EARLY WANGANUI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 371, 15 September 1930, Page 6

EARLY WANGANUI

PLTIKI MEMORIAL CHURCH NEXT WEEK’S COMBINED EFFORT All living organisations, from the lowest species of plant to the most highly developed community of human beings, have their origin in a very small seed; and a perusal of the interesting little book by Messrs Chapple and Barton, just published by Messrs H. I. Jones and Son, affords a fascinating picture of the first beginnings of European settlement in this district, which, in tho brief space of ninety years has developed into the modern city of Wanganui. The first tangible evidence of the coming of the white man, with his civilising influences to the Wanganui district, was tho erection of a little brick church at tho native settlement of Putiki. This building, which measured 40ft. by 26ft., as built by tho pioneer missionary t tho Rev. John Mason, who settled at Putiki in June 1840, and opened this first church building in Juno, 1842. Air Mason was drowned, while attempting to swim his horse across the Turakina River in January 1843; and later that year the brick church was so severely shaken by an earthquake that it had to be pulled down. Ono of the first works in this district undertaken by the Rev. Richard Taylor, who was appointed to succeed Mr Mason in April, 1843, was the erection of a large wooden church at Putiki, which was opened early in 1844. In that year also Mr Taylor opened tho original building of Christchurch, which was the first church erected on the west coast for the use of European settlers. The old wooden church at Putiki stood till the year 1890, when it was replaced by the present building, shortly after the appointment of the Rev. A. O. Williams as Missionary in charge of the district. A special effort is now being made to ra : se tho funds for the erection of a fourth church, in more permanent materials on the old site at Putiki. With this object in view the various Anglican parishes of Wanganui and the suburbs are co-operating with tho Maori committee in a two days’ sale of work and produce to be hold in the old museum buildings on Wednesday and Thursday next week. His Excellency the Governor General and Lady Bledisloe have most kindly consented to make a special journey from Wellington to perform the opening ceremony, at which tho chair will be taken by the Bishop of Aotoaroa, who has just returned home from his eventful trip to the Islands.