A LANDMARK.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 467, 14 August 1909, Page 2

A LANDMARK.

ODD MOUTOA CHURCH RESTORED. SOME INTERESTING REMINISCENCES. The settlers about Mputoa have been subscribing to restore the old Moutoa church, which had for some 17 or 18 years been allowed to fall into disuse and disrepair, and the repairs have now been effected. It is a very fine large church, built of totara, on a high hill overlooking, the river, and is the most interesting historical monument in all the Manawatu. The totara is in good preservation, and the architecture was excellent. It is most gratifying to hear of it once more being restored to its original purpose of public worhip after the sheep and stock have roamed through it for years. Mr Robert Edwards who recollects the later Maori services as they were held twenty odd years ago, has received this very interesting note upon the old church from Mr G. N. Wood, of Otaura, Shannon, one of the oldest settlers, who as a boy was with Bishop Hadfield at the Otaki mission station. Mr Wood’s letter, which is the type that should be collected by the Philosophical Society, mentions two most interesting personalities connected with the Moutoa Church—Bishop Hadfield and Mr Taylor, author of ”Te Ika a Maui,” oue of the most fascinating works ever written in New Zealand, as well as of other works. The Rev MrMcWilliam, of Otaki, was also associated with it. Says Mr Wood: — “ The idea of building a church at Moutoa was suggested to the natives by the Ven Archdeacon Hadfield during the unrest of the Maoris iu 1857 and onwards, to keep their minds occupied from the King movement, so much at that time occupying the natives’ miuds. The work was undertaken by the Ngati Whakatere branch of ths Ngatiraukawa tribe, then living on the banks ot the Manawatu from about two miles above Moutoa (Papakiri) and below Moutoa as far as Mr Kebbell’s farm. Both men and women took great interest in getting a church. Sometimes at the saw-pit you could see men on top of a log and wotneu in the pit below sawing away heartily to get the timber for ther church. There were a large number of them to do a job in those days and they were more industrious then than now. The Rangitane were invited to assist in the work, although they were a subdued people during the wasr with Rauparaha. The Rangitane and Mauopoko are only a remnant left by Rauparaha in his march from Kawhia in 1819, The land and a few acres at Moutoa was left out for a church by Searancke and Maclean when they purchased the Awahou block in 1857. The title, I understand, is in the hands of trustees, I suppose with the Bishop of Wellington at the head. The church at Moutoa was built by Mr Geo. Nye with Maori assistants, about sixtythree or four. The payment to Mr Nye was subscribed by the natives and Europeans then living in Manawatu and a grant by the Church Missionary Society. There were great rejoicings at the opening by the Archdeacon and the Reverend Taylor from Wanganui. Both Bishop Hadfield and Mr Taylor are dead, and the only living Maoris that were present are old Panete of Moutoa and Aui Kanara (old Epihai’s wife) that I can remember. Should these few remarks be not sufficiently clear I shall be glad to give a clearer explanation.—Yours truly, G. N. Woop. , ;