MAORI CHURCH REOPENED

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23001, 22 April 1940, Page 10

MAORI CHURCH REOPENED

ANGLICAN CEREMONY AT THE KAIK ALTAR LIGHT CARRIED THREE MILES At the Kaik, Onuku, the Maori settlement towards the Akaroa heads, the chief event of the celebrations of the Anglican Church were held yesterday afternoon. The ceremony concerned the reopening of the Maori church, which has been restored after being closed for 12 years. Onuku is the site of the Maori village opposite which Captain Stanley anchored H.M.S. Britomart 100 years ago, and where lived James Robinson Clough, the white man through whom the British officials had their first contact with the Maoris of this part of New Zealand. The foundation stone of the church .at the Kaik was laid in November. 1876, and the church was opened in March, 1878. The restoration has preserved the original structure of the building, with its shingled roof and small belfry. The ceremonies began with a brief service at St. Peter's Anglican Church, Akaroa. A torch was lighted from the altar candles at St. Peter's -Church, by the Rev. Archdeacon Petrie, and carried by relays of men to the Kaik. The men were placed at half-mile intervals, with older residents at closer intervals in the final stages. When the final torch-bearer arrived at the rebuilt church the torch was passeci through the hands of Archbishop Averill and Archbishop. West-Watson, Primate of New Zealand, to Bishop Bennett, Bishop of Aotearoa, and other clergy, and the altar candles in the: church were then lighted from it. In this way it was made a symbol of the bringing of the light of the gospel to the Maoris. The Bishop, bearing the lighted torch, then, entered the church, followed by the Archbishop and other clergy, including the Rt. Rev. J..Lawson Robinson, Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, and the Rev. M. A. Rugby Pratt, connexional secretary of the Methodist Church. Appeal for Effort Bishop Bennett, who conducted the service, said that when the church was built the Maori population at Onuku was quite considerable, and this place was very important from the Maori point of view. The church still stood as a memorial, to the old Maori people. He emphasised the value of the work of early missionaries. The little building was a wonderful piece of symbolism. There were many blessings in the wake of civilisation, but the greatest of them was expressed in the two candles then burning on the altar, representing the human and the spiritual life of Christ. He thanked pakeha Christians all over New Zealand for the interest they had taken in the spiritual welfare of the Maoris. Addressing; the Maori people, he charged them not only to accept Christianity, but to go out themselves, as missionaries and carry into the world the same light that had been brought to the church that day. The pakehas had that day rekindled the light in the church. Might the day come soon when the Maori Christians would fulfil their obligation to carry it further. He prayed that this rededication service would teachr both. Maori and pakeha to rededicate their lives to the work of the Church. At the door of the church after the service Mr Keefe, on behalf of the Maori people, thanked the pakehas for the reopening of the church. More than 100 cars and six buses travelled 7 " along the two and a half miles of narrow road from Akaroa to the Kaik, where - several hundred people were assembled. The: difficulties of traffic control in these conditions were handled by the Transport department, and no delays, were caused. SignJ£<iance of a Church The Primate of New Zealand (Archbishop West-Watson) spoke.at a special commemorative service at St. Peter's Church in the morning. The. Church of England, he said, had begun mission work at Akaroa 88 years ago. : The church of St. Peter was built in 1854, and in' it now children worshipped I where their grandparents had; worI shipped. "Here faith can touch and handle things unseen," the Archbishop continued. "The churches are buildings through whose doors we seem: to.slip from the , bewildering changes , and chances of this passing world into the unchanging arid eternal. When we enter we do not separate ourselves from our brethren of other forms of the one faith, but separate ourselves from the world. There are different languages of devotion. "In many ways our forefathers would find us strange and unfamiliar, but here in this house of God, with its familiar liturgy and familiar architecture, here at the foot of the Cross of Christ, we -speak the same language," he continued. That faith was changeless in spite of opposition. It was not based on delusions about tilings.- "but ' . on' knowledge of a Person, Jesus Christ. It was not for any mere social welfare, or humanitarian theory, or human fellowship that the Church stood, but as a witness to what was for mankind a matter of life and'death. .There was no real neutrality in the spiritual War. ./ :■■'-,; . : '...,.: .•."•■■".

PLACING OF MEMORIAL Wrong Position Claimed A CONFLICT OF HISTORY V- . . A claim that the new memorial marking the landing place of the French colonists in 1840 was wrongly situated was made by Mr E. X. Le Lievre during the ceremony of unveiling the memorial at Akaroa on Saturday. Mr Le Lievre added, however, that , this did not detract from his appreciation of the motives which prompted the setting up-of the memorial. A denial of the long-established story that there was ever a “race” for Akaroa between the French and British commanders in 1840 was also made by Mr Le Lievre, who based his opinion on statements of Commodore Lavaud to his father. He also denied that it was ever intended to plant the French flag at Akaroa, but a contrary view was expressed by the Consul for France (M* Andre Bouquet), who gave an account of the events of 100 years ago based on French sources. “There is something I have always wanted to say, and now I can say it, 'said Mr Le Lievre. “The old story -of the race to Akaroa between Captain Stanley and Captain Lavaud is a lie. There is not a word of truth in it. “Lavaud was never authorised to hoist the French flag in the South Island. His instructions were merely to go to Akaroa and protect the French settlers, and to do nothing in these seas to embroil the French and the English Governments. “He went to the Bay of Islands, and there spent some time practically- as the guest of Governor Hobson. They never discussed the hoisting of the French flag. These are words from Lavaud to my. father. The “Race” for Akaroa “Had there been a race between Lavaud and Stanley, would Lavaud have remained four,days at the .Bay of Islands after, seeing Stanley leave the

bay in thevßritomart? ■ He would have given chase. Lavaud knew that Stanley was coming here, to hoist the flag and hold a court. . “I knew the two men who Started the tale about the race. They were two disappointed French colonists, and I remember my father having very heated discussions with them.” Mr Le Lievfe then expressed the appreciation of .the descendants of the French; settlers of the memorial being unveiled, blit doubted whether it was on the right spot. “I would be a happier man;” he said, “if I were now standing over by that telegraph pole over’there. It was there, and not on-this spot where the memorial has been placed, that the settlers landed. l am the holy living man who can say where they-landed, but there were others of my generation; who knew.” Mr Le Lievre said that what he had to say about -the . position of the memorial; did. pot detract one iota from ■the appreciation of the generous gesture which; had prompted its erection. A Contrary View M. Pouquet said that the original -French settlers; thought they were to be the vanguard of an important colony placed on Banks Peninsula under the protection- of the French flag, there to improve the lands ■ bought by the Nantoßordaise; company.' “There is not the slightest doubt that the French - Government at the' outset shared in these hopes and encouraged the settlers,” he said. 7 ' “Gaptain Lavaud’s orders were to protect the landing;of the;colonists,; hoist the French flag at Akaroa, and take possession of Akaroa in the name of the King of . France.”When Lavaud arrived at Akaroa and found Captain Stanley, of H.M.S. Britomart, there, as far as the - two rival

The presentation of the arrival of the French Colonists, which preceded the unveiling of the memorial, gave the ceremony'its proper setting. The great crdwd of spectators lining Beach road, saw two long whale-boats come round the point rowed by blue-clad sailors,' and carrying the settlers wearing the costume of 100 years ago. Thosfe taking the part of the settlers were all descendants of that original band. The cpstumes of the women and children in particular were colourful and attractive. They landed on the beach just below the memorial. Other descendants occupied places on the platform, among them being Mr E. X; le Lievre, of Akaroa, the sole surviving member of the New Zealand-born children of those pioneers, who still speaks French, and whose English is given charm by the slightest trace of a French accent. Thd proceedings began with the singing of the “Marseillaise” by Mr Oscar Natzke, and the recital of a poem honouring . the French pioneers. ■ The hardships endured by the pioneer French settlers were discussed by Mr Davis in a brief address. They had come with very little to help them, to a country that was unpeopled and uncivilised. Their position in a land where sovereignty was in dispute between two nations was made easier by the character of the two men most intimately concerned—the French commander, Captain Lavaud, of the frigate L’Aube, and Captain Owen Stanley, of H.M.S. Britomart, and by the first Magistrate, Mr C. B. Robinson. These three men deserved particular honour. Looking Back to 1840. Mr E. X. le Lievre, speaking as a descendant .of the French colonists, said that those attending the centennial celebrations should try to imagine what Akaroa was like 100 years ago, when the slopes of its harbour were clad with bush to the waters edge, and the only European building was a hut at Red House Bay occupied by W. Green, who was looking after cattle for W. B. Rhodes. The 63 French settlers were glad to land there after being cooped up on a whaling vessel for so long, and they were soon busy clearing the land, sowing their seeds, and planting the bine, and they quichly discovered the fertility of the soil. They lived a simple and isolated life for the first 10 years, and it was only after the English settlement began m captains were concerned, the question of; sovereignty was settled there and then. A modus vivendi was then established. which was probably without parallel in history, and which continued for 30 months. The Union Jack was never hoisted, and the French commissioner and his British colleague each ruled his own settlement, and questions of common interest were settled by agreement, and whenever a dispute arose it was submitted .to arbitratiori in the person of Goyernor Hobson. ■ M. Pouquet praised the character of Captains Lavand and Hobson, who so, tactfully handled a difficult situation.

the early fifties that money was seen among them. The early English, settlers had to face hardships which were equal with‘those of the. French. Tho lot of the pioneer women in particular deserved* to be remembered. Those early settlers, French and English, had lived together very happily at Akaroa, as their descendants had done after them. > Greetings from France “I bring you the fraternal, greetings of the French nation,” said M. Pouquet. “I bring the remembrances and good wishes which, in a personal message, the President of Prance -has asked me to convey to you. M. Albert Lebrun desires that a tangible souvenir of this day should find its place here. You will receive in a few days a vase from the French National Manufactory of Sevres, which the President of the French Republic presents to the town of Akaroa with the- hope that it will stand in the most suitable place, a lasting testimony of the very special bonds which unite you to France within the Franco-British friendship and unity, reaching out to this Dominion.” •Minister’s Tribute The Hon. D. G. Sullivan spoke for the Government. He paid tribute particularly to the part played by the womenfolk in the early years of settlement. However great the difficulties of the men who were pioneers in this country, the difficulties the women encountered were greater. Mr Le Lievre should be thanked for his reference to the pioneers who came later, the pioneers of Canterbury proper. , . Mr Sullivan offered the people of Akaroa and the whole of Banks Peninsula congratulations upon the passage of 100 years of ordered development in this new country. Governor-General’s Thanks The Governor-General (Lord Galway) said that the broadmindedness and courteous demeanour of those in charge at the settlement in the first years were largely responsible for the friendly basis upon which the little community was built. He felt sure that this friendship would ever continue at It had been delightful to bear from M. Pouquet the greetings and message of friendship from the President of the French Republic. He was, sure the people present would wish him to thank the President through M. Pouquet for the gift which he had sent to Akaroa, a gift which would always be preserved there and extremely valued. Lord Galway then unveiled the memorial tablet, on which are inscribed the words: “This stone is erected to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the arrival of the French settlers, who landed near this spot on August 16, 1840.” At the close of the celebrations the official party was entertained at the home of Mr E. X. le Lievre. Mr Le Lievre and Mrs W. A. Newton received the guests. The proceedings closed with a brief expression of thanks by the Hon. W. E, Parry, Minister for Internal Affairs.