Carved Sandstone Forms a Clue

Waikato Independent, Volume XLIV, Issue 6100, 10 September 1947, Page 5

Carved Sandstone Forms a Clue

FOUND AT MAPIU EVIDENCE OF EARLY MISSIONARY ACTIVITY Is a stone found at Mapiu, on a hill about a quarter of a mile from the road, about twenty years ago, a clue to early mission activity penetrating right into that area ? A piece of sandstone, weighing about a pound, it has on one side a deeply carved cross, and on the other side are the words, “ R. Hill, 1844,” with the word “ missionary,” less deeply carved, curved over one end of this inscription.

The only other known evidence of any European penetration in the early days of New Zealand into this area found by the pioneers appears to be some old quince trees then in existence five miles nearer Te Kuiti. The area where the inscribed stone was found, however, showed abundant evidence of occupation by Maoris—traces of two Maori hangi were found within a few yards of the stone* and Maori implements, have been found in numbers in the district, and a stream shows evidence of having been dammed.

The stone was found by Mr Neil Gernhoefer, then a lad, who, despite its being covered with moss, happening to note the inscription, took the stone to the Mapiu School, where it was carefully cleaned of the moss. The name and date can be made out clearly, and the word “missionary,” though only lightly scraped on the comparatively soft stone, could, at the time of the discovery, be picked out with the aid of a magnifying, glass with certainty.

Inquiries were made by the teacher, Mrs C. F. Macfarlane, from the curator of the Auckland Museum, but these elicited the response that no missionaries of that name were known to have been active in the area near that early date. On the other hand, the condition of the stone when found, convinced residents of the district that there was little chance of its being a hoax.

Though at this stage conjecture would be dangerous, the possibility of there being some connection with the Aria Mission, now established as having operated in the very early days, must be considered. The carving of the cross on the back of the stone is consistent, with the work having been done by a Roman Catholic missionary, and tributaries of the Mokau River lead up to this area. On the other hand, no evidence of early European occupation, or cultivation, save for that possibly provided by the quince trees, has been found near Mapiu, or is there record of ai}y of the Maoris having ever been taught English by the missionaries, as at Aria. A sinister inference from the proximity of the two Maori hangi and the circumstance of its finding, should be treated with caution.