THE CHURCH IN NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11, 18 March 1909, Page 412

THE CHURCH IN NEW ZEALAND

MEMOIRS OF THE EARLY DAYS

(Contributed.) GREYMOUTH (Continued). Death of Father Coloml). ' As far as I can remember (states Father Binsfeld) it was in the month of July, 1871, that Father Colomb was called to Wellington by Bishop Viard, probably for the purpose of making his retreat, as immediately on his return I was summoned there for a like duty. 3 Whilst there, Father Binsfeld was notified of his appointment of priest in charge of the mission of Waimea and Staffordtown in the Hokitika district, and that lie would be replaced "at Greymouth by Father Pertuis. Meanwhile Father Colomb, having received a call to Half-ounce on parochial business, a distance of thirty-four miles, departed thither after leaving instructions to have preparations made for the other two priests, who were expected by the next steamer, adding that he would hasten back in time to receive them. Heavy rain set in during his journey, and the next day on his return the creeks and rivers he had to cross were in high flood. When he reached the Ahaura he was warned by two gentlemen, who had just come from Greymouth, that it was "unsafe for him to proceed on his journey. Determining, however, to proceed, he soon reached the ford of Nelson Creek, which was. in full flood. In crossing, the horse encountered one of "those treacherous hidden narrow channels mentioned previously, and went down head foremost. Father Colomb was thrown from the saddle, arid the horse, in its attempt to swim, struck him over the temple so that his death must have been instantaneous. Fathers Binsfeld and Pertuis heard the sad news next day on their arrival at WestpocJ. To the former it was so unexpected and overwhelming that he could not fully believe it until landing early next, morning at Greymouth. Going straight -to the church, they found it "draped in mourning, and then the awful reality of the catastrophe was borne upon them. It was on a Sunday, and already a telegram from Bishop Viard awaited Father Binsfeld reappointing him to the charge of Greymouth, and appointing Father Pertuis tor Waimea and Staffordtown. After the first Mass, - celebrated by Father Binsfeld, two search parties were organised by him, as the body of Father Colomb had not as yet been found. One headed by Father Binsfeld began at Nelson Creek and followed the Grey River to Brunnerton, the other from Brunnerton to the sea. The body was found on the beach, having been swept down through snags and obstructions a distance of over twenty miles. The mark of the.horse's shoe was clearly defined on the left temple, whilst the face bore a calm expression. A ritual was found in the breastT pocket only slightly damaged, and is still^in the possession of Father .Binsfeld. All classes in the town and country sorrowed for the loss of a good and holy man who, by his superior ability, affability, and tact, had in the space of a short time endeared himself to the public generally. The day of the funeral was proclaimed a public holiday for the miners, thus enabling them to leave their claims. About eight hu.idred of them came from every direction and great distances to join in the funeral procession —a very imposing one —which was taken part in by a vast concourse representing every denomination. The funeral -sermon was preached by Father Michael Cummings, and the body was enclosed in a leaden coffin, encased in a wooden one, and interred in a brick vault beneath the church. The site of

the church in later years was used for other purposes, and the body of Father Colomb, after a lapse of about twenty years, was exhumed and transferred to the cemetery. He. was 45 years of age at the time of his death — the untimely and suddon nature of which came as a great shock to his confreres in New Zealand. Even at his time of life he wrote down all his sermons, which are still preserved at Meanee. He never spoke about the hardships he endured in travelling on the diggings. His memory" is still green on the Coast. 'Revisiting Greymouth a "few years ago, after an absence of twenty-four years (states Father Binsfeld), I heard the people then speak of Father Colomb as a great priest, a model priest, and one for whom they still entertained the warmest feelings and most tender recollections..' Some years ago the- Canterbury section of the New Zealand Natives' Association, an organisation which has ceased to exist so far as that particular district is concerned, not only conceived, but also put into practice, the laudable idea of discovering and defining by some sort of suitable memorial, the landmarks of early, colonising effort. This work, so well begun by those energetic and patriotic young men of the Dominion, is, it is pleasing to see, being carried on in these parts "by the pioneers themselves, an advance step that was seen accomplished by the Canterbury Old Colonists Association, on the lastl Anniversary Day cf the province (December 16). Previously, in the course of these memoirs, I was led by the remark" of one of our young New Zealand-born, priests to comment on the fact that the last resting places of many of our pioneer priests are, if not wholly forgotten, but vaguely- defined, and in many instances totally neglected. Not even the most inexpensive and modest wooden headstone marks the plot in God's acre where their venerated " remains repose. TVIy attention has again been directed to this matter by one who has borne his full share of the missionary burden, and • who pleads that this reproach may not be allowed to encture. As a ease in point, he mentions the grave of Father Colomb in the Greymouth Cemetery, which, he assures me, was not up to a few years "ago even distinguished by. a simple wooden cross. This is a work I might respectfully suggest to the numerous Catholic Young Men's Societies in the various centres of the Dominion. If the defining of the mere historical landmarks of the Dominion is thought of such value, how much more so should the care of the little hallowed plots occupied by the remains of our „ pioneer priests, to whom the young Catholic manhood of this Dominion owes so much.

(To be continued.)