EARLY MATAMATA HISTORY.

Putaruru Press, Volume VI, Issue 248, 2 August 1928, Page 1

EARLY MATAMATA HISTORY.

THE FIRST CHURCH. Romantic Story of a Challenge. Rev. H. T. Peat’s Memoirs. A remarkably interesting letter, from the Rev. Harold T. Peat, Matamata’s first preacher, was read at the coming of age soiree of Sc. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Matamata, on Tuesday night. The* memoirs contain many notable facts and references to early residents, some of whom are still in the place, and "well-known and highly-esteemed citizens. The Rev. Peat’s letter is published hereunder, in extenso, as addressed to Mr. Fred Jones, session clerk, from the writer’s home, 21 Butler street, Timaru:—

“ In the year 1906, having already been studying for two years, preparing for the university, I said to my mother that I would take a home mission appointment for four months, and that if the work developed I would take that as a sign, as Gideon took the sign, of the dew on the fleece, that God wanted me for the work of the Christian ministry.

“At that time eight places were offering. One of them, Matamata, was an entirely new place, without church or church organisation of any kind. My mother and I agreed that this place would offer the conditions for a sure test. “ Thus it was that in November, 1906, unheralded and unknown I arrived in Matamata, determined to set up the banner of Christ in that place. “ A few weeks later the Church of England sent Mr. Edgell to Matamata as their first minister. “ With Matamata as my headquarters, I was able to organise preaching services in fourteen other places in a parish extending from Walton to Mamaku. “ Our first services were conducted in the old wool shed close to the railway station. Well do I remember cleaning out this old place, and constructing some seats out of rough timber. “ I had previously posted notices of the service at various places, such as the creamery, railway station, etc., and had also visited many of the settlers inviting them to the services. “ Thus the work started, and, as many of the people will remember, the congregations were wonderfully well attended. As long as I live will I remember with gratitude those services in the old wool-shed. “ Recognising the need of a place of worship, I drew the plans and specifications of a church and submitted these to the church committee, of which Mr. J. McCaw was chairman.

A majority of the committee favoured the erection of a hall for the district, and their arguments were quite reasonable. I pointed out 'to them that while this was so, yet I was there as the representative of the church, and that therefore it was my business to press the claims of the church.

“ Finally, it was agreed that if the hall committee (of which a number of the church committee were members) sueceeeded in getting the hall started first, I should assist in the erection of the hall, but that if the church were started first then each man would concentrate on the erection of the church. “ Thus for me the future flung out its challenge, and on my knees in the little room at the end of the verandah of the old boardinghouse I decided to stay a year and four months instead of the four months, for the work was already developing in a wonderful way. “ As the weeks went by the people of Tirau said that if Matamata did r.ot want the church they would have it.

“ At a duly convened meeting of the committee, of which Mr. John McCaw was chairman and Mr. E. C. Banks was secretary, I stated the case, saying that Tirau would like to have a church. This started a big discussion, and it was eventually decided at that afternoon meeting of the committee that I be given permission to proceed with the erection

of the church at Matamata as soon as possible. “ This was a gloriously - vague agreement, as I intended it to be. Mr. McCaw had to go away on business the same afternoon, returning by the Rotorua express the next day. “ I had previously interviewed Mr. Pearce, manager of the timber mill at Mamaku, and he had agreed to post dated orders for payment of timber. He had also agreed to consign one truck load of timber immediately he received the order. “ That order for the timber was in my pocket during the discussion at the afternoon meeting of the committee.

“ Immediately the committee meeting in the wool-shed was over I walked to the station and sent the order by the Rotorua express to Mr. Pearce, the engine-driver tailing the letter and promising to give it to someone at Mamaku with instructions to deliver it at once to the mill manager. “ Mr. Pearce, the manager, received the letter the same evening, and the first truck of timber was loaded at Mamaku by torch light, taken to the Mamaku station, and from there was sent by rail to Matamata the next morning. “ On the afternoon of the committee meeting I wired to my mother to forward my chest of carpenter’s tools, and they arrived the same day as the timber.

“ That first lead of timber I unloaded across the express line of the I railway. On the arrival of the Rotorua express Mr. McCaw (who was on board) spoke to me as he alighteo and asked what the' big ktack of timber was for, and which I was then handling. “‘Mr. McCaw,’ I said, ‘that is the first of the church, you know that we decided yesterday afternoon to proceed with the building as soon as possible.’ “ For one second he hesitated, then out went his hand and gripped mine as he said: ‘ You’ve won.’ From this out the hall committee is with you.’ And he ana the other members of the hall committee were true to that promise and to the terms of the previous agreement. “ The very next morning after the arrival of the timber I started the erection of the church. As I left the boardinghouse with my tools one man —'hot a member of the church—said that I was a fool, and prophesied that I would work for six months and that no one would help me, for I had previously announced from the woolshed platform that I would not ask any man personally, but that when the church was started I would be glad of help from man, woman or child, and that was the only announcement that would be made about the matter.

“ For exactly%ourteen days I work- i ed on alone, preparing the framework * of the building, and I could see that very soon there would be little more that could be done single-handed. Frankly I admit that I began to wonder if the cynic’s prophecy would come true.

“On the fifteenth day, looking across the (then) open field towards the Rotorua side of the church section, I saw a man coming towards me; he was carrying a hammer and saw. “ Arrived at the church section he said: ‘ Can I give you a hand.’ I felt something like the prodigal son must have felt towards his father, for I almost fell on his neck to embrace him. That man was Mr. Purnell, a member of the Church of England. “ The next man to come and help was Mr. Anderson, father of Mrs. F. Jones, of Peria. “ From that day forward there was no lack of helpers. Settlers would give an hour or two after their cream had been separated, others would givea day or two as they were able, thus the work prospered, for the people had a mind to work. “ One of the proudest moments of my life was on July 26, 1907, when my mother laid the foundation stone and called the church St. Andrew’s. 'The next Sunday the church was opened for worship, and it was during the opening service that I baptised James Andrew Kelso, he being named after the church. “ The text from which I preached during the service for the laying of the foundation stone was psalm 51, 18: ‘Do good in Thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.’

“ I may state that when we started the building we had received promises of £62 10s towards the cost, and the money in hand amounted ro the princely sum of £6 10s. Small wonder that the church committee were somewhat taken by surprise at the arrival of the first load of timber. “ Realising that the post-dated payments would be falling due, we then convened a meeting of the women of the township. The result was that a ladies’ guild was formed, with Mrs. Stanley as president. That lady, together with her splendid co-workers, toiled indefatigably, and the proceeds of their bazaar were so good that when I left Matamata after sixteen months to enter the university at Auckland, there was a debt of but a few pounds on the building. “ The first church organist was Miss i Green. (I think her name is Hilda). The first Sunday school superintendent was Mr. Smythe, who kept a little store, and I think the | first secretary of the guild was Mrs. j E. C. Banks, Mr. E. C. Banks being the first church secretary, with Mr. 1 John McCaw as chairman. i “ Mr. and Mrs. J. Price and a host ! of others did yoeman service in those j early days of Matamata church. I

“ Mrs. J. Price will remember having a good joke at my expense, and this will serve to show how small Matamata was in those days. “ When I first landed at Matamata station I went at once to Mamaku, where I procured a horse and rode from there to Matamata to spy out the land. “ Approaching Matamata from another angle, I did not recognise thcplace, but thought that it must be somewhere in the vicinity. I called at a house (actually Mr. Price’s). In answer to my question ‘ Where is Matamata?’ Mrs. Price said ‘This is Matamata.’ “ Mrs. Price proved to be a very faithful friend, and one of an elect band of women workers in the church. “ In congratulating the church on its twenty-first birthday. I would like to pay my tribute to all those men and women who so faithfully played their part in caring for the infant church, and so establishing the first church in Matamata. “ I dare net try to enumerate them there were so many; cheerfully they toiled when leisure moments wei-e rare and surplus cash unknown. “ Thus they laid the foundations ol a cause which I pray may prosper-, and continue to be a centre of spiritual power for the uplifting of the people in the name of Jesus Christ. “ With kindest regards and best wishes.” “ P.S.—Mr. E. C. Bonks will remember an interesting episode in connection with St. Andrew’s Church bell. Mr. John McCaw knows the details of the history of that bell, such details would be well worth preserving as they would be very interesting in the future history of the church.” History of the Bell.

Interviewed regarding the above, Mr. E. C. Banks said:—“ The manner with which the bell at present in use at St. Andrew’s church came into the possession of the local Presbyterian church committee is somewhat novel. The bell was originally owned by the Assets Realisation Board, and was In use at the Tower as a dinner bell. The manager of the board at Wellington promised that the bell should become the property of the first church erected in Matamata. Prior to a church being erected the Tirau manager of the board, Mr. Bailey, re-

moved the bell to Tirau, where it was again employed as a dinner bell. St. Andrew’s church was duly erected, and the chairman of the church committee, Mr. John McCaw, at once claimed the bell, but the Tirau manager refused to hand over the treasure. Finally Mr. Peat and a companion visited Tirau and slipped off with the much-treasured prize. So in a sense the Presbyterians had to steal their own property.”