REMINISCENCES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 299, 21 January 1911, Page 10

REMINISCENCES.

ACCOUNT OF THE CHURCH AT BELL BLOCK. (By M.D. in Anglican Church Magazine). The Anglican Church in the Bell Block district was started about 1852. 'The Rev. H. Govett was then in charge of ■St. Mary's, and Rev. G. Kyngdon at Te Henui, both of them having alternate services at Bell Block. The first services were held in the house of a native assessor, who was afterwards murdered by his fellow-countrymen, because he persisted in selling some, land of his own in the Tarurutangi block to the, Government. The house is standing now, and is called "half a town," being supposed to be half-way between New Plymouth and Waitara. After a time the house being wanted, the services had to be discontinued there and were held at the house of Mr. Wells, and then at Mr. Hirst's. Manv of the first settlers were recent arrivals from England. After a time, as the population increased, a larger room was necessary, and Mr. Arden lent his barn. This'was a great improvement on having the service in private houses, and baptisms and, at any rate, one wedding. That of a Mr. W. Old and Miss Wills took place there. A Sunday School was then started. Bishop Sehvyn frequently visited the district, and then, on his suggestion, it was decided to build a church, which was completed in about 1858. Service was held once a fortnight. Rev. 11. Govett and his family having gone on a visit to England when the church was opened, Rev. H, N. Wollaston, who had just been ordained at Auckland, was put in charge of Te Henui and Bell Block, liv ing at the latter place most of the time. He was much liked, and the church grew and prospered under his care. The first wedding held was that of Mr. W. Hoskin to Miss Street, a sister of Mrs. HulUe; the second was that of Mr. Lewis Hamerton to Miss Annis Hirst. Things prospered very well till the Maori war broke out in 1800, and the settlers had all to leave their homes and go into town, having barely time to get in their harvest, Mr. Wollaston working very hard and helping them, ami gaining the goodwill of all by doing so. The Maoris burnt nil the houses in the district but spared the church. After the war was over the houses ivere re-built, but few of .the original people returned to their homes, either selling or leaving their farms and living in town or removing elsewhere. A very large proportion of the supporters' 1 of St. Luke's were among the number. Mrs. Rowe is, I believe, the original one left, and takes a great interest in the church still. It was a long time before things became settled, and Bell Block was often spoken of as "no man's land," as far as the church was concerned, but things are, I hope, righting themselves. Unlike St. Mary's, there have been very many changes in the staff of clergy officiating at Te Henui, the Revs. A. F. Smith, Fowler, Luther, Spencer (who was more or less ill all the time and therefore unable to include Bell Block in his ministrations); so the district had to be supplied by jay readers during the time of Mr. Spencer's illness and after his death. Now Rev. Kempthorne is in charge. A new church has been built and ganv generous donors have given different articles of church furniture, which have much improved the appearance of the building.