CARRYING-ON THE MINISTRY

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 31, 30 October 1937, Page 13

CARRYING-ON THE MINISTRY

Early Days in Puketapu District HARD RIDES & LONG DAYS The difficulties of carrying-on the Anglican ministry in the early days in the' Puketapu church district, and the wonderful hospitality that was show'n by the. settlers, among whom matters spiritual oeCupied a prominent part in their lives, was related in an interview by the Rev. H. W. Klingender who, 40 years ago, was stationed at Puketapu. Loug journeys in th© "wet apd cold in the raddle and the frequent fording of >rivej-s, aithcugh spmetimea diffitult wero a joy because of the love shown by the settlers for the church and its work.v A iaige roomful of people coald' be e^pected at practically every service, no' matter how far out in the back-blocks, and Mr Klingender sa-ys that an enthusiasm was shown that. would do cfedit. to any church to-day. Mr Klingender said that the holding of services in many of the places n.eaiit tbe.spending of much time away i'om home, but this was made up for by the. hospitality of settlers with whom be was aiways welcome to stay as long as he iiked. I'nketitin Services Moathly ee-.Tict-s were held in the nuoning at Puketitiri, for which Mr Klingender would leave on a Friday and stay with 11 r I'avid Carswell, a loyal churchman. The Puketitiri people, he saiu, were guoci churchgoors, with the resuit that the.e were aiways good com grbgatibus, aUough somo of the settlers had to ride many miles. The same afternoon he would hold a service at the Patoka woolshed whcre several families aiways congregated. At shearing time in any of the wool-sheds services used to be exceptionally good, stated Mr Klingender. • Men. used to sit rou'ud on tho bales while the sheep were in the pona ready for the next- morning. "Th© shearers nsed to sing the hymns most hoartily and tkey used to listen to the services like lambs. It used to be a joy to preach to them," he said. Another service would be held in the evening at Rissington whero there was aiways a ready response by the settlers. To the late Mr Francis Hutchiiison he was particularly indebted, who aiways showed unfailing kiudness. At Mangawhare, in .the regidence now owned by Mr Frank Hildreth, services were most popular with the settlers and station employees. To reach this place inyolved the crossing of the Tutaekuri river vi'a Mangatutu, whare a call was aiways made on Mr Sheild, father of the present well-known family. The same afternoon a service would be heid at Tunanui.

Occa-sionally, when he visited Mangawhare, Mr Klingender said that he went on to Kuripapanga and heid a service in the dining-room of the hotel which had since been burnt down. Other places across the range visited during shearing time were Ohaku and Mohatiga over the Rangitikei river. At all three placed would be a roomful of peoplp anx'ipus to have a service. A Difficult Visit Ono of the most diilicult places of access that lie used to visit was VVhana whana, owing to the fording ol: the river, which, he said, was ofteu u lerrible place to get th rough, being oquallv as bad as tho Rangitikei river. lii order to keep his service- books aud equipment dry, Mr G. ii. Beamish presented him with a special saddie t»ag which was still serviceable. Occasioualiy services were heid at the Ukavvu nomcstead, but Fernhill then used to serve as a ceatre for a Jarge district. TLere CupLain and Alrs Hill used to take a'n active part and give most useful assistance. In Puketapu services were held rogularly in the schoolroom, these being ioyally supported by many families including the Ollivers, Davis 's, Bennetts, Fearns, T'ongs, Peacocks, Elbourues, Bickndls, Bhirleys, Ballantynes, Tods, Bniales aud Hyslops. Ainoug those who used to tako a long croab-country ride altsud was Mr J, H. Abeulom, uuw

president of the Hawke's Bay Agricultural and Pastoral Society. Mr Hutton Poacock, now a nicmbei of the Napier Harbour Board,' as a boy from college was a spiendid singer and used to lead in the services. Another good young singer was Jacky Hughes, now Colonel Hughes of Wellington, who used to stay with the Hutchinson famiJy. Kiding on somo of Ihe long trips used to bo rathcr hard, but it was a cusc. of goiug ou tiJJ I got there," said Mr IvVingeuder. "Tho work among Ihe |»eu| le was a delight. They genernlly were spiritually nuuded and i could uot do euough for theui. Most of Ihe settlers were solidiy-trahied Euglisb church people who were ever readv to put themseives about a good deal iu order to have services. I bav© many happy recoliections of my work among the early settlers among whom th© church had a good foundation and who have passed on to their families o worthy example."