Century Since Marsden Founded Inland Mission

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 616, 19 March 1929, Page 1

Century Since Marsden Founded Inland Mission

Maoris ’ First Lessons in

Agriculture Recalled

TE WAIMATE CELEBRATION

One hundred years ago next year the To Waimate mission station was started by the Rev. Samuel Marsden, who selected the spot in March, 1830, near Russell.

At a representative meeting held at Waimate on March 11 of this year it was decided to mark the occasion by holding a .thanksgiving service on January 12, to erect a gate in memory of Marsden and the early missionaries who helped to found the mission, and also to place a commemorative tablet in the church. A committee has been formed to organise the functions to be held to obtain funds for the memorial. Mr. W. Atkinson has been appointed treasurer.

Before the founding of Te Waimate the Maoris had refused to allow anyone to settle in the interior, but eventually changed their attitude and issued a pressing invitation to the Church to found a mission station. This was looked on with favour by the Rev. Samuel Marsden, who considered that when an inland mission station had been established, grain and produce could be grown for use, and the natives might be persuaded to become both civilised and industrious by following agricultural pursuits. So the committee, with the assistance and advice of Mr. Marsden, selected Te Waimate as possessing several advantages. It was in a populous district, between 2,000 and 3.000 natives living within a radius of five miles; a sufficiency of good land situated at a distance from the baneful influence of shipping: and a good supply of timber close by

LAMPS, AXES AND FISH HOOKS A block of land was marked off and the price fixed for the 250 acres was 40 gallons lamp oil, 801 b tobacco, 20 rugs, 36 belts, 1 pair buck trousers, 80 blankets, 1 red shirt, 72 horn combs, 12 axes, 30,012 fish hooks, 60 plane irons, 30 hoes, 60 knives, 36 chisels, 60 scissors, and 45 iron pots. The persons selected to form the mission were the Kev. W. Yate, Messrs. R. Davis and J. Hamlin.

FIRST ROAD IN N.Z. A road was formed to convey stores I from Kerikeri, a distance of 10 miles, ! and after arduous work the road was | formed —th© first in New Zealand. ; Three substantial bridges had to be 1 built—one over the Waitangi, with a i span of 60 feet. The work was done !by the natives themselves, with the j assistance of Messrs. Clark and Hami lin. j On September 11 Mr. Y'ate arrived jat T© Waimate from Sydney, where •he had been acting as Government ; chaplain during Mr. Marsden’s abj sence in New Zealand. Tie handed over ! the goods agreed on as payment for j tho land. The Rev. Samuel Marsden, at this time, pointed out the great importance of purchasing the land on which the station was to be formed, holding that the land would thus become neutral, natives could come from any part without hesitation, and the reconciliation between different tribes would be greatly facilitated. Early in 1831 three cottages had been erected, built of puriri, and on February 21 Messrs. Clark and Hamlin moved up from Kerikeri with their wives and families. That was the beginning of the great work which was carried on among the Maoris for many years, the centenary of which falls in 1930.