THE ALBERTLANDERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 138, 12 June 1926, Page 29

THE ALBERTLANDERS.

HISTORY OF PAPAROA. ROAD WORK REPLENISHES THE EXCHEQUER. A BETHEL IN THE WILDERNESS. THE FIRST METHODIST CHURCH, BUILT BY VOLUNTEERS. (Edited by HENRY HOOK.) As the ownership of cows extended, butter was produced for •de, and several ot the more ambitious later on manufactured cheese, which met with a demand in neighbouring districts and on the Northern YVairoa. There was but a poor sale for butter." The storekeepers usually did not want it, and it was sold as low as Gd per lb. On the whole, dairying was a poor business till the factories and the refrigerator brought their beneficent work to the development of the dairy industry. . ' " • Occasional road work was still gladly accepted. One settler was away two months helping to cut a road recently laid off fora distance ot about thirty miles from Whangarei" towards the West Coast, bometimes with wild cattle and wild-looking half-naked Maoris as companions, he contrasted his lot with the refinements of the English life he had left behind, but still with no regrets. Returning home, his own and his neighbours' maize crops were ready to gather in. The cobs, when stripped dud hung over the cross beams of the whares, looked like prosperity. He records enjoying the bread :niade from his own wheat, which though brown, was to him very sweet His only regret was that he had not enough to last till the next harvest. Earnings on the road job varied from 10/ to 25/' per ' day, according to the class of bush on the route. This return was a : decided windfall m view of the ruling, wages, the explanation being that a flat rate per chain was paid, and on portions of the road containing only light scrub or sparse growth, the workers could speed up, and accomplish a greater length in the day. Further, they were permitted to deviate from the straight within "the chain wide limit to avoid the heaviest trees. ii. u M t SS ! rS ' J ibbits ' Bullei i> Trounson and others were pioneers on the bush lands on the hill country extending towards Mareretu, and to give them means of egress, a track had to be early opened' surmounting steep ridges on that side of .the village. The Paparoa River, more especially in flood time, hindered access to these holdings, and militated against future extension in that direction. One of the most important public works of the period was the erection, in 1866, of Slater's Bridge. This, the first bridge built in the district, was erected by Messrs. James Trounson and T. W. Wilson, under contract to the Auckland Provincial Government. These men pitsawed all the timber from local kauri—two fine trees near by being used—one from Mr. Wilson's land next the bridge site, the other a quarter of a mile or so away on the rise at Mr. Hobley's. No piles were used in the first bridge. (These were put in many years afterwards.) The stringers, strengthened with heavy trestles, rested on stout logs placed at each end as "sills." When the kauri was being cut down for the long stringers required, a fair wind was essential to throw it 'in a convenient position for cross-cutting and pitsawing afterwards. A contrary one would have sent it headlong into the river.

Mr. Trounson waa a leading settler in the Paparoa district before he moved to the Northern Wairoa. These interesting old photographs show him and Mrs. Trounson as the pioneers knew them.

Mr..Anthony Slater, who was a man of simple faith, went •aide to pray for a favourable breeze. It appeared as though "the effectual fervent prayer of the righteous"' availed, for presently a moderate wind rose exactly as desired, and the tree was thrown in i the right direction. The working of these enormous logs on to the pit ready for sawing must have reqtiired some strength, and leverage, and involved considerable risk. It must be remembered that timber jacks were not in vogue till many years afterwards. Neither horses Ii or bullocks were yet available, and the heavy stringers had to be man-carried to the site, two or three chains away, which must have required a considerable gang of helpers. Though it may be thought that new settlers would be-. amateurs at bridge-building, Messrs. Trounson and Wilson completed a very workmanlike structure. Strengthened afterwards with piles, it carried the traffic and withstood the floods for 34 years, a new bridge being erected in 1900. Herculean tasks never seemed to come amiss to these hardy'settlers. The bigness of the jobs they tackled with i"new chum"- experience, was about as remarkable as the smallness of their financial reward. !As far as memory serves, the contract price for Slater's Bridge was £75. The position was that the work, was urgently required, and the contractors had to take what money was available for carrying it out. Mr. William Little was one .of the versatile men in the community. He was sometimes to the fore at social gatherings, being clever at impersonations. Eeligious sendees were continued in the settlers' homes till 1867. "For some time, however, the desire for "a home for worship" had been gaining strength, and it finally focussed in a meeting of settlers in Mr. John Parson's Avhare, to consider the ereption of a church for the settlement. The Bey. Wm. Gittos was in the chair. 'Among the colonists who made their homes in Paparoa were Presb)--terians, Baptists, Methodists, Congregationalists and Episcopalians. 'Discussion ensued as to what denominational-hall mark the proposed church should have. Upon the testimony of an old timer, it was a somewhat excited meeting. Methodists were found to be in the majority, and the resolution of that backwoods meeting was that a Methodist church should be built in the village. Mr. C. Hook, a member of, the Baptist fold, gave , the ground. By willing volunteers the necessary trees were felled and pitsawn, the timber being carried on the men's.shoulders to the - site. Voluntary workers. also levelled the hillside, and carried through the actual labour of building. Mr. S. Cooksey, afterwards of Matakohe. was a leader in the erection, throwing in his work as a contribution. Being-an experienced carpenter, his help was invaluable. Subscriptions from friends in Auckland.* through Mr. Gittos, provided the windows and nails. The building was 32ft by 16ft, with a commodious vestry and porch; completed, it was described as "an unpretentious structure, unlined, draughty and undecorated," but it represented the sacrifice of a people of small means, and themselves facing a hard struggle for existence. v It was a red letter day, early in. December, 1867, when the opening was celebrated. The; Bey. Wm. Gittos, who was always present at any special gatherings, conducted the Sunday services. | Inspiring services they were, and long to be remembered in district

history. During the following week, a public tea and meeting was held/ at which Mr. Gittos again presided. This, of course, wag a very popular event, which had been looked forward to with pleasurable anticipation for a long time. In addition to the chairman, local speakers remembered were Messrs. T. W-. Wilson and as. Trounson, while the musical part of the programme was ably conducted by Mr. and Mrs. John Chadwick and Mrs. Wm. Chadwick, who had recently come to live on the Pahi River. Fresh from Rochdale choirs, their singing delighted the audience. It was, of course, many years before the people were in a position to pay a minister. But the district was fortunate in possessing several men with the preaching gift, and capable, of leading public worship—oth*rs also, who could supply a gap, though they did not claim to be "preachers." Settlers of honoured memory who thus manned the breach in the early years were Messrs. C. Hames, T. W. Wilson and Oates, Jas. Redfern and Jas. Trounson. Others, who,had also led in the cottage services from the origin of .the settlement, were Messrs. C. Hook and A. Slater. Mr. Redfern was not in the district regularly during the first ten years or more. As a trained Wesleyan day school teacher in England, Mr. Wilson had studied and taught the Bible, and being a ready speaker, his gifts were very useful in religious work and local political parties. Thus, in this settlement, hidden away iv the backblocks of the north in the 'sixties, regular weekly service was maintained. Manhood and womanhood were strengthened, age was comforted, and youth was inspired to high ideals. The condemnation of Scripture for certain folk docs not apply to the first Paparoa settlers. They did not aim to build stylish houses while the house of God was "neglected. While the majority of them were yet sojourning in whares, and before they had houses of their own, they erected a building, wherein to honour the Giver of all good. Later on, a modest bell was installed, which rang through the valley its invitation to worship, and its reminder of the day of rest. Among the people there Avere some good voices for congregational singing, but before a harmonium was -installed, a. lead was necessary in the service of praise. It was here that our friend Mr. B. Hobley came into prominence. Armed with both flute and clarionet, he "led off" with great gusto, sometimes changing from one instrument to the other during the service. If- either instrument did not go to his satisfaction, he would drop it, and lead vigorously with his voice. The "song leader" often caused considerable diversion in the services, the feelings of small boys particularly being sometimes stirred to levity. However, he honestft tried to d.o his bit. This remarkable man, who was a cabinet maker by trade, lived a bachelor life to old age, and was one ot" the quaint characters of the community. , Being the only public building erected for some,years, the church, in addition to Sunday gatherings, was used for general purposes, such as public meetings, school, etc., etc.. Among the visitors who contributed acceptable services were Revs. W., C. Oliver, John Smith, Wm. Worker, and the Yen. Archdeacon Maunsell. 1927 is the Diamond Jubilee of the ere'etion of the old church, hence the Paparoa division of the Albertlanders do well to regard the record . they are making as monumental to an event of far-reaching influence in district history. (To be continued next Saturday.)