THE LIFE OF BISHOP POMPALLIER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23083, 8 January 1937, Page 13

THE LIFE OF BISHOP POMPALLIER

TO THE EDITOR Sir,—ln this morning's issue you publish an account of the life of Bishop Pompallier, by Mr E. Allan Aubin. This writer says that the Bishop at Dunedin celebrated a Mass with as much solemnity as was possible in a large shed which was lent by an Englishman, a Protestant, for the occasion. 'All the Maoris in the vicinity attended thereat," wrote the Bishop, "and some 20 English, French and American whalers also came." This service, held in 1840, I think, took place not at Dunedin, but some 20 miles' away at Otakou in the Wellers' old whaling station near the present Maori Kaika on Otago Peninsula. The Bishop recorded the service in his diary and the Harwood family, still resident near Otakou, had, or-did have, about 10 years ago, a whaler's journal kept by their late father, bearing ou* this statement. The point of more particular interest, however, is that this is the first recorded Christian service held inside Otago Harbour, although there is evidence that Native teachers were at work among the Maoris at Otakou prior to this. On several occasions during the past few years writers have claimed that the Methodists held the first Christian service on this site. I think, however, that it would be difficult lr. prove this. T am, etc.. Koroko. January 7.