OLD CHURCH

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23487, 26 October 1939, Page 8

OLD CHURCH

TASK OF REMOVAL JOURNEY OF 30'"MILES BUILDING 78 YEARS OLD Removed in sections & distance of 30 miles by road from Hakaru,' near Mangowai, to Hukatere, in the Matalcohe district, the* little Church of St. Michael will be dedicated on its new site to-morrow by Archbishop Averill. The church, a weatherboard building, was constructed by pioneer settlers of Mangawai and Hukatere in 1861, with monetary assistance and encourage, ment from Bishop Selwyn, who also provided the land. Several large fcotara trees were felled and pit-sawn, and after the timber had been man-handled across a gully it was dragged to the site by bullocks. The contract for the erection of the church has been preserved, and shows that the contractors were to be paid £45, all materials being provided. The pit in which tho timber was sawn can still be seen, with a fine kahikatea tree growing in it. For many years tho cli;.rch, which also was used as a Sunday school and day school, was served by visiting clergy and local lay readers, one of whom, Mr. Charles Haselden, was tho father of the late Canon J. Haselden, of Auckland, whose death occurred recently. It was not until 1880 that tho parochial district of Paparoa was created and a resident minister appointed. A new church was erected at Hakaru in 1886 and the older building continued in use as 1 a Sunday school. Lately, as it was no longer required, the parish authorities decided to remove it to Hukatere, where services were being conducted in a public hall. The work was carried out by voluntary labour, and a fund was raised to provide furnishings. The original Bible was presented with the building by tho Hakaru parishioners, and among other gifts was an altar,cross made of wood from the ruined St. Thomas' Chyrch at Tamaki. Tho church measures only 20ft. by 12ft., with a sanctuary Bft. square.