Morning Minnehaha.
Apologies for taking so long to acknowledge your post. I have been very busy. Burning the midnight oil.
After considerable searching of press clippings re the Anglican and Wesleyan “Home Missions” a picture is slowly emerging about the four proposed Anglican Māori Mission Homes, to cover the Waikato and King Country. With the first to be opened at Gordonton, followed by Waharoa, Taupo and Otorohanga.
Newspapers tell us that the six roomed home bought in 1906 by the Anglican Māori Missions, belonged to Mr Frederick FORREST a nurseryman of considerable standing, and I now believe it would have been built about the time [1900/1903] that the Waikato’s biggest estate was broken up. Mr Forrest having been Woodland’s head gardener. For a period after relocating to Hamilton East he traded as a nurseryman in partnership with Fred BEST. Mrs FORREST died in 1914 and Frederick FORREST in 1916.
Unfortunately that homes existence is not mentioned in Wm RIDDELL’s account of the houses he recalled on the journey from Hamilton to the Woodlands HQ in 1905. In the first nine miles he only accounted for five homes, with three more being built in the year, on the Woodland’s side of the road.
The other side being the Waikato Militia farm lots, which were being uplifted from the 1870’s.
I assumed it would have been built on a residential section that was surveyed off by the Estate in the 1880’s, but none of them were of 12 acres. Indeed at the time of the break up 10 to 12 acre title lots were non existent. If leased it could easily have been of part of a title, and more probable.
The original Militia crown grant lots were mainly at a nominal 50 acres, and a few of several hundred acres were surveyed for the officers. All being on the ribbons of land above, the deep peat lands and bogs.
In 1906 Frederick FORREST reportedly sold 12 acres of land which included his six roomed home and gardens, to the Anglican Māori Missions, with a Miss HERON, and a Miss BRERETON, to become resident leaders, once the necessary modifications were made to assist with the teaching and nursing, of Māori women.
They were to start with the assistance of Miss Mary WILLIAMS as probationary nurse, and translator. Soon, thereafter, there is mention of Nurse WILLKS and probationary nurses, Miss Mara NGAPO, and her cousin Miss Kathleen NGAPO.
In March 1914 the press noted that Miss WILKS had resigned, and that Miss NGAPO had married local postal contractor, Rotorua PUHIPUHI. By 1917 Miss BRERETON had relocated to TeKuiti, where she continued in working with the King Country Māori communities, before resigning in 1920, to become the Principal of the Queen Victoria Māori Boarding School for Girls at Auckland.
With the commencement of WWI mention of the Mission, and it’s contribution to society, is replaced by the war effort.
The next reference that I found to the Gordonton Mission was when in August 1933 it was reported that the W. A. O’HEARN home at Gordonton had burnt down. Formerly the Mission Home.
Papers Past searches find that the owner, Mr Walter A. O’Hearn, and some family members, arrived in Gordonton before WWI. Walter initially listed as a Bushman, as well as John O’Hearn, were probably from Poverty Bay. At that time several sawmills were locally harvesting the Kahikatea bush blocks, and supplying nearby sawmills.
From the 1920’s as well as being keen sportsmen O’HEARN interests were farming; standing breeding stallion; and in operating cartage contracts.
This research is ongoing, as I hope to be able to interview a man in his 90’s who may know more.
If any of this material is of interest to your family heritage, I am only to happy to share the clipping references that I have saved.
Alan.
