MAORI CHURCH

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 146, 21 June 1916, Page 12

MAORI CHURCH

UNIQUE STRUCTURE AT OTAKI,

ITS QUAINT HISTORY,

Perhaps the only thing worth seeing in the Otaki township is the Maori Church. This is a quaint building, with a quaint history, and was erected at the instance of the famous chief Te Rauparaha as an atonement for his many, many sins. At the altar of the church there is some of the most elaborate Maori carving to be seen anywhere, and the three pillars down the centre aisle are uncut totara trees, rising to a height of about 60ft. Bishop Hadfield showed great interest in the building of the church, and regarding these particular pillars an interesting story is told which throws some light on his determined character. The uprights, it is said, were to have been much higher tha,n they are, and Bishop Hadfield, in his judgment, saw that it would be well to cut at least 10ft off if the structure was to be a safe one for all time. But the Maoris ■ said "No," and said it in such a way that there could be no mistaking their attitude. Undeterred, Bishop Hadfield was up betimes one morning, and, with the rude tools available, he hacked 10ft off one of the trees. Of course,. the Natives were annoyed, but what could they do but cut a, similar length off the remaining trees? TE RAUPARAHA'S ARREST. At the time the Ngatiraukawa aiid Ngatitoa tribes inhabited the Otaki district, serious trouble seemed to be brewing in many quarters, and v a disturbance broke out at Heretauriga' (Hutt), for

which the chief Rangihaeata was to blame. However, most people were ready to blame Te Eauparaha, and, in the hope of stopping the trouble, the latter was captured and taken on-board H.M.S. Calliope. Te Eauparaha protested against his arrest, but Governor Grey told him that if he would use his influence to induce Eangihaeata to stop fighting he would be released. This object he was successful in accomplishing. Rangihaeata and his followers subsequently migrated to Otaki and Poroutawhao (between Levin and Foxton), where they passed the rest of their days in peace.. ,' . ■- - \ A VISIT TO AUSTRALIA. After receiving an ultimatum of peace from Te Rangitaeata, the Calliope, with Te Rauparaha on board, set sail for Aus-, tralia. The' remainder of the story is interestingly told by Mr. . Thomas Bevan. "On arrival at Sydney," he says, "Te.. Rauparaha was welcomed and received with festivities. He was taken to', leading places of worship, and his st<ty in Sydney was made an exceedingly pleasant- one. These places of worship made' such an impression on him that he kept them in his mind, and thought what a wonderful and grateful people the Europeans wei'e." After visiting Melbourne and Auckland the man-o'-war, containing Te Rauparaha and all. thie leading chiefs of the Waikato, anchored' outside the mouth of. the Otaki. They landed in boats, and Mr.) Bevan, who witnessed the event, says, in his reminiscences, that he will never forget the sight. -> THE RETURN. TO OTAKI. "The occasion was a memorable one. The shore was lined with thousands, of Natives, and-a right royal welcome was accorded the chief Te .Rauparaha,- who was attired in an admiral".? uniform and carried a sword.- He was accompanied by Governor Grey and the commander of the warship. The earth 'trembled with the.feet of. those thousands of.warriors, who, delighted at the return of their . chief, danced and. gave .their war cries

with great gusto. After a formal greeting. Te Rauparaha related an account of his trip to Australia, told' how well he had been treated, and what good people the Eiu-opeans were, and he exhorted them to side with the Europeans, under the sovereignty of Queen Victoria. He also stated that" the pakehas loved their religion, and urged his people to follow their example by keeping close to God. He exhorted them to build a. church and not to set their minds at vest until that church was built." THE CHURCH COMMENCED. This advice was not in vain, and in 1847 the Maoris commenced to cut the timber for the building. Most ot it came from the Manawutu and Ohau disI tricts, and, in the days when there were

neither horses nor bullocks, and only rudo tools, the task was no mean one. It is related that the rafters and huge timbers were floated down the Ohau River into the Waikawa River, and then into the sea. Hundreds of Maoris with ropes could be seen hauling the great trees along the sea coast, one of the Natives standing on the tree with a pole, keeping it out to sea. .These immense totara trees were eventually land-1 ed at Waitohu, near Otaki, and then dragged over the sandhills by hundreds of Natives to the site where the church now stands. All the timber was adzed by Native ad:;es, which" are now to be seen in the church. The trees now acting as pillars were erected by manual labour, and many natives from the Manawatu assisted in the carving. They also assisted with the lace work and interior decorations, and the church now stands a tribute to Maori industry. GOOD FOR A LONG LIFE, Despite its age, the church is in a splendid state of preservation, and should remain so for many years to come. Recently it was found necessary to strengthen the building, and between £700 and £800 was subscribed by the Natives and Europeans for this work. The main portions of the building are as good to-day as when erected, and experts declare that the church will not need any more attention for at least 50 or 60 years to come. It was around this church that the township was laid out in order that the Maoris should be near the worshipping place. It was not, however, the intention to call the place Otaki. It had been given the name of Hadfield, and for many years Hadfield was the correct name for Otaki.