THE OTAKI OBELISK.

Otaki Mail, Volume 27, 24 November 1919, Page 3

THE OTAKI OBELISK.

AN INTERESTING HISTORY.The tall wooden obelisk standing in a small enclosure opposite the famous old Maori church “Rangiatea” at Otaki never fails to excite the curiosity of visitors to the town, and, strange to say, enquirers have difficulty in ascertaining why this unique monument was erected. Seeing.that the obelisk marks a most important event, viz., the establishment of the Native Mission in Otaki and district —we propose to give a few particulars of the memorable gathering at which its erection was celebrated. In a booklet, entitled “Maoris of By-gone Days,’’ the late Bishop Hadfield wrote a most interesting account of this meeting of Natives, and, through the courtesy of Mrs Hr.dfield, of Lindale,- Paraparaumu, whose inip .hiist.nnd was a son of Bishop Hadfield, wo are able To fSpti£t~tb>.? -p.rticle, j which, ive arc sure, will prove of great - interest to our readers, as even old residents of Otaki appear to be quite ignorant of the actual circumstances which led to the erection of the .monument. Coming from such a source as Bishop Hadfield, readers may depend that the information contained iu the following account is absolutely reliable.

f “A meeting of Natives interested J in Church work was held at Otaki on f 9th February, 1880, being the fortieth day of the year, to commemorate the establishment of the Mission on this coast, forty years ago. The clergy present were, besides his Lordship the Bishop, the Rev. James McWilliam, of Otaki; tho Rev. Rawiri to Wanui; of Otaki; the Rev. H. te Herekau, of .Manawatu; the Rev. Pincaha tc Mahauariki, of Wairarapa; the Rev. A'rona te Haua, of Whanganui; the Rev.- S. Williams, of Napier; and the Rev. R. Burrows, of Auckland, Secretary to the Church Mission Society. There were about 500 Natives present, including a number of chiefs from up.the coast a 3 far as Patea, up tho Whanganui river, and Napier. Most of the visitors arrived at Otaki on Saturday,-the 7th. and, consequently, there were laTge congregations at both services on Sunday. w At the morning service the Bishop preached a most oloquent, convincing, and impressive sermon on the stability of the Word of God. He alluded in feeling terms to the first preaching of this Word by himself on the coast forty years ago, in weakness of body, but in faith. The seed then sowed had taken deep root and sptca-1 around, and had withstood the many enemies which Satan had raised up against it, and was at this day a wellrooted, healthy plant, which ought to continue to grow in strength and beauty, bear fruit, and send forth the good seed to other lands There were over 100 communicants. The Rev. S. Williams preached in the evening on the duty of giving in the Gospel’s cause, and especially of supporting their own clergy. He reminded them that- hitherto they had done very little in this way, and he took blame to himself in not sooner having taught ‘hem this duty, and he exHbrted them forcibly to enter heartily into their new work.

‘ ‘ The ceremony on the 9th began with morning service. TUtf Rev. S. Williams again preached on the same subject in a most warm and spirited manner, and was listened to with wrapt attention and interest. At the conclusion of the service the whole company marched to where a pole, shaped like an obelisk and surmounted by a cross, had been erected to commemorate the occasion. First, in order, went forty men dressed in white, who each on reaching the . monument deposited a large stone at its foot. Tho ceremony at th« pole was , arranged entirely by the Maoris and was conducted in a very reverential . manner. The forty men and forty women dressed in white stood near the pole. As soon as the. stones were deposited they sang a hymn and said the 336tb, 148th, and 150th Psalms, after which they sang another hymn and one of the Maori deacons said a few prayers. The leading chiefs then gave addresses on the object of the meeting. Then the several collectors for the Native Clergy Endowment "Fund brought what had been collected and handed it to the ev. J. MeWiiliam. The sum hitherto collected was founa to be £O2O 10s jfl, only £l3 of which had been given by Europeans. After this the whole company fere invited to partake of a feast provided by fho Otaki Natives and spread in the large hall at the College, and when it was over the speaking was again resumed in the large meeting-house of the village, which had been splendidly done up for the occasion, re-shingled and painted without, and painted, figured, varnished, panelled, and matted inside- The principal, speakers were the Dishop, who contrasted tho state of the Natives on his arrival here in 1539 with their present quiet, peace: ful, and secure condition; the Rev. S Williams, who answered a number of objections and difficulties raised by one or two of the speakers, 'who had a leaning to Hauhaulsm; the Rev. J. MeWiflfam, whd explained the real objeeta of the meeting, which was simply to thank God for the gifts p *¥ to which he tad enabled lhem io fast during the forty years past and to prav' for- a continuance of his -pmfor*the future. Renata, from Napier; Metc Eongvfrom Whanganui; Taurus from Patea; ttakaray.from Manawatu, n’nd several others alsq spoke. s “Qn tiffs occasion frag also qavtilea a uvonumeut totW : memory ■-$ Tp Rauparaha, the chief who>iMk tribes now inhabiting this coast from ' the north. It consists of ft xonniition of brick-work into whieh is feed an ornamental iron railing- % base large masses of Melbourne Milestone dressed, a corniced pedestal or white marble 'tapering shaft a,id a life-size bust of Rauparaha, tar toed and feathered with ponamu pen dunt at the side. The memorial pole and thi=. monument stand within th some enclosure, ami will be *«<£**; ] interesting ornament I? hue. village.

They also represent the past and present'state of the Natives. They have been transformed in forty years from savage, ' blood-thirsty cannibals to quiet, peaceful, and comparatively civilised Christians.’’ .The obelisk is a wooden oole, squared, with a cross at the lop. Figures of the years from 1840 to 1880 are marked on the sides of the ‘.ole. rising from the bottom to the toil of Hie pole, which forms a peculiar and interesting memorial. An inscription, in Maori, was painted on a plate attached to the pole, but the wording is now party obliterated and undecipherable;

The monument erected in memory of the great chieftain Te Rauparaha comprises a bust of the warrior (said to be an excellent likeness) on top of a pedestal of marble; with concrete base. It is understood that Tc Raupuiaha: was actually interred in the Native Mission cemetery, near by, where it \ plain slate-coloured slab marks his buriai ; pi£tcP, K yipueh it is generally believed that his reman!.?" were-*-'T-.’yed and laid to rest at Kapiti Island, it is interesting to note, that Te Kan paraha’s funeral obsequies were conducted by a missionary, Mr William Ronaldson, who afterwards entered tinministry. Mr Ronaldson happened to bo passing through Otaki at .the time of Tc Rauparaha’s death’ and as the old warrior had never been baptised though professing Christianity, Bishop Hadfield requested Mr Ronaldson to conduct the service, which be did. This was in November, 1849.