METHODISM IN TARANAKI.

Taranaki Daily News, 24 March 1922, Page 7

METHODISM IN TARANAKI.

PIONEERS OF THE CHURCH. AN INTERESTING RECORD. An interesting and valuable account of the beginning of Methodism in Taranaki was given by Mr. W. H. Skinner, who was one of the speakers at the centenary thanksgiving meeting held in Whiteley Hall on Wednesday evening. Mr. Skinner said:— On Thursday, January 14, 1841, by the arrival of the mission brigantine—or schooner?—“Triton” at Moturoa, with the Revs. Waterhouse and Creed, and their landing on that day, Methodism was first established in Taranaki. The barque “Brougham,” with Mr. F. A. Carrington, Richard -Barrett, and others bad left the anchorage at Moturoa on the afternoon of- the previous Tuesday (12th), bound for Blind Bay and Queen Charlotte Sound. They were examining the coast in search of a suitable site for the colony of -New Plymouth. On leaving the shore to board the “Brougham? prior, to her departure, all the Natives came down to the beach to say farewell, and expressed great sorrow when they realised that the Europeans were about to leave Taranaki. These were the Maoris, very few in number, and in constant dread of attack by their enemies to the north, who two days later gave such a genuine welcome to Messrs. Waterhouse and Creed. The landing of the missionaries is most artistically (if not truthfully) portrayed in Baxter’s charming colored print published in 1842 or ’43. An entry in Mr. Carrington’s journal, under date Wednesday, 'January 13, reads: “At dusk (about off Cape Egmont) sighted a schooner bearing for the Sugar Loaves.” This was the “Triton” with the mission party bound for Nga Motu. The Natives built a thatched with rushes —for Mr. and Mrs. Creed, on a low terrace just above high water mark, at the mouth of the Waitapu Stream (north side), a few yards away from where the Bayly Road now comes on to the beach. Close at hand later was -built the first Christian place of worship, a frail erection of saplings and swamp weeds, raupo and wiwi rushes, and on the sandy mound in close proximity was established the first little “God’s Acre” in this part of New Zealand. Here were buried those pioneers and their children who died prior to 1844, and numbers of Natives. This hallowed ground is, and has been for many years, part of the railway reserve. I cannot understand why its sale was ever considered. Mr. Skinner also referred here to that tepu spot, where the first Mrs. Turton was laid to rest

“amidst many tears.” This, he said, should be carefully reserved and never parted with, and out of the very ample revenues now being received a memorial cairn should be erected to the memory of Revs. Creed, Turton and Whiteley and their wives, the pioneers of their church and founders of this most valuable endowment.

In Mr. Creed’s ‘ residence on Sunday, March 21, 1841, assembled the first European congregation for Christian worship in Taranaki, the congregation being made up of Mr. and Mrs. Carrington and the staff of surveyors and assistants. No service had -been possible earlier as the entry in Mr. Carrington’s journal shows. He says: “Sunday, March 21.—Divine service performed by Mr. Creed at his house. First time since we landed, he having been absent on duty to the southwards instructing the Natives, which Mr. Skinner presumed to be Waimate. Te Nanni (Opunake) and Otumatua (Pihama), as these pas were all occupied at that time.

The Maoris had. 12 months earlier made provision for the establishment of a mission station at Nga Motu. A suggestion to do this would in all probability have been made by the Rev. John Whiteley, at that time in charge of the Ka-whia mission, and under whose oversight were numbers of slaves, Natives taken prisoner by the . Waikato and Ngati-Maniapoto in their raids ’ ito the Taranaki district during the previous ten years. By the good offices of the Wesleyan missionaries at Kawhia, Whangaroa (Raglan) and the Waipa these slaves were in the winter of 1842 released from bondage and allowed to return to their homes in Taranaki.

The deed of sale from the Natives to the New Zealand Company, signed on February 15, 1840. apparently makes no mention of a reservation of 100 acres at Wai-tapu for mission purposes, but it was evidently’ stipulated that this area was not to be included in the original sole to the company by the Native owners, for we find in Mr. Spain’s award dealing with this particular purchase by the company that he expressly mentions its exclusion thus: “And also excepting all that piece of land containing 100 acres, reserved by the Natives at the time of the sale to the New Zealand Company, for the Wesleyan Mission Station, which said piece of land is delineated and set forth upon the said plan of the district and also on plan No. 10 herewith enclosed.”

Late in 1-841, or very early in 1842, the second place of worship was erected by the Natives adjoining their village, called Mawera, about the present junction of Brougham and Powderham Streets.\ This little whare-karakea was used on rare occasions for other purposes than worship, for within its rush walls was held on January 21, 1842, the first public meeting convened in New Plymouth. The land holders were requested to meet at the “Methodist Chapel,” the chair being taken by a gentleman of most pronounced anti-Christian views. On another occasion it was

sought for the purpose of holding the first Horticultural Show in this town, but its use for such an object was declined. Consequent on such refusal the building was requested to be removed, and soon after (about 1844) the Wesleyans took over the structure built by the Congregational minister (Rev. Horatio Groube) and known as the “Stone Chapel,” Courtenay Street. In this church the Rev. H. H. Turton ministered most acceptably during the whole of his term as clergyman in charge of this circuit —1844 to 1856. On April 17, 1856, the present church and school site (Whiteley Memorial) was acquired by the trustees from the late Mr. John Newland at a cost of £5OO, and the erection of a new church was started at once. This purchase consisted of three town sections, and the dwelling thereon, which became the parsonage. and was occupied as such up to 1876, about, when it was demolished and a new building erected. Prior to 1856 the clergyman’s residence was at the mission station, Waitapu. now "Whiteley.” The original building was of “cob” with thatched roof. Additions were made in Mr. Whiteley’s period of occupation, prior to 1860, and these still stands being occupied, as a dwelling.