A CENTURY AND A MAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18468, 3 August 1923, Page 11

A CENTURY AND A MAN.

A PIONEER .OF 1823. JOHN HOBBS. MISSIONARY. BY E. C. K. ■v": Of all the kindly deeds done /by jifhat,/'.?' broad-minded rhurcnman, the Rev. •-, Samuel Marsden, few have had more beneficial ~ results in, New Zealand than his , granting of ' a passage to '■. this ; country to ■*h%' young, missionary . enthusiast, John ' Hoßbs, ho joined the W?sleyan Mission to help the missionaries in any capacity. The party arrived in the ship Brampton ■,; on August 3, 1823, but it'was two days later that John Hobbs began his work at Whangaroa. His ardent spirit, courteous manner, •musical gifts, and magic fingers made him . a welcome visitor; in any lonely homestead or struggling ..settlement. With his ' bundle of cuttings he would graft the : fruit trees. Were; the family clocks out of commission, with patient industry they would be repaired, even to the casting of a new key. Far into the nignt trie visitor would discuss the latest, scientific discoveries, tune all the musical instruments, and conduct a concert with tne young people. Meanwhile, the heart 01. tne house-mother v u ' would be made giau oy : the gift of a .recipe for waterproofing the family boots. the sick having been comlorted and prescribed; for, the . littlo Testament made its appearance,, and the Household was commended to the care of the All-Father. Was ■ it a. visit to the Church of England mission station at ; the tv-eniteri or Paihia that was contemplated, in tne coat built by ,his own hands, , and sailed with- a skill ~ .equal to that of «* any. nautical gentleman :s of my acquaintance;* 5 the .'trip would faa made, and r , the '.: " beloved, ? brother 1 •'John''' r -'. warmly received into me charmed circle. ; |"i For the natives he composed or trans- ' lated many of their favourite hymns and his version of the Book of Job had tra-• veiled far before, that translated by Dr. Maunsell had been published. It is■ still considered a classic of the Maori language.' ~' A loyal servant of the Queen, it is not generally realised how greatly his influence . , assisted in gaining,' the : signatures ,'■ of- the • chief to the Treaty of Waitaugi. His .' \daughter has recalled tne long hours spent by Tainati Waka Nene day after day at the mission : house while her father pa-tiently-set forth .the advantages that would -' accrue to the Maori people if .they- placed "'■ . themselves under -■, the; protection, of ', the "Great White Queen." ■ '~ . . i • To Patuone the Wesieyan mission party owed its deliverance when driven out of .Whangaroa, and \it was to nis ; station -on V ' : the banks of the Wainou that' the Rev. ■ John ' Hobbs was ■ appointed'' upon -'his re- ,!'■_/';!; turn ; to New Zealand after marriage ;>' and ordination in lMiTALaterj'; he was transferred to Mahgungu,; where several useful years were spent. With the. coin? ''"•" pany of neighbours such as Judge Man- ! , ing,".the r Webster brothers, and v others, v ;;'!;.• and the entertainment- of - .Lady Franklin f. '■". j ■■. and many other noiaoie visitor!*, the mission house was,far from dull. ;.< :-'■; ' - ; ..:.■ For many > years before his \ death, : the;';■'•; ;.■.','. old gentleman with the : horn'.' was a : ,";;; well-known ; ; figure in -Auckland-";/* /'/ v j His children have''gone; but shall not we, ,"i of the third and fourth: generation, pause ,r a moment, at ..the passing of .the century, , ,; to lay our tribute of love and reverence , upon the grave of this good /man/;'; It lies in' the spot chosen by himself, "in* the old • cemetery by the ?liralton; Bridge. There ; •he \l rests Tpeaceiuiiy //amid /■; the ■■ r'j[ieiids;;;of■;' ;;;•.;;; his generation, yet surrounded by'.all the busy activities of the,; city he loved. There ; ' is something * very '■■ suggestive /in': th • situa- /■ '•. tion, typical of the eager mind, the busy hands, the loving heart, the all-conqueringv/ ; 'i- ; : v faith., ' . .•■;•,,.-,■, : ! . '. '" ■