THE CHURCH IN THE WAIRARAPA

New Zealand Tablet, 15 March 1917, Page 42

THE CHURCH IN THE WAIRARAPA

SOME EARLY RECORDS. From time to time there have appeared in the columns of the Tablet articles bearing on the early days of the Church in New Zealand and the laborious duties faithfully and devotedly accomplished by the pioneer missionary Fathers. The most recent of these appeared under the heading—' In the Path of the Pioneers.' An esteemed correspondent has supplied us with extracts from an excellent and interesting series of articles appearing in a special edition of the Evening Post relating to the development of the Masterton district, and we gladly reprint those treating of the rise and progress of the Church in the Wairarapa County and vicinity :—■ The Catholic Church in the Wairarapa has an interesting history, and serves to mark the wonderful progress the district has made in various directions. In 1876 the Wairarapa was constituted a parish by the Right Rev. Dr. Redwood (now Archbishop), who appointed the Rev. Father Halbwachs, S.M., its first rector. Previous to his appointment, the spiritual wants of the Catholics of the district were attended to by the Rev. Fathers Petit jean, S.M., Goutenoire, S.M., McCaughey, Chataignier, S.M., and Yardin, S.M., who made periodical visits to the few Catholics who were scattered over that country which extended from Palliser Bay to the Manawatu River, and from the Tararua Ranges to the coast. We who live in the age of motor cars have but little idea of the hardships those pioneers had to endure as they tramped over the roadless plain or climbed the bush-clad hills, carrying their swags upon their backs. They were truly the good shepherds seeking the sheep of their flocks. Early Ministrations. When Father Ilalbwachs took charge of the district there was neither church nor school nor residence. But, nothing daunted, the good Father set to work and very soon had a church in each of the principal centres —namely, Featherston, Grey town, Carterton, Masterton, and Tenui. Carterton, being the most central, as well as being at that time the most important town in the Wairarapa, was chosen as headquarters. A section of nine acres of land having been obtained in the southern end of the township, a fine priest's residence was erected on it. From here Father Halbwachs carried on his work for about five years, visiting his people in the different places round about. He had many difficulties to contend with. Flooded rivers, slippery tracks, and dangerous swamps were frequently to be met with by the traveller in those days, but Father Halbwachs never shirked his duty or failed to keep an appointment, and so, whether it was sunshine or rain, his familiar form, seated behind his pair of ponies, and accompanied by his big dog, would be sure to be seen at the appointed time and place! Masterton Made Headquarters. In 1881 or 1882 the growing importance of Masterton made it necessary to have the priest's residence changed to there from Carterton. Accordingly, from that time Masterton became the centre of the mission. Father Ilalbwachs continued in charge till 1884, when he was transferred to the West Coast, and his place at Masterton was taken by Father Treacy. Father Treacy proved himself a worthy successor, and for four years he carried on the work of the mission with great success. In 1887 his place was taken by Father McKenna, now Monsignor and Vicar-General of the archdiocese. During his term of 29 years the Monsignor has done much in the interests of religion in the district. Soon after his appointment he recognised that the increasing number of his people required more attention than he could give to them, so in 1888 he applied for and obtained as his assistant his brother, Father Tom, then just arrived from Ireland. At that time the Forty Mile Bush was but sparsely populated, but

as the country was opened up settlement developed and townships sprang up in different parts of it. Pahiatua was the first to spring into importance, and here in 1889 an acre of land was secured and a small church erected on it. As the town and district developed, Father McKenna made provision for the future extension of the Church there by securing a block of five and a-half acres of land convenient to the church. In this he showed his foresight, for in 1894, so important had the place become that it was constituted a separate parish, with the Rev. Father Tom McKenna its first rector. Since then great progress has been made in Church affairs in that portion of the country. An additional church has been erected in the district at Hamua, there being also one at Woodville and stations at Makuri and Pongaroa, while at Pahiatua more property has been acquired, and a larger and more pretentious church has taken the place of the first one. A commodious priest's residence, a splendid convent, and a successful Catholic school mark the progress of what was once the bush portion of the Wairarapa district. Progress Elsewhere. With the increase of population, other townships claimed more attention, and so, in 1896, a church was erected at Martinborough, one in Eketahuna in 1898, and one in Mauriceville in 1905. Carterton church was enlarged in 1889 and Masterton church in 1902. In 1901 another division of the district took place, when South Wairarapa was constituted a parish, with headquarters at Carterton. The first resident priest of the newly-constituted parish was Father Cahill, who took up his residence in the presbytery erected 25 years before by Father Halbwachs. During the time that Father Cahill had charge he had the church shifted to a more central position, and though he met with considerable opposition it is now admitted on all sides that the step was a wise one. In 1905 Father Bowe replaced Father Cahill at Carterton, and remained in charge for five and a-half years. During his time the work of centralising the mission was further advanced by the erection of a fine up-to-date presbytery alongside the church on the new site. A beautiful new church was also erected by him in Featherston before he was transferred to Dannevirke. In 1913 Father Kinkead took charge of Carterton, and he was negotiating for the purchase of a splendid property for convent and school purposes when he went as chaplain on the hospital ship Maheno in 1915. During his absence the Rev. Father O'Beirne has been in charge, and he has been successful in completing the negotiations begun by Father Kinkead, and has purchased a property upon which there is a residence that will serve admirably as a convent. Already the builders are busy erecting a school which was expected to be in readiness at the beginning of the school term. It will thus be seen that what was one district in 1876, with only one priest, is now divided into three, with four priests to minister to the spiritual wants of the Catholic community. Catholic Institutions. Another article traces the growth of the Catholic Church in Masterton. St. Bride's Convent stands out as a lasting memorial to the generosity of the people of the town and district who provided the funds for its establishment, as well as to the zeal of the pastor who undertook the work. From the beginning of the mission in the district it was recognised that religion and education should go hand in Hand, and when Father Halbwachs took up the work of the mission a Catholic school was established. At first this was more of a private enterprise, conducted under the patronage of the Church in a small cottage that was then upon the church property at Masterton. In 1884 Father Treacy erected St. Patrick's School, which continued to do duty until 1899, when it was removed to its present site and considerably enlarged. Further additions have since been made to it, and it provides accommodation for 150 pupils. Up to the year 1899 the school was conducted by lay teachers. The Brigidine nuns introduced by Monsignor McKenna from New South

Wales then took charge, and have since conducted it, in conjunction with St. Bride's Convent, with marked success. The convent occupies a beautiful position, and its fine grounds are greatly admired by visitors to Masterton. Here, too, considerable additions have had to be made to meet the requirements of the ever-increasing numbers who go for instruction. Besides the convent, which provides accommodation for the nuns, and spacious rooms for the boarders and day pupils, a beautiful chapel has been erected upon the grounds for the private use of the nuns and their pupils. The grounds have been added to by the acquisition of what was known as the Fish Ponds, consisting of 12?; acres. This fine property makes a grand recreation ground for the nuns and boarders. Since the convent was founded a sum of about £IO,OOO has been spent upon it, and when the annual cost of educating 200 children at either St: Patrick's School or the convent is added, it will be realised that the Catholics of Masterton set a high value upon religious education.