MEMOIRS OF THE EARLY DAYS

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 07, Issue 45, 7 November 1907, Page 13

MEMOIRS OF THE EARLY DAYS

(Contributed.) WELLINGTON. (Continued from last week.) Marlborough.

Towardssthe end of 1842 Mr Cottrell, a surveyor, had explored a way from Nelson into the Wairau, and the glowingaccounts given of that district determined Captain Wakefield to take up land there on behalf of the Nelson settlers, and preparations were made to extend the settlement in that direction. Captain Wakefield held that the whole of what is now known as Marlborough was included in the purchase made at the time of the Wellington Settlement, but the Maori chiefs thoxight otherwise. As soon as the news of the projected survey reached Kapiti Island, Te Rauparaha's stronghold, he, together with. Te Rangiharata and Te Hiko, crossed the strait to Nelson, and warned Captain Wakefield that Wairau must not be taken over, as not included in the original sale. In reply Captain Wakefield restated the company's claim, but it was, in angry terms, repudiated by Te Rauparaha, who warned the officials that if they went to Wairau they would meet with resistance. Te Rauparaha entreated the surveyors not to proceed with the survey, but refer the claim to the Native Commissioner. Captain Wakefield was determined, a step which unfortunately led to the Wairau Massacre, when twenty-three Europeans were murdered. Amongst the victims were Captain Wakefield, Captain England' Messrs Thompson, Cottrell, Richardson, Howard, Brooks' Cropper, and M'Gregor, and of the twenty-six who escaped several were wounded. Looking back calmly, states the chronicler of this tragic event, after a long vista of over sixty years, one cannot help thinking the Europeans were much to be blamed. In the year 1859 Nelson suffered a severe loss in the separation of Wairau from it. The settlers in the Wairau complained that they were taxed for the benefit of Nelson without any compensating return, being left roadless and bridgeless. There was httle opposition to the request of the discontented colonists. An Act was passed by the General Assembly in the same year separating Wairau from Nelson, and incorporating it under a separate government as the province of Marlborouoh The new province shared in the gold discoveries of 1863-4 fmportant finds being made in the Wakamarina district about thirty miles from Nelson. There was then a good road over the Maungatapu, and a great rush took place. This road became notorious a year or so later owing to a dastardly tragedy perpetrated by a gang of bushrangers. Caiwastown nnd Havelock grew into important little townships, boasting of n newspaper and Government officials.

Blenheim,

the chief centre of Marlborough, owes its Church foundation and the beautiful organisation of its works to the Rev Father Sauzeau S.M. Sent in November, 1864, to this new district, he found there only sixty houses, occupied by some hundreds of people. He celebrated the first Mass in the courthouse The following year he built a church and opened two schools for the Catholic children of the settlement. Ten years later this temporary .church was replaced by a beautiful edifice, which was erected on land acquired, with the liberal assistance of the small Catholic congregation, in a healthy and beautiful situation m the southern part of the town. In addition to Blenheim Father Sauzeau had charge of the whole of the province of Marlborough, and with characteristic zeal he had churches erected at Tv Marina, Picton, and Havclock. Being unassisted, he had to personally supply all requirements. In his correspondence he once wrote :-' On two Sundays of the month I. celebrate mass in Blenheim, and once a month at Picton and Havelock, and when there is a fifth Sunday in any month I visit and unite as best I can the families scattered over the distant outlying districts. In New Zealand it is truly difficult for a missionary priest to find time to be lonely.' Each Sunday I celebrate two masses, preach at different times, and baptise children. During the week I teach .catechism, oversee the schools, direct affairs generally, visit the parishioners, and, above all, the sick on my four stations. Thank God, although our Catholics are scattered over the province, and in consequence a

great distance from the central residence, very few have died without the sacred rites and consolations of our holy religion*'