THE PARISH OF BANKS PENINSULA

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29892, 4 August 1962, Page 8

THE PARISH OF BANKS PENINSULA

Fascinating History

[Spectalli/ written for "The Press" bv GLADYS COMBER 1 T’HE events contributing to the growth of x the Parish of Banks Peninsula are, in common with most of the early history of those parts, both stirring and unique. The parish is an unusual one. in that it is comprised of five bays, Port Levy, Pigeon Bay, Little Akaloa, Okains Bay, and Le Bons Bay. Originally, Duvauchelle was also included. Each bay. isolated from the other, is separated by steep hills, clothed in virgin bush from summit to seashore. So dense was the bush in early days that several persons died through being lost in its depths. When two families living in Pigeon Bay wished to bring cattle from Akaroa, it took eight men three weeks to widen the track six feet.

Sailing boats played some part in the visits of the clergy to these bays, Bishop Selwyn sailing in on many occas.ons. On his first visit to Little Akaloa, he is said to have leaped up to his waist in water, and helped to pull his boat ashore. The early vicars traversed steep narrow tracks, either on foot, on horseback, or as in the case of Henry Torlesse, by mule. On the frail shoulders of this delicate young man, hung a task of such magnitude, that by present day standards it seems an incredible accomplishment. Through fine weather, storm or snow, he travelled by mule, taking services at Duvauchelle and Little Akaloa in the morning, and Okains Bay in the afternoon and evening. Advised by his doctor to take a sea trip for health reasons. Henry Torlesse. a nephew of Edward Gibbon Wakefield, sailed from Britain for New Zealand on the Minerva with colonists for the Canterbury Settlement, arriving in February 1853. He was met by his brother Charles, a surveyor, and went to Fernside, working as a shepherd. However, he had hopes of being ordained, and continued his classical reading towards this end.

In 1857, he married a shipboard acquaintance. Elizabeth Revell. On ‘September 25, 1859, he was ordained Deacon by Bishop Harper, and given the charge of the six bays, although his work was confined mainly to Little Akaloa, Okains Bay, and Duvauchelle. He was 27 years of age at the time, and left by boat with his wife and infant son, for Okains Bay. For six weeks the family Jived in a one roomed hut, while the vicarage was being built. The house was still uncompleted when they moved in for the birth of their daughter, Louisa, on December 6. His tasks were many. In addition to his charge, he had been appointed schoolmaster at Okains Bay, his first classes being conducted in a room at the vicarage. Meanwhile, a chapel school was being built. When Bishop Harper arrived for the induction, only the framework was complete, so canvas was bung around the framework for the sen-ice. By Christmas time the building was complete. Additional chapel schools were also established at Duvauchelle and Little Akaloa. The male population of

Okains Bay consisted mainly of former whalers who had become sawyers—tough men. who bitterly resented the presence of a parson in their midst. They stated openly that a church was not wanted in the place. During services, they organised disturbances. including dog fights, to make the task of their young vicar the more difficult In spite of his frail appearance. Torlesse was an excellent athlete, a good cricketer, and excelled in most games. He organised sports meetings, and was able to outdo the men in most fields. His good qualities so impressed the men that they became his firm friends, and his task became a little easier.

Many of his parish were completely illiterate, as testified by entries in the marriage register, showing the signature of the bride and groom as a simple cross. Torlesse began a night school for men. adding to hts already heavy round of duties. In 1860 he was joined by Mr Tuson as assistant school master. He lived in a room adjoining the chapel school.

First Library In May of this year, the Okains Bay Circulating library was begun, Mr Tuson being the first secretary, and Torlesse the first curator. During this same year, the vicar began the burial register of the parish. His task was a sad one. recording the death of his four-month-old daughter, Louisa. Of the ten children born to the Torlesse family, three died in infancy. An idea of the ground traversed by Torlesse in his rounds can be ascertained from the report of the Hon Mr Rolleston who was a member or a commission appointed to investigate the condition of schools on the peninsula. He reported that Torlesse lent him a mule, telling him that no matter what happened, or how bad the track became, he must not dismount. Coming to a part which seemed almost straight up and down. Rolleston got off the mule. The anima) refused to budge, whereupon Rolleston remounted and the mule went safely on its way. Okains Bay Church The aim which most occupied the mind of Henry Torlesse was the building of a church in Okains Bay. In October, 1862. a committee was formed for the purpose of raising funds. By January 1863. they had in hand £5O from friends in England collected by Torlesse's mother, £l9l 13s Od from Canterbury friends, and £7 8s 9d from a collection taken at the laying of the foundation stone, which task was performed by Mrs Torlesse. By June the church was completed, and debt-free, many of the men having contributed, and Torlesse himself having given £25. Mr J. E. Thacker provided slates for the roof instead of the more usual shingles. The builder was an American. a former whaler. Local stone out of a quarry and the creek provided material for the thick walls, which were plastered on the inside. The white stone in the window construction came from Quail Island. The bricks in the arches of the door and windows were locally made, the only imported materials being the roofing slates and the stained glass, which came from England. At Little Akaloa, Torlesse took the first services under a large blue-gum tree. Later he moved to a bam which was used as church and general meeting house. The next place of worship was a room used also as school room and meeting house. When a new school was built by the Education Board in 1874, the old school room was altered and enlarged for use as a church, the roof shingles being constructed from a cargo of palings washed ashore from the wrecked brig Clematis. This church was named St. Luke’s. The present St. Luke's is unique, a beautiful little church with concrete walls encrusted with paua shell, set on a rise amid native bush. For much of the cost, and also for the delicate and beautiful carving within the church, the people of Little Akaloa are indebted to Mr J. H. Menzies. The church was consecrated by Bishop Julius on December 6. 1906. When the first road was hewn between Okains Bay and Little Akaloa, Torlesse was appointed examiner. Knowing that it would probably be used more frequently by himself than by any other, he refused to pass the work until the road was widened, as he found that his clay-laden bullock was unable to pass in the width. By 1884. the burdens which Torlesse had shouldered were beginning to tell on him, and ill-health compelled him to give up his arduous travelling. He left the parish.

Torlesse took up the post of chaplain to the gaol, hospital and mental hospital at Christchurch. In this capacity he established a refuge

for unmarried mothers, the first venture of its kind in the diocese. He became vicar of Governors Bay in 1867. Two years later a bad fall completely incapacitated him. and he moved to Rangiora. where, suffering continual pain, he lived until his death on December 1?, 1870, at the early age of 38 years. Thus, within a span of 11 years, this pioneer though of delicate physique, did his chosen work nobly and well. During this short span he cared for the souls of his large parish, established three chapel school?, taught a day school, conducted evening classes, was curator of a library, and directed his energies towards the financing and building of the church which still stands as a fitting memorial to a great man. The first settler arrived in Le Bons Bay In 1857. so that by 1859. when Torlesse began his ministry, there were few settlers in this part. The Rev. Henry Barnett began hie ministry in London at the early age of 17 years Like Torlesse. he suffered from failing heaJth. and in 1863. sailed for New Zealand to Join his parents. Jane and Henry Barnett. w*io were early settlers at Le Bone Bay The first sermons of the young Congregationaliist minister were preached from a timber stack. Jane and Henry Barnett gave land for a church, school s.td cemetery. In 1869 at a cost of £B5 Zion Church was built, and handed over to the Congregationaliats The Rev. Mr Barnett wis placed in charge of the peninsula district, and another church called Dbenezer Church was built in Akaroa. Later, the Rev. Mr Bame” owned a shop, in Le BomBay. and in tthe evening* prayer meetings were held in a back room. He used to practise total immersion at his baptism services, and two men were bapt sed in t e creek opposite the shop. In the church was a large canvas tank for these ceremonies but unfortunately, it leaked. William Barnett had a fine singing voice, and he also played the pipe-organ, complete with ‘•blower” in the church. Later, the Zion Church was bought by a Mr W. W. Gibb, who used it for storing hay. In 1903 the Akaroa vestry bought this church for £B. and Bidhop Julius dedicated it under the name of St. Andrew on December 1 of that year. In 1931. Le Bons Bay was again included in the Banks Peninsula parish. Recently. after many years of delay, due to war, rising costs and insufficient funds, a new St. Andrews of modern and revolutionary design was completed. The Sinclairs And The Hays Pigeon Bay was settled by two staunch Presbyterian families, the Hays and the Sinclairs. For three months. 15 members of the two famrlies lived together in a tent on the beach, and later in a long thatch house with a otay floor. After two years, the families moved into separate homes. In January. 1844. Bishop Selwyn visited the bay. and was pleased to find the families carrying out regular family worship. As Presbyterians, they felt a need for a minister of their own denomination, and in 1862. upon Mr Hay providing £lOO passage money, they brought out, in conjunction with Akaroa. the Rev. Mr Grant and his wife from Scotland. Due to an urgent need in Christchurch, they were unable to retain his services for long and the work was continued by probationers and laymen. In June. 1999, Knox Church, a fine wooden building with a shingle roof was completed by the Presbyterians. In the early days, the population was almost exclurively Presbyterian. With the advent of a number of .Anglican families the church is now used by both denominations on alternate weelas. a splendid example of co-operation and harmony. The largest Maori pa on the peninsula existed at Port Levy. In 1840 Taawo, a preacher from the Methodist station at Cloudy Bay became the first missionary to teach at Port He was followed by others including Tamihana, son of Te Raup-i--raha. who in addition to preaching, sought to teach bis people to read and write. In 1859. the Rev J. W Stack, then aged 24. made bis first .visit, crossing from Lyttelton to Purau, and climbing the steep hill at the baek of the Rhodes’ homestead. On the track to Port Levy, he stopped to carve his initials on a huge totara. On reaching the pa he was received with great enthusiasm by the Maori people. He suggested that morning and evening aen-.ers should be held, and asked that the church bell should be rung. He was informed that the church was occupied by pigs, and advised that the service should be carried out in one of the houses.

European diseases, aggravated by cramped conditions and poor sanitation, took a heavy toll erf the Maori pipulation. Their numbers were further depleted by a gradual migration to the cities until tod. v the Maori population is almost non-existent.

The Rev. Mr Stack remained until 1887, and in that year a move was made to build St. Paul's church. Land for the church and cemeU'v was given by Mr C. P. Cholmondeley, and the church, which coet £5OO was consecrated on April 28. 1888. by Bishop Harper. Free transport was provided by steam ship, and about one hundred people were present. Today, with modem means of transport, travelling by car a distance of 250 to 300 miles a week to care for a parish, over steep, wind ng roods. presents difficulty enough. In comparison. the task of the earfy vicars of Banks Peninsula seema ar. almost impossible one.