lady Jellicoe he evinced much interest in the historic associations of the “Old Stone Church ” and examined the many curios that are collected in the family museum. These include a large number of arrows poisoned from the blood of dead men’s bodies, and brought to the Dominion from the Pacific Islands; an earthenware pot reported to be 2000 years old and made by a race that inhabited Easter Island, in the Pacific, long ages ago; a shark’s tooth carved out of greenstone, and said to be the only one in the Dominion; and diverse paddles and canoes artistically carved. Besides these valuables the family also has a small collection on exhibition a;; the Museum in Auckland. This latter includes a piece of carving about 30in by 18in, being a portraiture of Tamiti Waka Nene and his six wives, which was presented to Rev. Smales by that chief as a token of his appreciation of the successful efforts of the missionary to preserve peace at a critical period.

The Surrounding Districts. Their Excellencies climbed up the Matanginui Hill, the interpretation of which meant that it could not be taken wihout much slaughter. It is part of the farm belonging' to Mr Smales and was purchased in 1842 by the Rev. G. Smales at the time he was doing missionary work up north. From the top of this hill a splendid look out was obtained over the surrounding country, all portions of the country as far as the Waikato Heads and the distant reaches of the Kanukau Harbour coming within vision on the west, while on the east the longstrip of the Coromandel peninsula lay in silhouette against the sky line. The bill itself was terraced, carrying one back to the time when it was the largest pa for many miles around. Out towards Westfield could be seer. the hill on which the Otahuhu watertower stands. On this hill Rev. Smales stood more than three-quar-ters of a century ago. In 1840 he looked down from it on what was called the Portage Road, owing to the fact that it was along this track the Maoris carried their canoes from the Waitemata to the Manukau. This ran approximately from where the Westfield saleyards are situated across to the Otahuhu cemetery, a distance of about a mile. It is the narrowest strip of land separating the east coast from the west in the North Island. The clump of native bush on the lower reaches of the hill represented the olct'. Maori burial ground. This was at one time a picturesque little spot and had paths laid out among the stones; but Ihese had long been covered by brambles and undergrowth as to be scarcely identified. They descended from the bill and Lord Jellicoe spent a short time in the cowshed watching the herd of some 90 cows being milked bv machines. He was afterwards shown the electricity plant of the home, comprising a small engine and storage batteries. This supplies all the lighting and is run at small expense When the party broke up Their Excellencies carried away with them very pleasant reminiscences of the couple of hours they spent at the homestead. A Peace Maker. Rev. Smales was the first man to bring a horse into the Dominion. This he bought at Sydney and sent, for it, bearing all the expenses entailed, for be could not persuade the authorities there to furnish him with one to carry him to the various places where be was engaged in missionary work. ]; was a fine stamp of horse and took him on many a long journey, both north and south. Rev. Smales afterwards spoke of the difficult journeys he accomplished by the aid cf his faithful steed. It frequently sworn the Waikato river with him on his back. The increased facility for It a veiling enabled him to exercise his influence among a large body of na-

tives, and he seemed to have the power of inspiring them with confidence, which enabled him to preserve peace at many times when there were bitter feelings between them and the white people. His command over the Maori language, too, made him a useful agent of the Governor, who regarded him as an authority on all matters appertaining to the Maoris, and often appealed to him for advice. Rev. Smales wrote of his life in the early days that he “spent many an hour in allaying the oft-disturbed minds and restless spirits of the natives.” Some idea of the influence he exercised over their deliberations is gathered from the fact that at one time Nene offered 700 of his chosen warriors to assist the white people against the Maoris who “threatened to drive them into the sea.” For this and other deeds the chief was granted a pension of £IOO a year until his death on August 4, 1871. The monument erected to his memory at Russell has inscribed upon it* “in tribute to the first to welcome the Queen’s sovereignty in New Zealand and a consistent supporter of the pakeha for upwards of 51 years dutifully assisted the council and husbanded the cause of the white man.” Building of the Church. “ The Old Stone Church,” was built entirely at the cost of Rev. Smales In 1855, and is believed to be one of the only two private churches in the Dominion. Cement was not available, but that difficulty was overcome by using shell lime, made from shells which were collected from deposits'" or. the hill. The work was ih the hands of a Scotch stonemason. Assisted by Rev. Smales, he collected a number, of large stones and shaped them into blocks. These, cemented together, made a strong shell, while inside the building was lined with heart of rimu. There Rev. Smales preached every Sunday to people of all denominations. It is only recently that Presbyterian and Methodist churches have been built in the district, and now, in consequence of the smaller attendance, services are held there only once a month. During the Maori war the church served as a military outpost. No fighting ever took place in the immediate vicinity, the nearest centre of hostilities being Whitford, where a white man was murdered. Many of the veterans who served in the war were later given land at Panmure, Howick, Pakuranga and Onehunga in appreciation of \ their services. Before closing this i little history, it would be interesting ■ to gather some idea of the stature of j the Maoris a century ago. A lower j jaw bone found by Rev. Smales and | new in possession of the family will easily fit over the jaw of a man and from this it is a fair assumption that the native to whom it belonged had n head twice the size of a white man’s, and that he must have been a giant in height. The formation of the hone is perfect.