HISTORIC CHURCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21457, 3 April 1933, Page 11

HISTORIC CHURCH

THE 70TH ANNIVERSARY PRESBYTERIAN PIONEERS PUKEKOHE EAST BUILDING MAORI WAR RECALLED "The 70th anniversary of the founding of the iAikekoho East Presbyterian / Churcli, a building with a varied history, was celebrated yesterday by two special services. The church wfts during the Maori War the sceno of oue of tho most courageous stands made against tho natives, and it was opened when there were only a few settlers in the district. Many descendants of these pioneers ware present at yesterday's gatherings, which were attended by a large number of clergy. The Pukekohe East Church was the first Presbyterian church in the Auckland Province south of Drurv. Services were first held in tho district by tho Rev. T. Norrie in June, 1557, in the hoyse of Mr. James Dearness. Tho first Sunday service was held in his home on July 15, 1860, a monthly service being maintained after that date. At a meeting of members of tho church held in 1861, it was decided ( to take steps to erect a building on a site at the highest point of the Pukekohe East-Drury Road, presented by Mr. John Dearness, son of Mr. James Dearness. This site was subsequently increased by the donation of adjoining land by Mr. James Rutherford, who also at about the same time gave land at tho other boundary of his property to the Bombay Church. The First Service The committee responsible for the erection of the building comprised Mr. Norrie, chairman, Mr. James Dearjiess, Mr. Walter Runciman, member of a well-known pioneer family after which the Runciman district is named, Mr. George Easton, Mr. Alexander Macdonald, and Mr. James Comrie, father of the Rev. W. J. Comrie. In 1861 a temporary building was erected, the present church being opened on the-first Sunday in April, 1863. Qn April 5 the first service was held, the preacher in the morning being the Rev. John who was the first moderator of the General 'Assembly of New Zealand. The church was the first to be opened by him. In .the afternoon a Methodist minister, the Rev. George Buttle", conducted a service. He was the earliest Methodist minister in Auckland. The church was the scene of a historic fight during the Maori War. The walls and porch still bear bullet-holes, •while one of the gravestones is also scarred. The episode occurred after two men had been murdered by Maoris at. Ramarama. "All the settlers in the / district , moved to Drury, a party'of 19 returning to build a redoubt. A few hours after they had started digging trenches and constructing a stockade they -were attacked by over 300 Maoris, and were forced to take shelter in the church, where they were besieged for over seven hours, until the arrival of reinforcements from Drurv. None of the defenders was tilled,, but in the Maoris' account of the fight i„t was stated that 40 natives had been killed. After the engagement tegul3,r troops occupied the redoubt. Protection of the Church One of the defenders was Captain J. Corbet-fhScott, of Epsom, who will celebrate his 95th birthday on May 3. He is one of the few survivors of the fight. Captain, and Mrs. Corbett-Scott were not able to be present at yesterday's celebrations, but presented a communion chair. > "New Zealand is becoming old enough to have a history which is proving of wonderful interest to her sons," said the Rev. D. D. Scott, Moderator of the General Assembly, in delivering the address at the morning service. "This church, which was established as. a place of worship 70 years ago / by settlers who were struggling to make homes in the bush, was caught in-'the fury of war within fix, months and became a protection to those men. To-day let us continue to make the Christian Church our protection. We regard the present times as difficult, and in the Church wo should find help and a calm, contemplation of the future—God's future.'' Tho evening service was conducted by the Rev. WVJ. Comrie, who was born at Pukekohe East 71 years ago. Mrs. M. H. Robinson, of Pukekohe East, a daughter of the late Mr. Comrie, was present at both services. She was a girl of five years of age when the church was established.