MAORILAND MEMORIES.

NZ Truth, Issue 57, 21 July 1906, Page 3

MAORILAND MEMORIES.

Tbe Late Dean Roliand.

TO THE EDITOE.

! Sir,— ln the last issue of "Truth" reference is made by the writer of "Maoriland Memories" to the later Dean Roliand, who was chaplain to the forces during the Waikato war. j After the conclusion of the Maori Rebellion he became parish priest of Ahaura, which also comprised the miners of Reef ton m the good old i roaring days of the West Coast. The j Very Rev, Jean •Baptiste.Rolland was a lovable man. He has been! shown by the chronicler of these Memories ! to he brave m the face of death, to assist m carrying the wounded off I the field, thus setting ' an example and inspiring his comrades with hope and courage. , .The Carpenter of Nazareth had a worthy apostle m him. His life was 'devoted to uplifting humanity ; the poor and needy he loved and cherished. As parish priest of Ahaura and Reefton, he built churches, schools and convents'. Thousands of pounds passed through his hands during the 30 years of his ministrations. Other denominations gave as freely as his own parishioners, and it has even been asserted that he gO|t Easter dues from an Orangeman. Sectarian strife he had no time for, and when any religious dust was flying: about hfc stood aloof and merely shrugged his shoulders. The writer of this often tried to "draw" him on the Waikato war; but a IqoK of sadness would steal over his face, and he would pass lifrhtly oil to other subjects. - His good humored face was always welcome m any 'digger's hut from Ahaura to Upper Murchison (The Lost Tribe), and he, was more at home m a digger's hut than m a presbytery. He took Teat interest m the advancement of the young men of his parish, and twelve months before his death he founded an Athletic and Literary Debating Society, "Which," he remarked to writer, "would keep the. young men from the hotels, and the*"- would have a chance to improve themselves physically and mentally." The Society's .first vice-president' was j a Jew (Mr Chas. Cohen) a keen debater, and also a first-class master I of elocution, and as the Society be- ] i.nff non-sectarian \( this scribe was an | office bearer)' one day we were disj cussing with the Dean (who was President) some fittings for the athletic department, and were m a 1 nuandary how to finance it, Father Roliand came to the rescue. He observed that "he ..received ten shillings per week as curatei from the Vicar as npeket money, and he would 1 give it to the Society." This was characteristic of the man— he had eighteenpence when he -died, and 'all the money he could spare he gave to the poor. "And the poor we have with us always." The last few months of his life he suffered much (having an internal cancer) and death mercifully ended his sufferings at Reefton m July, 1904. Around his bier thousands of all denominations mingled their grief, for their sorrow was deep and heartfelt. At his grave-side women sobbed, and tears glistened m the eyes of the sterner sex ; all felt as the grave closed over the mortal remains of the saintly Jean Baptiste Roliand, that they had lost a dear friend. Req.uiescat m Pace.— Yours, I etc., RALPH TINDERWOOD.