THE CHURCH IN NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand Tablet, Volume 13, Issue 7, 13 February 1908, Page 10

THE CHURCH IN NEW ZEALAND

MEMOIRS OF THE EARLY DAYS

(Contributed.)

(Continued.) The Missionaries, the Native Wars, and ; After. The first great war between the Native and i the European inhabitants of New Zealand was "that waged by Honi Heke and Kawiti against -the newly established, authority, primarily as a protest against the usurpation of the rights of the chiefs, which was the outcome of the Waitangi Treaty. Honi Heke and his followers signified their intention of pulling down, tlheflag fctaff at Kororareka, erected as the symbol of British occupation of the country. This he succeeded in doing on -three different occasions, the feat being accompanied by the sacking of the settlement and the flight of the Euronean inhabitants. For two years the sanguinary conflict went on, reinforcements of troops havtine; been lfLl t( SL Sy^-r^ th a stron S force* advancing against him, Horn Heke withdrew successively into two aS^fithS llß^ 01 ?? P ah \ where hi « defence 7 was long and stubborn. Finally, on January 11, 1846, the -pah of Rouaptf-apeha, where he was shut in with i w. P w. M

riors, succumbed to the assault o£ Colonel Wynward." During the course of this war, Bishop iFtompallier -and his clergy passed their time between >the- vestibule and the Altar, weeping over the e\ils that had befallen the people. One standard only was in their hands, that of the Cross. Both sides understood their spdrit of neutrality in political matters, and their desire for peace. ' So all the ravages of .the pest of war passed over their heads without touching them. Tneir missionary estaa-1-shiments remained) standing by the side of the ruins and cinders of the unhappy town of Kororareka. Following the rising of Horn t Heke was the first war in Taranaka in 1859, land troubles being again the cause. Prom 1860 to 1863 a fierce war was again carried on between the Natives and colonial troops on the West Coast of the North .Island, from New, Plymouth to Wanganui. The year 1865 witnessed the Hau "Haw outbreak inspired by religious fanaticism, .which spread over a wide area from east to west of the Island, embracing the densest Maori population. Marked with fiercest for- " ocity it left ruin and diesolation in its train The • King ' movement in the Waikato district of bin', province of Auckland was the occasion of further t'onfhot " and the Te Kooti rebellion, lasting from 1868 to 1870 engaged in jwith horrifying cruelty fills many a sad page of New Zealand war history. It would take too long, states a missionary record, to describe the obstinate wars which! the Maoris carried on against the British troops during the more than twenty years which followed their first noteworthy rising, in the far North • Towards the end of Jhe year 1860 the insurrection of the tribes on the South West coast of the North Islannd was more violent than ever. -Confounding in the same hatred all the Europeans, the rebels went about everywhere desolating the country with fire 5 and sword - (or their equivalent for the latter),. The Missionaries were powerless to stop their fury. I n the midst of the battle, faithful to their mission of charity, these went ' among the wounded rendering spiritual help to both" Si 68 " f In Kr SeP t em ? ler i , 1860 ' stat6S the auth °r of < Defenders of New Zealand,' Father Garaval with letters of introduction from Governor Sir Gore Browne to .Mai Shortly after hostilities commenced at Taranaki the Rev. Father J. M. Tresalet, then stationed at Wawanui proceeded overland from there to the seat of wTr, l\v «Ssi purpo , se x ; of ministering, not only to the CattiocV?n £ m New Plymouth, but also to the -Cat ho- - hcs i n< her M-ajfestyis regiments there stationed/ When cLn r i3 V S cor n -pan 7 of *««> Regiment was t<nanS P tl „ ? HH + 61 ll U 11 1 ' a mile outside of the " township, of to P SS h0B P ltabl y a ? d kindly treated by the men looted If \ unitll such time as he could, be conveniently S teda fc N , e . w 'Plymouth. Father Tresalet, .at that vw'w entirely ignorant of the English language, haIbf'cJfonv h f m ? ng *Jlf NatiVes * rom nis S arr S ival in - ti « ™m-? 7> ' b £ ln lessl t( han two, weeks, thanks to read m and ar^itl in^T *' hand ' and ' tau^ ht Mm to ■ on various T™L g * h ' he Was capable of conversing Smn to I™ Vr^ S h 'l S 1? P0It in his Pavels from fin^S tt 1 " a , pi i rse ot sovereigns. Colonel had Tttenia aWer^VtLV?^ wounde<l he red pride I^^ £ ff i Any man Would feel a sac'you. I will nS? f f b n n c m r n ' ce lOlencI Olence )TT s since' ince I came, amoagst wooden Sure* on wwSV° U ' H ° a*? 00 ™ 11 * 8 built a had r ive n Sm Tn Tf S 6 ? XDenided the money .they dows^nVmmeJ^io^^r^^ 0 sta ! n ed glass win- . 40th and 65th Regiments ° SPedal COrps ' ' lhe ' A Military Chaplain, who Bt flSsf !i d f U ° h i > the Colonia l iovce, and writes J litSl cl if SlVe , P^vi'ously mentioned «* iiL ot«4

panyang the force, so as to be near the men in the hour -of tridl. He was present at both tne attacKs' on ie-Nguitu-o-te-Manu, and on the occasion of the disastrous retreat, conseduent on the second attacK, he not only volunteered his services to assist the wounded, but bravely too.*.- his turn in carrying the stretchers, so that n ? n o &^ ol i ltl be left bchlind - it was on the 21st August, i , b J ?' .v araers " >were issued for all available men to hold) themselves in readiness to start on an expedition before daybreas to attach .the stronghold of Te-Ngutu~ o-te-Manu lhe morning bro^e with torrents of fain, which delayed their .departure, but .about 10 a.m.. the rain ceased, and a thici mist shrouded the whole country side. This being e\en Letter for our purpose than darings the order was given to start. The column consisted of the second, .third, and fourth divisions of the Armed Uonstabfulary, the Wellington Rangers, and the Wellington Rifles ; in all about three hundred men, accompanied by Father Rolland.' It was that march vbat called forth from Major Von • Temiusfcv the following euioa c?t£e dlv-'^A I^'' Which appear^ in the* pan«r ttr I 7T'On * ¥ e y and rai ny morniftg, when our three hundred . mustered silently in column on the parade ground, one'man made his appearance who at once dreW- all eyes upon him with silent wonder His garb was most peculiar; scanty, but lone "skirts shrouded, his nether garments ; _aJ f oH wate?pfoof sii?t bu? S thi°r° P Se i y ° n hh ' 1S *P uMera ! •..weapons, he had^none, ■oM hrna* ■ aS a war-like cock in .the position of- his d T- 6 J l elt hat ' and a self confidence inthe t VI?? be leaned °n his walking 'stickTthat suid . .- ■ Here, stands a man without fear." Who is it f trank good -humor ed countenance, of Father Holland will meet you. There he' was lightly arrayed for a march of which no one could say what the ending would be. With a good-humored smile, -he answered my 'miest'ion as to what on earth brought him there. On holding ev^ emng service he had told his flock he should accompaTrnfvTw 11 t J le .J? lorrow> s expedition, and there he was. Svp/ 2SS foOdf oOd ' a , BOod shepherd - Through -the 2' wa ; st deep along weary forest track, across ominous looking clearings where, at any- moment* a Sr 9y Rn r ir/ n "W wouH haYe ' s^Pfrour.ranks>a■dv\m^ llan d marched cheerfully and manfully, ever ready with a kind, word or playful SiPntence to anY oiSn ?%££ f T A ? d W J en at last in the clearinf o^ le-Ngutu-o-te-Manu the storm of bullets burst uhrm „« he riii not wait- in the rear for men to be Sought to SLvN^osrtiS* 11^' 68 * ° f " S ff ° rWard wo^ S KrVS utlit^rf that day could have felt otherwise tk prol Mto L , Catholic on Father Holland's account ? ' a (To be Continued.) ' *•• "