THE MISSION STATION

Northern Advocate, 20 March 1934, Page 5

THE MISSION STATION

Some light is thrown on the circumstances which led to the establishment of the mission station at Kaitaia, in a book on New Zealand by the Rev. ’William Yates, published in London in 1835. The writer says:— The settlement of Kaitaia was first thought of in consequence of the early solicitations of the chiefs and people of the tribes called Rarawa, who reside in the vicinity’ of the North Cape, and wio, from their local situation (there ■bting no statifin established among tlem) would be quite out of the roach o: Christian instruction and also Ohristim society and example. As the Natives were numerous in the neighbourbod, and as the invitations for some tf our body to dwell with them were iequent and urgent, a deputation was ippointed to visit that. part of the ■slant! and to report on the suitability of establishing a missionary station there. The corresponding committee in New South Wales was written to, for its sanction to such a measure, should it i.. bn deemed at all. desirable to pursue it; which sanction, after mature dolihcva- * tion, was given. So very precariousat this time was the state of the society’s funds, and so strict were our instructions to observe economy that even after the sanction of the commit-' toe of correspondence had been obtain- 1 ed, and a favourable report had been i made by the deputation, the view of the additional expense necessarily to be incurred in the formation of a new J station prevented, for a. few months, 1 this desirable object being put into f execution. The members were, how- i ever, nominated, and requested to make 1 all. possible preparations for moving f as soon as a spot could be selected as a a site for the settlement. t They commenced in good earnest; t the Natives were informed of the reso- r lution we had. passed to settle some ’I of our limited number amongst them I n as teachers of the Word of God, and cl in January, 1834, Mr Matthews went! 1: there to take up his permanent rest-1 1 denee. The spot fixed upon for the |a 1 settlement was on a little rising ground v in the extensive and beautiful A-alley b of Kaitaia, the approach to it from 1 the sea being up Rangaunu Bay or q creek running in from Sandy Bay, c Mount Campbell (Camel) forming the p

STORY OF ESTABLISHMENT INTERESTING .DETAILS.

northern head of the entrance and the hi"'h land of Omni Bay the southern. The sire of the station is about halfway between the two coasts, having the western coast to, the north-west and the eastern to the south-east. Here the island is so narrow that you can hear distinctly the roaring of the surf on both beaches. A rapid and not navigable river winds , its course through tin 1 valley, enters a hahikatea wood, passes through the centre of it, and joins the tide at its extremity. The sandhills on the western coast limit

the view'on the right of Ihe settlement; in front are a few barren hills, much broken; and in the ravines grow some fine trees of various shades of foliage. On the left, the valley winds up for some distance, and is terminated by beautiful rising grounds, which lead to the foot of hills that ascend, one above the other, in the extreme distance, till lost in the clouds with which they are almost always capped. At the back of the settlement the view is sublime; the river pursues its way over the stones, murmuring as if impatient of the barrier they present to its more rapid progress, and its banks are i;overed with the richest verdure. An extensive mountain view, covered with the finest forest wood, and broken at its base with what appears to be verdant fields, but which in reality is only fern, is the boundary of this lovely scene. Settlement of Kaitaia.

In connection with the settlement of Kaitaia, there arc great numbers of Natives, Avho may regularly bo visited as soon as horse roads are cut to their residences, Avhich Avork many of them have already commenced. They appear anxious to enjoy frequent intercourse with the missionaries for instruction; they have observed the Sabbath among themselves, and expressed their determination to regard it for the future. The buildings here are, at present, all made of rushes and consist of two dwelling-houses for the European families; a number of cottages for the Natives at Avork on the station; a building AAdiich is both chapel and schoolhouse, without either door or window,. 24 foot by IS feet; and a store 20 feet by 16, The boys liua'c*, hoAyoA'er, felled a largequantity of timber, dug their pits, and commenced saAving materials for more permanent buildings.