The Church in New Zealand

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 24, 1 July 1925, Page 19

The Church in New Zealand

SOME HISTORICAL NOTES

Recollections of Ashburton The photograph we reproduce here recalls the fruitful labors in the diocese of Christchurch of one still happily with us, and still devotedly engaged in pastoral duties in the Archdiocese of Wellington—the Yen. Archdeacon Devoy, S.M., parish priest of Island Bay. Father Devoy, as he was best known in Canterbury and Westland during the ’eighties, arrived in New Zealand early in 1879, and was sent as assistant to Father (afterwards Dean) Ginaty, S.M., at Christchurch. During the year Father Henuebery gave a mission in Ashburton. Father Devoy went there with Father Donovan, of Lyttelton, and Father Chataigner, of Tiraam, to help 'the then pastor of Ashburton —Father Chervier. After, the mission, Father Devoy was asked by the authorities in Wellington to take over part of Father Ohervier’s parish, which then comprised Shand’s Track, Leeston, Southbridge, Ashburton, Darfield, etc. It was settled that Father Devoy should take over Ashburton,

but before he could do so he was sent to Kumara owing to the illness of the priest in charge there. After two years on the Coast, he came to Timaru in 1882. At that time Father Coffey, a young priest from Waterford, was parish priest of Ashburton. He built the present church which in the near future is to be replaced by a new building more in keeping with this progressive inland town of Canterbury. At the end of September, 1884, when Father Devoy was in Ashburton collecting for St. Patrick’s College, Father Coffey was still there and was very helpful to the former in his work. Father Coffey was succeeded at Ashburton by Father Chastagnon, who was afterwards transferred to Darfield, and the present pastor, Very Rev. Dean O’Donnell, took his place at Ashburton. , During the mid’eighties, Father Coffey returned to Ireland. In the Far South of Westland Mr. H. J. Cuttance, of Otokia, ' Otago, writes:ln the winter of 1875, Father BinsfeM visited Jackson’s Bay. I think he came by the old ss. Waipara, a vessel well-known during the early days on the Coast. Subsequently he celebrated Mass in Mr. John Cronin’s hut- at Arrawata Settlement, a. distance of eight or ten miles from Jackson’s Bay. A rough shack built in the -bush amongst the tree-ferns and ferns of .all descriptions, the sides of the hut were built of ' giant fern trees known in those days as “bungies” (pungas), and the roof and chimney of white and red pine slabs and palings split out of the forest trees that grew in plenty- on the 10 acre section. As there were no flooring boards in those happy times, we knelt on the ground as nature had left it, and the little hut was filled to overflowing. The congregation consisted mainly of Irish and Polish settlers, the latter not long out from their homeland. As may be imagined there was a mixture of languages —a confusion of tongues—the Poles being unable to understand English. All the same, we were a happy, sociable gathering— Faith makes all men kin. Father Binsfeld worked hard - for several days amongst us, anjl he must have been very gratified to see ther way his little ; isolated flock . gathered round him to receive Holy Communion. . An uncertainty always existed in those days as

1 to when we should have the opportunity to again attend Holy Mass. As a matter of fact it was not until 1885, ten years later, that Father Ahern came down overland on horseback, a distance of 200 milesa very dangerj ons undertaking at that time, as there were ■ several large rivers to be crossed. During those years there was not a bridge, on the long toilsome journey from Ross to Jackson’s ■ Bay. Ferry-men were stationed at some c.f the largest rivers, such as the Haast, Awai;> wata, Waitoto, Okuru, Kaingaroa, etc. while other mountain torrents had to be forded. Travellers, if they were fortunate ■; enough to find the ferry-man at home, boarded the, ferry boat (a small dingy) and were Eyrowed across; the\ horse having to swim gf behind, a distance sometimes of nearly half ■; a mile. Often, after crossing one branch of a ■ river, .the wayfarer had to saddle up and ride across the river-bed, to be met by the 1 ferry-man and taken across another branch. ||: The crossing was sometimes a matter of two V hjpurs, very .often in a downpour of rain • which 1 soaked through every article of clothfhingE' Those enjoying all the comforts of ■y civilisation can form no idea of the hardly,ships and exposure that our priest had to ■ endure in the pioneering days. He would

bo very lucky to have the company of .some generous person to act as guide. The \ late Mr. John Butler, of jVXiitiininij cximo down with our .priest on different occasions, and at that time the rivers and bush tracks were more dangerous and more difficult to find than they were in later years. Fathers Ahern, McManus, Brown, .and the late Father Rogue were the pioneers of hard travel , from Ross to South Westland. It was always characteristic of the early settlers to be .generous to travellers, and whether priest or layman, they were made welcome. Denomination did not count with those warm-hearted people, respect and kindness was extended to all. The bitterness so often observed' nowadays was a thing utterly" unknown either by word or deed, a fact which sets one wondering whether civilisation has advanced during the past fifty years. Of the time of which 1 write the Irish people predominated throughout the region undernotice, and to them, in a great measure, may be attributed the kindness, generosity, and hospitality for which the Coast then, as now, is noted. At the same time all other nationalities—Scottish, .English, Danish, German, were “white.” With all alike, miner or settler, the traveller was sure of good treatment at any home that he chanced to visit. in closing these notes I would like to mention some of the good old ferry-men who treated our priest with, kindness and respect, often giving him a pannikin of warm tea and a meal before starting him on bis long journey to the- next river. These were Air. W. Hindley, of Waitoto river, an old man-o-warsman ; Air. Joseph Collyer, of Okuru, who was always generous and happy, and treated clergymen with great kindness and respect, appearing never to be able to do enough for them ; and the late Air. Marks, of Haast, with whom there was always the certainty of a night's good shelter .for a traveller no matter who or what he was.

Left to right (sitting) Father.Cooney, Very Rev. Dean Bowers, Rev. Father Leen, His Lordship Bishop Brodie, Very Rev. Dean O’Donnell. (Standing) Rev. Fathers Timoney, T. Hanrahanj, O’Connor, Gallagher, O’Mceghan, Lordan, .J. Hanrahan, ;Halyey, O’Doherty, and Joyce. . Ey *. : y •)■ .