OLD TARANAKI.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 89, 23 July 1910, Page 10

OLD TARANAKI.

PAGES FROM THE PAST. In the current issue of the Taranaki Anglican Church Magazine, "W.H.S.' continues his interesting sketch of St. Mary's Church, the history of which is so closely interwoven with that of the province. He says:— Whilst waiting for the arrival of Mr. Bolland in the "Victoria" as stated last month, Bishop Selwyn set out clearily in a letter addressed to Mr. Bolland the nature of his duties. The letter, wltlcK is of great interest as bearing upon the I early history of the Church in Taranaki is here given in full, a copy of the original having been recently placed at my disposal by the Rev. W. E. Bolland, MA Rector of Denton, in Norfolk, England' and the only son of St. Marv's° first vicar:—

Taranaki, 2nd December, 1843. Rev. and Dear Sir In appointing you to act as Deacon for the district of Taranaki, I wish to define to you the nature, of your duties, so fas I can now specify them, relying, however, upon your 'willingness to exceed the measure of my instructions, as you may find the means and opportunities of more extensive usefulnses.

. The population of your district bein<r very scattered, much of your time and attention will 'be devoted to visiting your people from house to house, without which you will not find your congregation answer to your wishes. I trust that you will soon experience the truth of the saying that "a visiting clergy make a church-going people." Mr. Taylor having undertaken to visit this place in January to administer the Lord's Supper, it will be necessary to ascertain the nanfts of those who have been regular communicants in England, and to be ready to furnish him with the list on his arrival. The period of Mr. Taylor's visit would be a favorable opportunity foi your first journey to the native settlements, the names and distances of which you will find below. Mr. Merchant has made some attempt to form a Church of England School, but without much success. With your superintendence and assistance he may succeed better. I have told him that I will empower you to give free admissions to a number of children of poor parents equal to that of his pay scholars. If he receives payment from 20 children at 6s per week, you will be at liberty to select and put in 20 other children at my expense, provided that you have reason to believe that their parents are unable to pay for themselves. On Sundays, I should recommend you to have two English services, and one native (when there is a congregation, which will not always be the case), the English sevrices at 11 and 4 or 5, the native either at 9 or 3, according to circumstances. The Sunday English School is at 9 and 2. ■

I have already explained my views with regard to a general system of education-, to be in the hands of the deacons at the different settlements, and therefore I shall he glad to hear that the sons of the most respectable settlers are reading with you. If this should be the case, I should hope to hold an examination on my next visit and give to the most deserving an exhibition to the Waimate. Once in two months I will request you to give notice that there' will be no English service for one Sunday, to allow of your going to Otumatua, the natives of which place have been instructed to look upon you as their minister,, as well as those who belong to the Church of England on this side of it, viz.,—New Plymouth to Waitemata, 5 miles; teacher, Parata (small Church party, rest Wesleyans).

To Whareatea, 16 miles; teacher, Hone (almost all Church of England). To Mokotuna, 24% miles; teacher, Hori (divided). To Tarakihi, 28% miles; .teachers, Peripi and Hakamea (only two or three houses Church of England).

To Te Namu, 43 miles; teacher, Rawini (Church of England). To Waiaua, 44y 8 miles; teacher, Horomena (Church of England). To Otumatua, 50 miles; teachers, Hameora, Penika and Kereopa' (large pa; Church of England). By spending a night at each of these places once in two months you will. find a profitable employment for ten days. The Sunday may generally be at Otaumatua. The natives say you will not come to see them 'because you have a wife." I pledged your word to the contrary. They are most anxious for instruction. Hone of Whareatea will always arrange for men to carry anything for you, but as! they will soon build a little house for you at each place you will be able to travel light. The baptism of adults will be under Mr. Taylor's direction, as well as the administration of the Lord's Supper, the infant children of Christian parents or (in particular cases) of heathen parents, where baptised natives are willing to become sponsors.

■I have left in the hands of Mr. Wickstead £l5O, which wilj be available to provide you with a house and half an acre of Jand. Mr. Cooke's house may be Tiad for that sum, and considering the scattered nature of your village, i do not object to it on the ground of distance from the probable site of the Church. I shall, however, buy a section close adjoining the Church, in case that situation should be found preferable. You are at liberty to take your choice. If you settle on the. allotment near the Church, the land will cost £2O, leaving you £l3O for a house. If you choose Mr. Cooke's, the land and house as it is will be £l5O. I have urged the inhabitants to contribute towards the support of their minister in the form of Easter offer;, ings, at which time I hope you will receive some of the increase of their harvest, for which I will make a mcfney equivalent as my contribution to your support. You will not fear me if they fail. Commending you to the guidance of the Holy Spirit I remain, ' Your affectionate and faith- - ful friend, G. A., New Zealand.

A small hamlet having sprung up on the east bank of the Henui river, known at the time by the name of Weekstown, the Bishop, out of his private purse, built a small church for this isolated' centre, and about March, 1845, it was opened for public worship. This was the first Church of England built in Taranaki, and a portion of the original building is still standing as the nave of the present Fitzroy Church. ! Bishop Selwyn, writing about the chapel of Henui, says: "Besides the congregation in the parish church, I had the°pleasure of assembling a small body of our people at the rustic chapel of the Henui, two miles from the church. The building is formed of rough logs of timber, 'but its appearance indicates the uses to which it is applied; and without assenting to the common approbation of cheap churches, it is a satisfaction to know that a village population to the number of 70 or 80 have been provided with a temporary chapel of pleasing appearance at an expense of £50." In connection with the Henui Church site, the Bishop, in a letter to Mr. Bolland, dated Auckland 4th December, 1844, -writes: ; 'For the Henui chapel, T do not think am- land in that neighborhood worth the price asked, but if a small spot can be procured for the site, I will waive the matter of Glebe, till people come to their senses as to the value of 'town land' in the country village of Taranaki." This, then, is the reason—the high price asked by owners in 1844—why no site for a parsonage was acquired at Henui (now Fitzroy). The Bishop, in concluding this letter, informs Mr. Bolland that "Mr. Hadfleld (of Gtaki) is appointed Rural Dean of your district, and will, 1

hope, visit you annually, at which nil adult baptisms may be performed. Mr. Taylor's visits for the administration of the Lord's Supper will secure you (with Mr. Hadfield's), I hope, three Communions in the year at least."

Immediately after his appointment to the charge of the Anglican community at New Plymouth, Mr. Bolland started to work to provide a suitable building for conducting the services of the Church. In this he was warmly supported by the early settlers, whose hearts were set upon the consummation of such fin object. So eager were they that a church should be erected, that their pastor was in a position to lay something definite before the Bishop as to his plans or ideas of the building three months only after his arrival in the district.

Under date of 20th March, 1844, tho Bishop writes: '•Government brig 'Victoria,' entering Bay of Islands.—My Dear Mr. Bolland—Your very gatifying letter reached me at Auckland and gave me the double assurance of your happiness and usefulness in your present position. The one will infallibly, and under God's blessing, accompany the other, In answer to your enquiries about the Church, any person who may be willing to contribute labor may begin hauling immediately, and (if you find it advisable) Mr. Thatcher may act as my surveyor to estimate the work; If any labor be required on the beach, the first contributions obtained in the place may be applied to that purpose by contract. But at present I should ad-1 vise hauling the rough stone, as I wish the main part of the work to be unwrought stone; only the windows, doorcases and string-courses being hewn—thus (here the Bishop gives a sketch of his proposed windows). When I return I hope to come prepared to confer with Mr. Thatcher upon the plan of the Church; but I should wish no steps to be taken in this till I arrive, unless you find . that the inhabitants work more rapidly than I have reason to expect, in which case I shall be glad to hear by the return of the 'Victoria.'"

After the receipt of this letter, a meeting of Church members was held in the building used as a Church in Currie Lane. This meeting was apparently the first general meeting of parishioners held in New Plymouth, and resulted in the appointment of the Rev. Mr. Bolland and Mr. Wickstead, resident agent of the N«w Plymouth Company, as a committee to solicit contributions from the settlers, either in cash, produce or labor, for the erection of a fitting place of worship, and accordingly we find in the cash book of those early days under the heading of ; "The Huatoki Church Building Account," the first entry on the debit side March 28th, 1844: To cash received of Captain King £2\ios; and on the opposite page, June 15th, 1844: By cash paid Grylls for hand-barrows, £l'lss ; and on June 17, George and Rusden, cleaving stone, Marsland Hill, 6s. This was the first work, done for getting out the material for the mew Church. The first stone was laid by Captain Henry King. R.N., Chief Magistrate of New Plymouth, on i'oth March, 1845—Annunciation of the Virgin Mary—and the Church was consequently dedicated to St. Mary. 11. was a beautiful day, and the function passed off most pleasantly, the day being observed as a holiday. The building was opened, without any ceremony, by the Rev. Mr. Bolland on Tuesday, 29th September, 1846. It was a noble effort, this building of St. Mary's in the early days of the settlement, but the pioneers' faith was strong, and the object aimed at, the building of a permanent memorial as a thanksoS'ering to Him who guided their frail barques in safety to this distant shore appealed strongly to their better feelings, ■ and all classes came forward to bear their share in the undertaking. Rich (if there were any such in the infant colony) and poor alike, gave freely. Never since in our liistnry has this early effort been surpassed. The total cost of the building amounted to £1095 7s 6d. Of this sum the Bishop provided £250, and £72 2s 6d was given by friends in England. The balance was subscribed locally in cash, or given in material or labor, an effort for which the pioneers should receive every credit when we consider the adverse circumstances surrounding them. The total population of the settlement at this time was 1080, and the depression was such as we venture to say no part of New Zealand has ever since suffered. Farm laborers (practically the only class of labor in demand at this time) were receiving 12s a week, paid partly in cash and partly in wheat at 6s per bushel.