THE CHURCH IN NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 08, 8 October 1908, Page 10

THE CHURCH IN NEW ZEALAND

MEMOIRS OF THE EARLY DAYS

(Contributed.)

A Franciscan Community. It is still within the memory of many that a Community of Franc.scan Fathers was in Auckland in the early dayT s"a es Mr. M Nolan, who at the time was resident there, and w I'ranciscan mission, which was established at Parriell, a suburbansp.ntua unerests of the Native race, leaving the cobny and not wuhout some personal regret, set sail f or fore glands' l°Z v Z n \ tO Chlna ' S ° me tO E^' *»d others To I ta * Fa he j oseph was sent tQ AleM|M|ria £

letters to his old fri#nd, which I have before m% Father Joseph graphically described the bombardment of the city by British warships, at the beginning of the campaign against Arabi Pasha, which event occurred shortly after the arrival there of the Franciscan Father. • Shells of massive dimensions fell thick and^ fast within the enclosures of the convent and adjoining hospital, which were, crowded with refugees, but, miraculously, none exploded. Father Joseph subsequently went through the dangers of the cholera visitation, attending almost daily to the sick and dying but he escaped unscathed. Later he *as made Superior of th,> convent in the island of Cyprus. As a result of the bombardment; fire broke out in various parts of the ancient city-^af Alexandria, and in its devastating fury swept far and wide Nowhere was it fiercer than in the vicinity of the Franciscan institutions, which appeared to be in the principal line of attack. Here again, however, the intervention of Divine Proivdence seemed most markedly manifest, as the fire on all sides, after consuming everything within its course, stopped at the enclosures of the Franciscan buildings, which again escaped— a fact which greatly impressed the whole population. Father Vivand OS F went from Auckland to China, where he von the crown' of martyrdom. Father Dominic Golosi went to Italy, and was killed by a brick from a building falling upon his head. Father Francis Del Monte also went to Italy, and subsequently to Colombo, Ceylon, where, when last heard of, he was still living. The Rev. Father Chareyre, S.M. Among the early missionaries who labored in various parts of the Dominion during the pioneering days was the Rev Father Chareyre, S.M. He was a man of deep learning and more than ordinary attainments, who by zealous and self-sacrificing efforts for the religious and temporal advancement of the people greatly endeared himself to them and secured the enduring appreciation of those among whom he ministered. His longest term in any one place was probably that spent in Christchurch in the early seventies, from which place he finally left for his native France, where he spent the remainder of his life, principally as professor of theology and philosophy in some of the great seminaries. About 1877 he was nominated Bishop of Auckland, but successfully petitioned Propaganda against the appointment. In letters to an old friend in this city, he again and again expressed his love for New Zealand and its people I recall most pleasing remembrances (he once wrote) of New Zealand. One likes to muse upon his young life, and unite past recollections with his present labors. How often do my thoughts fly away from the Boulevards, or even from the libraries of Pans to the sunny valleys of Nelson, to the grand scenery of the West Coast, and to the broad plains of Canterbury!' In h.s conclusions regarding the then state of his unhappy country even so long back as ISBO, and the evident trend of affairs' political and religious, he vas markedly prophetic. «We must cross the Red Sea of blood and persecution (he remarked) before we reach the promised land. 1 SOUTH CANTERBURY. Among the pioneer Catholics who came to Canterbury in the early days of settlement, and whose name deserves an honored place in any records treating of the foundation and progress of the Church in this province, is that of Mr J B Sheath, head of the well-known family of that name-a family that has done so much to advance religion, and the prosperity of the community generally. Mr. Sheath, who departed this life a few years ago at an advanced age, came from Birmingham England, and arrived at Lyttelton in July, 1861. ' In his native land he was principal of the" famed gunmaking firm of Hollis and Sheath, of Birmingham, who manufactured the armaments used in the Crimean War, and large quantities of which went to America and other countries. After a varied and considerable amount of colonising experience, principally about the growing city of Christchurch, Mr. Sheath and family settled on the Opawa station in the Albury district, South Canterbury, now occupied by Mr. John Rutherford. The dwelling house, which formed the homestead, . and is still in existence, was built in sections by a Mr. Dartnell in his yard at Christchurch, and before being despatched to its permanent site was erected in every detail to make certain that no part was missing. As showing the primitive and roundabout method of transit in those days, the sectional parts of the "structure were carted to the old Ferry Wharf at Heathcote, thence taken by water round to Lyttelton, again shipped to Timaru, and, .in completion of the journey conveyed to its final destination by Sheath's team jf twenty station bullocks. An historical land-mark on the roal is .still known as the Level, »or Sheath's Mound, where the

conveyance became,, fast embedded in .the mu d on its way to the Opawa station. It is interesting to" learn that the late Mr. George Rhodes, of the Levels station, gave the first site for the Catholic Church buildings at Timaru. This proving unsuitable, Mr. Sheath successfully negotiated an exchange for the present splendid site. When Father Chataignier first settled in Timaru he was periodically (about once a year) conveyed out by Mr. Sheath from Timaru to the back-block's. Mr. Sheath also guided him about from house to house wherever Catholics were to be found in the Mackenzie Country. Mass being always cele-, brated at Mr. Sheath's house, sets of vestments and other neces-' saries for the celebration of Mass were always possessed by the family. The first bell used in connection with the Church in Timaru did service previously on the station in directing the men' from distant parts. This was given to the Church, and very many other necessaries were also supplied by the family. Mr. Alfred Sheath, a brother of Mr. J. B. Sheath, erected the first telegraph line in Canterbury— that between Christchurch and Lyttelton— and afterwards lines nearly all over New Zealand in the early sixties. The first telegram sent on the wires is now' in po^.sc-vMon of a lady of the family.