THE CHURCH IN NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand Tablet, 1 October 1908, Page 12

THE CHURCH IN NEW ZEALAND

MEMOIRS OF THE EARLY DAYS

(Contributed.)

THE OPOTIKI AFFAIR. With reference to the tragic affair at Opotiki away back in the sixties, and the manner in which the Rev. Mr. Volckner met his death at the hands of the fanatical Hau Haus, Mr. M. Nolan kindly supplies the following interesting particulars:— Stating at the outset that accounts which appeared in the severaLwritings of Protestant missionaries, previously mentioned in this connection, which bore the obvious impress of bias, were unworthy of credence, Mr. Nolan goes- on to say that, coming to. Auckland immediately after the war, and continuing to reside there for a number of years, he was intimately acquainted with Father Grange, who also was on the mission at Auckland after his exciting experiences in the districts of the Bay of Plenty. In relating his adventures prior to, and at the time of, the Rev. Mr. Volckner's murder, Father Grange said that, contrary to any exception being made, it had been decided that -he too was. to be put to death, and that both the Rev. Mr. Volckner ' and himself were apprehended by the Hau Haus and placed together in a -whare, where they were closely guarded through 'the night by armed Natives. During the torturing hours they passed, Father Grange stated he prepared > his companion for the death he was destined to meet with the approach of daylight, and it is safe to assume- that the Rev. Mr. Volckner comforted Father Grange in prospect of the terrible doom that apparently awaited him also. When morning appeared the" Rev. Mr. Volckner was led forth" to the place of execution, but evidently the strongest section of the Hau. Haus were averse to murdering Father Grange as intended the day before, contending that no reason existed for . perpetrating the deed— a decision strongly resented by -the arch-fanatic Kereopa. AUCKLAND. ' _ Some Old-time Missionaries. Worthy to rank prominently among the old-time priests whose zealous effort aided in a remarkable degree to mould the re-

ligious character of the northern city (an esteemed correspondent reminds me), was Monsignor Fynes, born and educated" in Eng- . land. Father Fynes entered the Benedictine Order, but subsequently left to join the ranks of the secular priesthood. Coming to New South Wales, he labored, in the temporal and spiritual interests of the convicts then being sent there, and among his duties was the visitation of the prisons of the colony.' Coming to the, diocese of Auckland during the episcopate of Bishop-Pom-pallier, and prior to .the Native wars of the early sixties; he was located, at Howick, where he remained until the arrival of Bishop Croke in 1870, when he- was placed in charge of the Parnell district. * When relinquishing the Bishopric of Auckland, the. Right Rev. Dr. Croke appointed him Administrator of the d:ocese until the arrival of Archbishop Steins from India in December, 1879. When, through ill-health, Dr. Steins resigned charge of the see, Father Fynes again assumed charge of the diocese until the arrival, of the Right Rev. Dr. Luck, 0.5.8., in November, 1882. Dr. Luck appointed him VicarGeneral,- which office he held until his death on June 16, 1887. He received the dignity of Monsignore in 1885 during Bishop Luck's .first visit to Rome. Monsignor Fynes was particularly interested in Catholic "education, and he endowed, the schools with all his worldly possessions. He was honorary manager of the Star of the SeaOrphanage until relieved of the position by Father (now Bishop)" Lenihan. Of a genial and kindly disposition, he was much esteemed by all classes of the community, and especially beloved by the parishioners of Howick and Parnell.

(To be continued.)