THE CHURCH IN NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand Tablet, 17 October 1918, Page 43

THE CHURCH IN NEW ZEALAND

HISTORICAL NOTES. • ' V A friend sends the following interesting historical notes, which a good many years ago appeared in the Ohinernuri Gazette, relating to the parish of Paeroa, in the diocese of Auckland, and to the Right Rev. Mgr, O’Reilly’s work thereabouts; Mgr. O’Reilly knew this district well years ago when the population was but small?- and in conversation with a representative of this paper; he gave some interesting details of the early days of the Church in Ohinernuri. In 1878 the Monsignor was living at Thames, and was also in charge of the Ohinernuri district. In that year he celebrated the first Mass at Paeroa. - Karangahake and Waihi as townships had no existence at that time, but Mass was also celebrated at Owharoa and Waitekauri. Although this was the first celebration of Mass at the townships mentioned there had previously been Mass at Mackaytown by the Very Rev. Father Mahony, O.S.F. On his first visit to Paeroa Mgr. O’Reilly had a look round for a site for a church, and he noticed with approval the present presbytery ground, at that time owned by Mrs. W. G. Nicholls. The building now used as a presbytery was then on the ground, but according to Maori custom it was ‘tapu’ owing to the death therein of Mrs. Nicholls’s father. Terms were soon arranged, and Mgr. O’Reilly obtained the house and about six acres of land for £295. The next step was to have a church erected, and owing to the generous subscriptions obtained the present church was opened on June 26, 1881. It was the first church built by any denomination in Paeroa, and not only was money forthcoming from Catholics, but members of all other denominations also contributed voluntarily. The land on which the church was erected was the Monsignor’s own property, and ‘in case of anything happening’ —as the Monsignor put ithe transferred an acre of land (with the buildings thereon) to the Church. Time went on, and arrangements were made for the Church to take over the whole of the property. In 1894 arrangements were completed for the Church to acquire the whole property, and the Monsignor generously handed it over for what it had cost him, although it was worth at that time very considerably more money. But, as he says, he bought it for the church, and he has the satisfaction of knowing that the church owns a remarkably fine property.” The town of Paeroa is situated 15 miles from Waihi and 22 from Thames, and is the county town of Ohinernuri. In 1900 the Catholic parish embraced the whole country (states the Encyclopedia■ of New Zealand , including Waihi, Waitekauri, Karangahake, Waikino, and Paeroa. The Church property occupies an elevated section at the entrance to the town on the Waihi-Tauranga road. The late Right Rev. Mgr. O’Reilly, on August 4, 1912, consecrated an altar erected in memory of his parents and two sisters in the church of SS. Joseph and Joachim at Otahuhu. The Father Mahony referred to was, for many years in the now distant past, well known on the mission in the Auckland diocese. During part of Bishop Luck’s administration he was ably assisted by Father Mahony as Vicar-General, who had been appointed to that office in succession to Mgr. Fynes, on the decease of the latter. Father Mahony was the last of a small band of Franciscan Fathers who were at one time laboring in the diocese of Auckland, and who had charge of the Parnell parish. He was a very learned and much travelled man, having lived for many years in Italy, Egypt, Palestine, and other countries of the East. He died in 1890, while in charge of Parnell parish, where he was first stationed. His remains were ‘ interred alongside the grave of Father Luck in the churchyard cemetery at Onehunga near the beautiful

Church of the Assumption built by x Mgr. Paul, who also became Vicar-General. A northern paper, relating "old time" incidents, mentioned that,, on,, a certain occasion .' elaborate preparations had been J made by the Maoris of a remote ~ pah s 'fa? .'a : '' r wedding/ The clergyman engaged had failed to put in an appearance", and as the day was nearly -spent disappointment was being plainly manifested. Father Mahony, who. at this critical moment happened to be journeying through the settlement, was intercepted by the Natives and impressed into service. He forthwith officiated, much to the joy of the assemblage, and to the happiness of the couple most interested. "," /,