CENTENARY

Northland Age, Volume 24, Issue 47, 19 March 1925, Page 3

CENTENARY

OF THE ABRIVAL IN NEW ZEALAND OF MBS. MATTHEWS AND MBS PTJCKEY. 1824-1924

(Conti ilulfd by H. S. Matthews). Chapter 11. In 1827 Miss Davis (Mrs. Matthews), then a girl of fifteen, who was paying a charitable visit to Mrs. Turner at Whangaroa, narrowly escaped being killed. The Wesleyan Mission house,at which die was staying, was plundered ?*and burnt by the Natives, the occupants escaping into the bush with nothing but the clothes they had on. The Rev. Richard Davis writes : —“Hongi assembled his own people for a war expedition against Whangaroa. The wind being contrary, his war canoes put into Rangihoua, where they committed many daring depredations, and all but stripped our people’s houses. At Whangaroa he found the Natives strongly entrenched and prepared to fight. After having killed and eaten a few stragglers, he besieged the Pa, which in a few days was deserted under cover of night. Hongi pursued after them with part of his men. The Natives of Whangaroa who joined not Hongi in pursuit of his enemies, broke into the Wesleyan Mission house, and plundered the Missionaries of everything except what they had on.” From the Wesleyan Missionaries we learn that "About noon a body of armed men of the Ngapuhi landed from a canoe, and having got over our fence, proceeded towards the house. Happily for us, several of the party were known to Miss Davis (Mrs. Matthews), a young lady of the Church Mission, who was then on a visit to us. When they saw her they were intimidated, fearing that if they were to commit any violence some of the chiefs would take up our cause and punish them for it. They were, however, very troublesome and robbed us ot several pigs. This party of natives was later reinforced by others, and when the next morning they began to sack the premises, the Mission party left to flee (or their lives. These consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Turner and two children, Luke Ward and his wife, Mr. Hobbs, Miss Davis, of Paihia, and four Native lads. Heavy rain was falling, and they had a journey of twenty miles before them over mountainous country. Coming through a field of wheat the women were soon drenched. Pushing their way through the bush, the Native boys begged them to hide, as a war party was on its way trom Hokianga, and they would certainly be killed. Mr. Turner was very much averse to this, and, after resting a short time, they pushed on. Presently they met one of their chiefs and Wharenui, from the Bay, to whom they appealed for help. Presently, on turning a sharp bend in the r.ver, they came suddenly on the Hokianga party, some 200 men, fully armed with muskets. These were under the command of Patuone, a great chief, and all were in a great state of excitement. Patuone at once halted his men and called upon the fugitives to kneel down. They did so, expecting to be shot. But, to their joyful surprise, Patuone and other chiefs came and stood by them / as a defence until the last of the ' fighting men had passed by. When the war party had gone by we proceeded, the old chief . Wharenui continuing with us as -» our guard. We passed through the woods, about six miles, better than I had expected. A little further we met Brother Stack and Mr. Clarke. One of the Native lads was despatched to Kerikeri to procure means of carrying Mrs. Turner and Miss Davis (Mrs. Matthews) the latter part oi the journey. At the waterfalls, six miles from Kerikeri, we were met by the Rev. H. Williams, Mr. R. Davis, Mr. Puckey and Mr. Hamblin. We reached Kerikeri by sundown, weary enough,and were received with every possible mark of Christian sympathy and kindness."

In February, 1829, the Rev. R. Davis writes: “With pleasure I inform you that my two eldest daughters (Mrs, Matthews and

Mrs. Puckey) have joined the visible spiritual Church of Christ on earth. Mary Ann (Mrs. Matthews) is likely to become very useful. She has acquired a great knowledge of the Maori tongue. No female in the Mission surpasses her. Through mercy her abiliiies have been improved by education.” Later in this year four children of the Ngapuhi chief Taiwhanga were baptised, to one of which was given the name of Mary Ann Davis. In 1831, the way having been opened for an extension of missionary work, Mr. Davis moved with his family to Waimate. There his daughter Miss Davis (Mrs. Matthews) established a school for Maori women and girls, assisting herfather in visiting the sick and infirm, and providing for their wants. Her kind disposition, devoted attention, and perfect knowledge of the language, soon won for her the esteem and affection of all who were placed under her care. Well might her father write of her at this dime: “Mary Ann (Mrs. Matthews) is a dear girl and much engaged in missionary work.” Matilda (Mrs. Puckey), second daughter of the Rev. R. Davis, received her education in a school under the tuition of Mrs. H. Williams and her sister-in-law, Mrs. W. Williams. As a girl she was a great reader, and as fiction and light literature were banned in her father’s house, she took great delight in more solid reading, l such as Plutarch’s Lives, etc. At the age of seventeen she was married to Mr. William G. Puckey on the nth of October, 183 X. It was the first European wedding in New Zealand, and after the ceremony she and her bridesmaid (Miss Davis) were taken to Paihia, each in a chair lashed to long poles and carried on men’s shoulders.

The Rev. Joseph Matthews joined the Mission in New Zealand on the 26th of March, 1832, and was stationed at the Waimate, and became engaged to be married to Miss Davis the following month. Her father writes “I have now the pleasure to inform you that my eldest daughter, Mary Ann, is soon to be married. Her suitor is a missionary catechist of our Society. He asked and obtained my consent, and they now look upon each other as engaged for life. He is a young man after my own heart. I feel particularly thankful to the Lord for bestowing such a blessing on my dear child.”

At the close of the year 1832 a suitable site for a Mission Station had been located at Kaitaia. Early the following year, 1833, Messrs Matthews and Puckey were appointed to establish it. Owing to the many difficulties to be overcome months were spent in preparation, until finally, towards the end of the year, Mr. Matthews took up his permanent residence at Kaitaia alone, Mr. Puckey being unable to leave home owing to the indifferent state of his wife’s health. In December Mr. Matthews returned 10 the Waimate and was married to Miss Davis on the 16th of that month, her sister, Miss Serena Davis, being bridesmaid. He returned back alone to his station at Kaitaia almost immediately after the wedding. Mrs. Matthews, with her characteristic unselfishness, staying behind to nurse Mrs. Puckey, whose illness was so severe and prolonged that it was not until March 1834 that Mrs. Matthews could leave tor the North to join her husband. Accompanied by her father and the Rev. H. Williams, Mrs. Matthews left Waimate and reached Paihia, Next morning they proceeded North by sea in two open boats. Having a favourable wind they made good progress and reached the Cavally Islands in the afternoon where they landed for a rest. They set out again at dusk and sailing all night reached the heads of the Rangaunu Harbour next morning. Here they again landed and waited for high tide. In the afternoon they set out and reached the landing place, where they were met by Mr. Matthews and a large party of Natives with every demonstration of joy. Next morning they reached Kaitaia where they were joyfully received by the Natives of the settlement, who made the

valley ring with the firing of their mu'-kels as a token of welcome.

The land sold by the Maoris to the C. M. S. was surveyed, and the articles agreed on as payment were handed over to the principal chiefs for distribution. Mrs. Matthews first home was the usual raupo house of that period, surrounded by a garden fence. A quarrel ensued amongst the Natives over the division, and a rush was made by the savages, quite naked, to plunder the settlement, and a battle seemed imminent, some being tor, and some against it. The principal chief, Nopera Panakareao, and a small party came to the house stark naked, to detend us. The other savages rushed towards the house, but stopped at our fence. Both parties had their war-dance and made speeches. The principal chief made a spirited speech in favour of the Missionaries. The whole valley was made to ring by the firing of musketry. The night was spent in debate by the chiefs, and the next morning all the parties left us in quiet possession of the settlement.”

(To be continued)