HISTORIC PAST

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 109, 9 May 1923, Page 9

HISTORIC PAST

CANON GOULD'S MEMOIRS

STORY OF A BUSY LIFE

The death last week at Gisborne of the Rev. Canon Frank Gould removes one during whose long life in New Zealand occurred a, great part of the history of the colony. Canon Gould kept a diary which was destroyed by fire at .Otautau many years ago. Fortunately he had supplied;a relative with a copy of some of his interesting experiences. This includes information regarding the early days of St. John's College,, Tamald, when Bishop G. A. Selwyn was in residence there.

Canon Gould was born in Essex on 3rd March, 1827 ; At the age of 20 years he left his native country for New Zealand in the barque Clara, and arrived at Auckland on 16th September the same year. "On the following day, a Sunday," wrote Canon Gould, "I landed with my chum, Lieut. Hutchinsoc, of the Royal Engineers, on Eome rocks. We scrambled up the cliff and found ourselves close to the open door of a church (St. Paul's). ' I noticed that the sexton turned away a Maori boy who was attired in a blanket. The bell was ringing to invite people to enter. However, those who were, dressed properly were admitted. The Rev. Churton read the prayers. The singing was conducted by the sexton, who stood in the north-west corner of . the nave, where, with one hand turning the handle of an organ, with the other he held up the prayer-book, and he sang about four ? rS€S ,° f t the Psalm- He sang with strength, the instrument was loud, and I am not sure that anyone else sang." After the service the two young men had lunch at the Masonic Hotel (now the Grand), and then walked to the top of Mount Eden, passing the windmill on the way. The following morning Mr. uould reported himself to Bishop G A. Selwyn, a t St. John's College, Tajnaki. The whole of the boys were busy planting potatoes at Kohimarama. The diary also states that the flour from which the bread was made for the occupants of the college waa ground from wheat grown on the place. TRIP TO ROTORUA. An interesting account of a trip by Canon Gould to Rotorua in 1849' is in the diary. The party consisted of five of whom three were Maoris. They crossed the. Tamaki on the mud at Otahuhu when the tide was low, then followed a track made by a drov c of pigs from Waikato to Auckland. On occasions during the journey the party stayed .at Maori settlements. At one place they had to swim a river, where a Maori rated Mr. Gould because he thought the pakeha was going to be drowned. Upon reaching Rotorua Mr t i j LVas ferried across to Mokoia island by some Natives for a fig of tow?* Cu o ' 4 Whl xr COst 2*d in Auckland. With true Native logic" the Maoris also claimed one fig for the canoe, because as they said, the party could not have got across without it. A Mr. Ward who accompanied the party, turned the tables on the Maoris by. saying if the canoe would smoke tha tobacco, he would give two figs. The party visited the terraces, which Mr. Gould described as follows:— 'Imagine a boiling spring forcing its way to the surface half way up a hill. The water would eat "its way down the hill, carrying the soil with it, till at length the boiling spring is under .a clift some thirty feet high, forming terraces down and down till th c stream poured into Rotomahana. The terrace was dazzling white, and the water deep blue. We returned thankful that we had escaped whole. On th c other side of the lake were the pink terraces. Not so large, but if possible more beautiful." On the return journey the party were glad to buy some boiled thistles off a Maori woman. "We sat down and enjoyed it thoroughly," wrote Mr. Gould. "A donkey would be an ass to prefer thistles to grass, but when boiled, I think man would show like preference." At one kianga in the Waikato, Mr. Gould was informed they were the first white men the Maoris had seen. j

TE AWAMUTU BEFOBE THE WAR.

The party called at Te Awamutu, then named "Otawahe," where the Rev. Mr. Morgan had a mission station. The Maoris grew wheat for the Auckland market in those days. The diary states that in the Rangiawahia district some 500 acres were under wheat. The Maoris had a flour mill with an Englishman' as manager. Sir George Grey gave the Maoris the horses, ! ploughs, stones, and machinery for the flour mill. The flour was taken in bags of 1001b each down the Waipa and 'Waikato Rivers to a spot where it was carried to Waiuku, then taken in canoes across theManukau to Onehunga, and carried by the Maoris on their backs to Auckland. Within a radius of ten or fifteen miles some ten flour mills were at work." The diary also has the following testimony to the character of the Maori in those days: "We never lost anything during the trip, though our things were often left unguarded in our tent.- We were always most hospitably received, given the best they had tit their kiangas, seeking no return, indeed, refusing it if offered. I do not think we should have had such good treatment if travelling amongst our own countrymen."

The diary also contains an account of a visit paid by Mt. Gould in the early days to Kororareka (Russell), in the schooner Children. The trip took eight days, and they . had to broach cargo for food. While at the Bay of Islands Mr. Gould stayed with Archdeacon Henry Williams. In those days the population numbered about 200, including Maoris. Tarnati Whakanene had a kianga on one end of the beach. What kept the place alive ivjs the visit of whalers to get supplies. Each vessel remained about three weeks, and sometimes there would be ten in harbour at once. Tlie captains paid the Maoris £2 per head for runaway sailors. A very common trick was for the Maoris, when they had caught b, roan, to be bribed to let him go again. The next day they would follow and catch, him again, thug getting double profit. When Bishop Selwyn visited Russell, the residents guaranteed a stipend of £160 per annum if Mr. Gould was appointed. Mr. Gould was ordained at St. Paul's Church, Auckland, by Bishop Se'wyn in 1852, and then returned to bis charge at Kororareka. Later. Mr. Gould was transferred to Otahuhu, where he remained for 42 years. ' OATH OF ALLEGIANCE. Referring to the war in the Waikato, ! the diary states: "Then came an order from the Government that all the Maoris were to retire beyond the Maungatawhiri, unless they would consent to swear allegiance to the Queen. This affected those of Pukaki, Mangere, Ihumatao, who had always lived in the greatest friendship with the settlers. They could not remain because thejr belonged to the Waikatos." What the early parsons had to face visiting- country districts may be gath-, ered from the following incident that occurred when Mr. Goufd went to Kaukapak&pa in IS6O. A little creek had been flooded, and Mr t Gould wrote.; "I

took the saddle off Boby, and made him go in, but the cm-rent was strong, art-di instead of getting across he was swept away until stopped by some logs. Hs was just able to keep -the ground with .his hind legs. I put his nose on the log, and ran back a mile for assistance, and was able to get him out all right." j WAIHEKE. In the early days Mr. Gould was asked by Bishop Selwyn to visit Waiheke Island. He found that the Government owned 100 acres. "Of this I secured nine acres as a recreation ground," ha wrote, "in prospect of the island becoming a watering place, also six acres for a, cemetery, and nine acres (purchased) for a church endowment at the head of Awaroa Creek." The first services was held by Mr. Gould in the cookhouse of the Manganese Mining Company. Amongst other duties Mr. Gould had charge of Ellerslie, and it was during his time that the church was built, in which are the finest stained glass windows in New Zealand.