THE CHURCH IN NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 31, Issue 44, 31 October 1907, Page 13

THE CHURCH IN NEW ZEALAND

MEMOIRS OF THE EARLY DAYS

(Contributed.) WELLINGTON. - (Continued from last week.) Kaikoura.

Kaikoura is a Maori word which signifies 'crawfish-food,' as this species of fish is abundant there. The scenic beauties of Kaikoura are greatly and justly admired. The- towering Kaikoura peaks constitute some of the most' picturesque mountain scenery in New Zealand. The extensive bay, with the jutting peninsula protecting it 'on the south, is bordered by a very fertile flat and sloping piece of country. In 1858 Mr Joseph Ward, member of the Nelson Provincial Council, happening to visit Kaikoura, and being an expert surveyor, judged the place suitable for close settlement. He laid his views before the Council, which adopted them, and soon after commissioned him to make a survey of the district. This led to the final settlement of Kaikoura, which was then a mere wilderness, but which is now one of the most prosperous districts in New Zealand. Mr Ward's judgment has been fully confirmed. Kaikoura is situated in the Marlborough Province, and in the Arch diocese of Wellington. The Rev. Father ' Augustine Gann, S.M., was the first priest to visit the new settlement. This visit was made on March 9, 1861. Father Garin was ac compamed from Blenheim, some ninety-five miles distant, by Mr Joseph Ward and his son Austin, as_we gather from a letter by the Rev. Father himself to Mr W. Smith, of Ludstone, Kaikoura. He also informs us that he celebrated Mass on Sunday March 10, in Mr Fife's residence; that half . a dozen Catholics and some non-Catholics filled the room ; that he baptised a child on

the 11th, visited the Maori pa on the 12th, and returned to Wairau immediately after. He also paid a visit in 1862.The Second Priest who came to the little flock at Kaikoura was Father Tresallet, S.M., whose visit occurred in 1863 or 1864. A flying visit was made by Father M'Caughy in and another 'in the same year by Father Tresallet, who, on this occasion, collected £20 for the Bishop's residence in Wellington. In 1865 there. arrived at Kaikoura. the Rev. Father Sauzeau, S.M., from- Blenheim. It would appear that Father Sauzeau's appointment to Blenheim eventuated in 1864. This Father paid two annual visits up to 1868, subsequent* to which he came more frequently, as the settlement was growing in population and importance. Father Sauzeau's connection with Kaikoura ceased in March, 1876. At the time in question the track to Blenheim was full of dangers for the wayfarers. It was very rough and dangerous in many places, leading sometimes along the sides of steep precipices, over rapid and rugged rivers, and again through ill-defined ways. Many were lost on this long and dreary journey. So much for the difficulties besetting pioneer travellers. Now for a brief account of Father Sauzeau's labors at Kaikoura. In 1868 he raised a fund by subscription, which enabled him to ' make a purchase of twenty of suburban land by the Kowhai River, and one acre in the township of Kaikoura, vesting the titles in trustees. With >he same unflagging zeal,, in the same year, with money also raised by subscription, he caused a church and vestry to be erected, which he opened on the feast of St. Michael, to whom it was dedicated.^ Mr Walter Hailes, an early pioneer, exerted himself with great zeal and success in collecting £he subscriptions. Father Sauzeau also provided a chalice, vestments, and other church requisites. The net amount realised for expenditure was some £100, a considerable sum" for a few Catholics when money was very scarce. The new church was small and a mere shell at first, but yet it was a great boon. The dedication took place on September '29, 1868, Father Sauzeau, in the midst of a joyful congregation, performing the first ceremony of the kind at Kaikoura. During Father Sauzeau's connection with Kaikoura, and in the year 1873, a bishop's first visitation cheered arid consoled the little community. The Right Rev. Dr Moran, Bishop of Dunedin and Administrator of Wellington, arrived from Waiau on horseback. An escort met His Lordship'at Waiau, some sixty miles distant, and conveyed Trim over exceedingly rough and pathless ways to Kaikoura. His arrival was on September 25. Father Sauzeau was unable to come for the occasion! Dr Moran's visit was the grateful response to a petition addressed to him -by the Catholics of Kaikoura, writes Mr W. Smith in notes which we have already quoted, Mid which form the basis of this article. - The Catholic Community turned out en masse to meet and greet Dr Moran'. They-pre-sented him with a very enthusiastic address, for which His Lordship thanked them most cordially, and spoke words of encouragement and consolation. He examined the candidates for Confirmation and administered the Sacrament to nineteen persons, chiefly adults. Dr Moran remained five days in the district, hearing confessions and doing the ordinary duties of a missionary. The old settlers still mention his kindness and goodness of heart in coming to Kaikoura when access to it was so laborious and- when he had so extensive a- field for duties. But Dr Moran's zeal was very conspicuous, and" he had had many years' experience in South Africa before his translation to Dunedin as its first bishop. On his return journey he was escorted back as far as Waiau by the same company that met him on -his coming. In 1876-77 an addition of 16ft was made to the length of- the church, the whole building was improved by lining and painting, and the sanctuary was varnished. Chairs, carpets, furniture, and altar requisites were provided. The road to the church was also improved, and" the cemetery was levelled and set in order. ~ In 1878-79 a further expenditure of £20 was made on ■ altar furniture, and a bell, Stations of the Cross, etc., were secured at an outlay of £12. , And so, up to the close of the seventies, Church interests were advanced by priest and people' ■ with unflagging vigor. The Second Visitation of a Bishop - was made on February 24, 1876, by Dr Redwood, who arrived on horseback from Blenheim. His Lordship was accompanied by Father Sauzeau and Mr Gilbert Ward, and remained at Kaikoura over two Sundays. Meantime he administered Confirmation to a few candidates (six), relieved Father Sauzeau of

the' charge of Kaikoura, and provided that henceforth the district should be visited from Wellington. This was a great relief to the good and zealous Father, whose duties at Blenheim alone were quite sufficient for him. Dr Redwood was • met by the Catholics at Maungamaunu, beyond the rapid and dangerous Hapuka, about seven miles from Kaikoura. His Lordship received a. .most enthusiastic welcome and address from the congregation. In his reply he exhorted the faithful to establish a school, which they did as soon as possible, and he promised a resident priest at the earliest opportunity. By the same long and wearisome route he returned on horseback to Blenheim, accompanied by Father Sauzeau. Erom that time forward began the quarterly visits, as promised'by Dr Redwood, of the Rev. Francis Yardin, S.M., at that time stationed at the Hutt, near Wellington. His first arrival was in October, 1876, and his visits continued until 1882. In Mr W. Smith's interesting notes we find the following eulogy of this devoted priest : ' This good and zealous pastor, during the five years of his administration, managed the affairs of the parish with wisdom, prudence, and success.' It was during his able administration that the various improvements - already detailed for the years 1877-78 were effected. In addi- - tion to" the improvements noted under 1879 a new -bell and Stations of the Cross .were provided at a cost of £12. In 1880 there was an expenditure of £50 for various improvements—Sanctuary lamp, new seats for the church, and a priest's room were provided. It is quite worthy of .record here, an omission whereof would be culpable, that a most generous member of the congregation made to the church the handsome and welcome donation of a new organ, with a gallery for its reception. This gift was worth £30, and it enabled the congregation to have henceforward the benefit of music at Mass and evening devotions. It was during Father Yardin' s administration that Mr O'Donnell made a gift of 2£ acres as a more central and suitable site for church, school, and presbytery.' It was then also that Mr Patrick Peoples made a similar gift for a convent site. Those generous benefactors were moved to this noble action by an important letter of Father Yardin,' s, detailing the many inconveniences of the old site. In 1882 the church was removed to its new and more central situation, at a cost of £118, an iron roof replacing the old shingle one. This important work was finished on June 30, and on October 13 a contract was signed for the erection of a presbytery. In June of the next year (1883) the Rev. Father Lampella arxived as first resident priest, shortly after Dr Redwood's second visit, and when the congregation had pledged themselves to provide a Catholic school at the earliest possible moment. This pledge was faithfully kept, for in July of the same year a contract was signed fox the erection of a school, and Father Lampella procured -Miss Hollis, ' a young lady of great attainments, from the convent, Nelson, to conduct the school for him.' Owing to many heavy items of expenditure within a few years the church debt amounted to £224 at the close of .1883, but excellent work, had been done as a foundation for the future. This narrative has extended somewhat beyond the seventies with the view to show the condition of the mission and the spirit of the congregation when the first resident priest settled at Kaikoura. The narrative is based on the notes kindly and thoughtfully kept from early days by Mr W. Smith, of Ludstone. Much could be written on the parish from 1883 to the present date, but the seventies are our present limits. All the visiting priests^up to 1882 used to stay at Ludstone House, where they enjoyed the warmest welcome and the most abundant hospitality. This the compiler has gathered from some of the earliest settlers. List of the Early Catholic Settlers at Kaikoura. The founders of a Catholic mission are well worthy of a record. A priest is sometimes called the ' founder,' but strictly speaking he is only the organiser of the Catholics he has found before him. . Moreover, the success of the mission he organises and builds up depends very materially on the quality of the early Catholic settlers. Now, the earliest Catholic settlers of Kaikoura have impressed their mark for good on the mission for ever. Hence the fitness of recording their names in connection with the above summary of early events.' Many of them have already been called to their- eternal reward. As far as the writer has-been able to ascertain the following were the pioneers of the Catholic Church of Kaikoura :— Mr and Mrs Walter Hailes, Mr and Mrs James O'Donnell, Mr- and Mrs Joseph Garrett, Mr and Mrs Dublin Smith, Mr and Mrs John

Harnett and family, Mr and Mrs Geo. Chapman, Mr and Mrs Patrick Peoples. A few years later came Mr and Mrs John O'Donnell, Mr and Mrs Denis Sweeney, Mr and Mrs 'James Gallagher, Mr and Mrs Wm, Braughan,. Mr and Mrs Jeremiah Curtin, Mr Michael Dee, Mr and Mrs William Smith (of Ludstone), Mr John Peoples, Mr and Mrs Patrick Keenan, Mr and Mrs Geo. Eaton/ Mr and Mrs Jesse Redwood, Mr and. -Mrs James Kerr, Mr and Mrs Michael K. Hill, Mr and Mrs Patrick Maguire. Of the above the following are gathered "to their fathers in the faith : — James O'Donnell, John O'Donnell, John and Mrs Harnett, Walter Hailes, Wm. Dublin Smith, Patrick Peoples, Jeremiah Curtin, Mrs Smith (of Ludstone), James and Mrs Gallagher, Michael Dee, Mrs Joseph Garrett.

(To be continued.)