THE LATE REV. FATHER PEZANT.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 404, 7 January 1881, Page 19

THE LATE REV. FATHER PEZANT.

John Stephen Pezant was born in a small town called Chanonat, near Clermont in the old Province of Auvergne. His Father, John Pezant, without being wealthy, was in a very comfortable position, working his own farm, with assistance of his family. The life of his parents was truly patriarchial ; they were very exact in the performance of their religious duties and brought up their children in a really Christian manner, giving them at the same time a sound education according to theu means.

John Stephen Pezant, at the age of 12, was sent to the University College of Clermont, where he occupied throughout a distinguished position, being always among the three first in a very large class. His genial disposition made him beloved by his companions, and he always gave them good example by his fidelity in the discharge of his duties, especially those of religion. When he had finished his course of philosophy, lie embraced the ecclesiastical state, and again by his application and talents made himself prominent among his fellow-students in theology. _V After his oidination he was asked as curate by his own parish ptjest, of Romagnat, who knew his real worth. He remained in that situation only a few years, but by his zeal and earnestness did a great deal of good there. Having the conviction that he was called to the foreign missions, Father Pezant joined the Society of Mary. In the beginning of the year 1840 he left France for N.Z. on board the French Man of War L'Aube, and he landed at Hororereka, in the North Island on the 11th June 1840. His career in New Zealand has been a long one and full of hardships and privations and many are the districts in which he has administered the consolations of religion.

Soon after his arrival in this colony he accompanied Bishop Pompallier to Akaroa, then a French settlement, where he laboured for some time under Father Le Comte. Thence he was sent to Tauranga where he remained some months, having to visit at the same time the Rotorua district. Bishop Pompaliier sent him afterwards to establish a station among the natives at Waikato, then a mere swamp. By his zeal he succeeded in converting a great number

of these, which consoled him in the midst of his privations and hard* ships, for he had many long and painful journeys to make on foot through swamps, across rivers, through foiests, along the sands of the beach, there being then, of course, no regular roads or bridges in the country. This reminds me that Father Pezant was considered by competent judges one of the best Maori scholars in New Zealand. He wasstaUoued for a slsort time in Auckland and afterwards in Wellington then. Then for nine months at Taranaki and six in Otaki. About the year 1862 he was appointed by Bishop Viard to establish a station in Wanganui, where he laboured very hard and endured many privations for 17 years. With the assistance of his congregation and of many other friends besides (for his cheerful disposition had made him "beloved by every one), he erected a church of which he had good reason to be proud, but God only knows the privations he imposed upon himself to complete and decorate it. Having been appointed chaplain of the army, he displayed a great zeal for the welfare of the soldiers, and great was the respect and affection with which he was repaid by both officers and soldiers. During his stay in Wanganui, as the good shepherd he proved himself ready to sacrifice his life for his flock.

On oue occasion a poor Maori was attacked by the small-pox, and, in accordance with the native custom, when one of their number has that terri ble disease he was taken in a canoe to a whare, and there, in a secluded situation, abandoned alone to die, while the place was declared " tapu," so that no one could go there bat at the peril of his life. The news of the poor savage's dreadful situation reached the ears of the good shepherd in Wanganui, and touched his heart. Taking all the provisions he could carry, he started alone to carryconsolation to this poor abandoned victim of disease ; braving alike the terrible contagion, and thp danger of death through Maori superstition. Travelling by night he succeeded in escaping the natives ; in finding the poor victim, whom he tended alone in that distant solicude with fatherly care, remaining with him until his provisions were nearly exhausted, when he returned to Wanganui, and obtaining a fresh supply once more accomplished his nocturnal journey to the scene of his charity, and when at last death came to the poor object to whom he had administered all the consolations of religion he buried him with his own hand.

The last eleven years of the late Rev. Father Pezant's life were spent in the provincial district of Marlborough, but especially in the neighbourhoods of Picton and the Pelorus, administering the consolations of religion throughout the length and breadth of his large and scattered district to every family, and almost every individual — counting for nothing long and tedious journey?, hardships and privations of all sorts. He lived a life of extraordinary voluntary poverty, spending every shilling he could get on his churches or in charity, and depriving himself almost of the necessaries of life, which, in conjunction with old age, brought on the illness that carried him away, for he was in his 70th year when he died. For the two last months of his leng and painful illness all the care and attention possible were bestowed upon him by the family of C. Redwood, Esq., of Riverland, among whom he died. He was always patient, humble, grateful, and resigned to the will of Almighty God, and, owing to his childlike trust in divine providence, death had lost its terrors tor him, so he breathed his last almost imperceptibly, strengthened by the sacraments and prayers of the Church, on the 22nd of December. \ During his life he had expressed his wish to die in Blenheim, and to be buried in Picton. In accordance with this last wish, the body was conveyed to Picton by special train, accompanied by about 200 people from Blenheim. The body was received at Picton by the volunteers in arms, and a large crowd of sympathisers, and thence carried to the church where the first part of the burial service waa performed by the Very Rev. Father Yardin and Father Sauzeau. A very effective Requiem Mass was sung by Father Yardin, assisted by the Picton choir. At three o'clock the last rites of the funeral service were performed, and the Rev. F. Sauzeau preached the funeral sermon. A large crowd of all sections of the community testified by their presence how much the late Rev. Father Pezanc was loved and esteemed by all. It has been estimated that the number of those who followed Father Pezant to the grave, or who were in the cemetery, amounted to about a thousand, which iB a very large number indeed for a small place like Picton. The body was carried from the Blenheim Church to the Railway Sta+ion by the Members of the Hibernian Society in regalia, and also from the Picton station to the Picton Church, and thence to the grave. The funeral procession was headed by the volunteers, and at the conclusion of the religious service the body was deposited in the grave with military honours. The church was draped in black, and the coffin was loaded with garlands of flowers. Father Yardin thanked the volunteers, the Hibernian Society, and all sections of the community who had shown such kind feeling towards the late Rev. Father Pezant.

Citizen Trinquet, the convict, who a short time ago was elected to a seat in the Municipal Council, and who has since been amnestied, has written to his supporters announcing his speedy return, and his intention of taking an active part in the general election of 1881. Like the majority of the amnestied Communists, Trinquet expresses his undying love for the Republic which, ef course, in his mouth meana the Revolution and the speediest possible return to the Commune.

A correspondent of the Nation, telegraphing from London on Saturday, November 6, says : — A serious Guy Fawks riot took place last evening at Peckham, owing to effigies of Parnell and Healy being carried around the streets, bearing labels insulting those gentlemen, The figures borne by a sympathising crowd were first attacked by a group of Irish children of both sexes, but eventually the riot spread, and the Irish population, men and women, turned out, and a fierce fight ensued. In the end the Irish captured the effigies, and cleared the field of all opponents, carrying Parnell and Healy in triumph around the streets, singing " God save Ireland." Several persons are badly wounded.