The Bellringer of Mangonui; An Idyll of Devotion

Northern Advocate, 3 January 1939, Page 10

The Bellringer of Mangonui; An Idyll of Devotion

The ringing of the church bell at. ( Mangonui at midnight on the eve of the New Year was by no means a new experience in the lives of the people in that beautiful seaside resort —it had been going on for 40 years—but at least one stranger who happened to be in the locality when the bell rang out its latest new year message was so interested in what was to him an unexpected happening that he made inquiries and visited the bellringex', an elderly lady, Mrs Harriett Harris, who was born in Mangonui in 1856. Though over 82 years of age, Mrs Harris looked hale and hearty, a picture of good health, a woman fond of work and fond of sport, and with all her faculties intact.

She related a most interesting story to her interviewer.

“Approximately 40 years ago,” she said. “I wished to return thanks to the Lord for his loving kindness and care during the past year, and also to express the hope that He would take care of the world during the next year.” '

In order to give practical effect to the desires of her heart, she went on New Year’s Eve to the Anglican Church, which was a quarter of a mile away from her home, and rang the church bell for five minutes immediately prior to midnight, so ringing out the old year and ushering in the new. For the last 40 years the old lady has continued the practice, never on any occasion during that period failing in her self-imposed task. On one occasion, a few years ago,, some men tried to frighten her by appearing as ghosts in the graveyard near the church, but fearlessly she walked up to them, mentioned their names, and sent them about theif business and rang out her message as usual. On another occasion someone had muffled the bell, but the old lady climbed up to the belfry and removed the muffler, and the notes rang out crisply and clearly as before. Thus Mrs Harris continues in her

loving and self-appointed task to express her thanks to the Lord for his boundless goodness.

Mrs Harris, one of a family of 12 children, including two sets of twins, is a daughter of the late Mr and Mrs Wells, who settled .at Waimate North prior to the sacking of Kororareka. Hone Heke was very fond of Mr Wells, and gave him a gun inlaid with silver and gold and tried to induce him to stay in Waimate. Just at that time, however, Mrs Wells went away to Auckland and gave birth to one of the sets of twins mentioned above. ‘

Harriet herself was married at Mangonui to Charles Harris, the ceremony being performed by Mr Kelly, who was then the magistrate at Mangonui, She has four children— Charles William, Thomas Percy, Harriett Laura and Jessie Mabel, Mrs Harris also has a twin brother living at Oruru. Amongst her descendants are 14 grandchildren and two greatgrandchildren. She is now making arrangements to entertain her grandchildren next month.

Her husband died on October 6, 1905, which was their silver wedding day.