Charleston: Its Rise and Decline/Chapter 11
Chapter XI.
THE CHURCHES—CEMETERIES—BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES.
CHURCH OF ENGLAND.
THE Church, St. Mark’s, and the Parsonage stood on the Camp Reserve in Darkie’s Terrace Road. On 15th June, 1868, a public meeting was held in Jolliffe’s Oddfellows Hotel, and was addressed by the Bishop of Nelson, the Chairman being the Resident Magistrate, Mr. Lightband. The following motion was moved by Mr. Gasquoine, seconded by Mr. McCoy, and carried: “That the inhabitants of this district deem it advisable to take immediate steps for the erection of a place of worship in connection with the Church of England, in Charleston.” A canvass for funds was inaugurated which secured about £300.
It was decided to build upon the Camp Reserve, and the Government upon request granted the right. Plans and specifications for a church and parsonage were drawn by Thomas Hope, the church to have seating accommodation for 150 persons. Tenders were called for on 8th July, 1868, and that of Stainer & King, accepted, for £404/18/-. The first service was held on 11th October, 1868, the Rev. B. W. Harvey being the preacher.
In 1913, when the church collapsed in a gale, there were so few worshippers that a sufficiently large church was built out of the wreckage, the builders being Messrs. Hurburgh and Percy Craddock. This small building still stands. The parsonage, or vicarage, adjoined the church, and a report made in 1927 stated that “all trace of it has long since vanished.”
The first resident incumbent was the Rev. Thomas Flavell, of whom it is told that one of his first acts was to gather and impound all the threepenny and fourpenny pieces in the town, to prevent their use in the church plate-collections. These were the smallest denominations of coins in circulation, as copper coins did not circulate on the Coast until recent years. In 1869 a petition was made to Synod from Charleston praying that a Parish be formed there, but this was not considered advisable, though the Bishop constituted it a Parochial District. In 1895 Charleston ceased to be represented directly in Synod.
Bishop Suter, during the first year or so of Charleston’s life, made many trips on foot about the district, plainly dressed and carrying a pack on his back. Upon one occasion he was mistaken for a “wanted,” and lodged in the Charleston lock-up until identified by some church-folk.
Bishops of Nelson: Andrew Burn Suter, 1866-1891; Charles Oliver Mules, 1892-1912.
Incumbents: Rev. B. W. Harvey, Vicar of Westport, Visiting; Rev. Thomas Flavell, May, 1869-1873, First Resident Vicar of Charleston; Rev. William David Rusz, January to April, 1873, Resident; Rev. A. C. Soutar, Vicar of Westport, 1873-1874, Visiting; Rev. J. Rutherfurd, of Westport, a few months of 1873-1874, Visiting. During 1875 both Charleston and Westport were vacant, and Lay-Readers conducted services at Charleston.
During 1876-1878 Charleston services were conducted by Lay-readers and occasionally by Ministers from Westport.
Rev. Edward S. Cross, Vicar of Westport, 1879-1883, Visiting; unknown 1883-1885; Rev. Reginald Hermon, 1886-1887, Resident Vicar for one year; Rev. William Stanley Lucas, 1888-1889, the last Resident Vicar; unknown 1890-1893; Rev. F. B. Dobson, Vicar of Westport, 1894-1900, Visiting; Rev. Bertram George Fox, Curate from Westport, 1900-1901, Visiting; Rev. A. R. S. Holloway, Curate at Westport, 1901, Visiting. The Rev. W. D. Rusz met his death by drowning at Second Bay while bathing, 8th April, 1873.
The last Confirmation service was held in 1905.
Lay-readers, Wm. St. George Douglas, E. C. Kelling, A. Greenwood, Thomas Dollman; Superintendent of Sunday School, H. E. West; Choirmaster, A. Greenwood; Organist, Miss Armstrong; Some Constant Church-workers, Misses Armstrong, Jackson; Mesdames Henry, Marris, Wilson, Poole, Faris, Rogers; Messrs. Marris, Broad, Jackson, Bear, Greenwood, Hampton, Fair, Thomas, McBeath, Wandrum, Moore, Peters, Williams, Colvin, Hagedorn, Dollman, Fox, Powell, Parsons, Sergeant Stephenson.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH.
St. Patrick’s Chapel and Cemetery were upon Public Reserve No. 3 of about one acre, at the southern end of Camp Street, or as some termed it, the Brighton Road. It was erected in 1867, and was demolished about 1925 because considered unsafe for further use. The cemetery remains, a noticeable spot among a waste of gorse and brambles.
The first Roman Catholic Charge upon the South-West Coast was at Hokitika, founded in July, 1868, by the Very Rev. Dean Martin and a missionary comrade, Father Moreau. The former had been on a visit to Hokitika in 1867. Mass had been celebrated at Nelson as early as 1844 by Bishop Pompallier and Father O’Reily. Early-day services in Nelson were conducted by Father Garin in the residence of Mr. Otterson in Bridge Street.
The first priests at Westport were Fathers Royer and Walsh. The first priest at Greymouth was Father Binsfield in April, 1870, where the forenoon of the day upon which Mass was to be celebrated was observed as a half-holiday. The Charge established at Hokitika by Dean Martin was in reality a Westland parish, for from there all early-day services emanated, as far along the coast as Charleston and Westport.
Early pioneers of the Church on the Coast were Fathers Hallum, Royer, McGirr, Binsfield, Carew, and Father Walsh—who later received the Papal title of Monsignor—and the Very Rev. Dean Martin.
The first priest to visit Charleston was the Rev. Father Royer. The Charleston Argus of 11th May, 1867, notified that he would hold Divine service on the following day in Clunes’ Hotel, Darkie’s Terrace, in the morning, and in the Commercial Hotel, Charleston, at noon and in the evening. In the same newspaper a month before, tenders had been called for the building of St. Patrick’s Chapel, the Building Committee being Messrs. J. Creed, T. Glennon, P. Hehir, and Michael Barry; it was opened by Father Royer in June or July of that year, 1867.
The first Resident priest was Father Etienne Hallum, who occupied a presbytery on Darkie’s Terrace Road. He was a Frenchman who had been a missionary among the Maoris. Upon his leaving Charleston, early in the ’seventies, services in St. Patrick’s Chapel were conducted by Father Walsh and other non-resident priests, one of whom was Father Morrissey. Although the congregation of this church was greater than either of the others, no records are obtainable. The Rev. Father E. J. Carmine, now of Pungarehu, remembers visiting Charleston about 1901 with Monsignor Walsh, then Arch-priest. On that Sunday, James Lavery was altar-boy. He also said Mass at Charleston in 1920, and remembers that the old church “was then all worm-eaten. The vestments and organ were first-class. The congregation was small.”
METHODIST CHURCH.
This church stood upon Section 349 in Camp Street South or, as it was then called, Brighton Road. It was built in August, 1867, at the instance of the Rev. Joseph White but was, contrary to his wish, established on the “union basis,” for the use of all Protestant denominations, and termed The Evangelical Union Church.
There is not any record of the first meetings, nor of the first Committee which arranged for the building. The first meeting on record was a public meeting held on 10th July, 1867, in the partly-completed building, those mentioned as having attended being Messrs. —. Hudson (Chair), G. O. Clayton (Secretary), —. Renton, T. Crumpton, H. Masters, Richard Green, Snr., —. Bruce, —. Leggatt. This meeting decided that the building when completed be handed over to the Rev. J. White “on behalf of the connexion he represents,” the Methodist Free Church. The first elected Committee was: Rev. J. White, —. Hudson, H. Masters, T. Crumpton, —. Renton, G. O. Clayton.
The first service held in the church was during August, 1867, but services were held earlier in the Courthouse and in hotels. On 17th March, 1867, a service was held in the Pakihi Hotel by a visiting minister, the Rev. W. Lewis, and on the morning of 12th May, 1867, services were held by the Rev. J. White, in the Courthouse during the morning and in the Casino de Venice at night. On 28th September, 1870, the church became a branch of the United Methodist Free Churches. The last service held in the church was in 1889, and some years later the building was sold for £25 to Mr. Denis Collins for removal. The church bell was, it is said, purchased by the County Council, who erected it as a call-bell at the Totara Ferry.
The Resident pastors were: Rev. Joseph White, 1867-1870; Rev. John Parkin, 1871-1875; Rev. John A. Caygill, 1876; Rev. Charles Penney, 1877-1878.
From 1879 to 1888 Charleston and Westport were worked together, the pastors for the combined areas being Rev. John Wesley Worboys, 1879; Rev. T. Hodgson, 1880; Rev. Joseph J. Pendray, 1881-1884; Rev. E. Ovenden Penney, 1885-1888.
It was from Charleston that services were established at Westport, the first being conducted by Rev. J. White on 5th August, 1871, in Mr. Frazer’s schoolroom, the Committee being Messrs. Neil, Frazer, Leach, Oaks, and two others whose names are unknown.
The first Charleston parsonage was a six-roomed house on Section 408 beside, or on the School Reserve in Darkie’s Terrace Road; purchased, with furniture, in April, 1871, for £150 from the Rev. J. White by whom it was privately owned. It was sold in December, 1876, without furniture, for £15 to H. Masters. It was then acquired by Mr. Roger Walker, and for many years occupied by him as a residence. It still stands, one of the few buildings now remaining in that once busy residential road. The second parsonage was a house on Section 350 (then privately held) adjoining the church, purchased for £30 in 1876, and later extended and improved. Dr. Simpson occupied this as a residence in 1880 after the departure of Rev. C. Penney. These prices indicate the rapid decrease in population and the consequent decline in value of house-property. A few years later, dwellings were unsaleable excepting for dismantling by purchasers who could make use of the timber or roofing-iron.
In 1896 the United Methodist Free Church and the Bible Christian Church became united with the Wesleyan Church, and in 1913 the Primitive Methodist Church also united; the four making the Methodist Church of New Zealand. Sections 349 (the church site) and 350 (the second parsonage site) were Crown Grants made on 12th July, 1878, to the Rev. Samuel McFarlane, of Christchurch, for the United Methodist Free Church, of which he was Superintendent. Section 351 was also Church property, being a Crown Grant of 24th August, 1871, to Mary Mason who transferred it to Henry Masters, who in turn transferred it to the church. Originally, the church site was held under a “Business license.”
Early Committee-men were:
- 1867— —. Hudson, G. O. Clayton, T. Crumpton, —. Renton, H. Masters, Richard Green, Snr., —. Bruce, —. Leggatt.
- 1868—Chas. Gasquoine, —. Alexander, Isaac Scott, W. J. Moore, H. G. A. Wandrum, —. Finlay, —. Brent, G. R. Brown, —. Ross, —. Sorin.
- 1869.— —. Godhard, Richard Green, Jnr., —. Fraser, Chas. Bowater, Walter Cato, W. H. Franklin.
- 1870—John Dick, Conrad Krongsgrill.
- 1871—Samuel Hardley, John Beck, Gilbert Harper.
- 1873—Wm. Wormington.
- 1874—Hugh Edwards, Wm. Sutherland.
- 1876—Alfred Peters, Wm. Stephenson.
- 1878— —. Issell,.C. Woodhead, —. Lander.
- 1879—J. Hartill.
In each case with others of previous years.
Secretaries—G. O, Clayton, 1867; Henry Masters from March, 1868, to March, 1878. The latter was presented with some volumes of books in acknowledgment of his long service.
Treasurers—T. Crumpton from March, 1868, to June, 1875; G. R. Brown, 1878.
Organists—Percival Bear, Chas. Garnett, Miss E. Crumpton, Miss Derbyshire. The instrument was a harmonium. In July, 1871, and October, 1873, presentations were made to Miss Crumpton in acknowledgment of her services.
Chapel-keepers— —. Somerville, 1868; W. A. Mason, 1873; James Cusac, 1873; H. E. West, 1876. Thereafter, members took turn in trimming lamps, lighting them, opening church doors, ringing the bell, etc.
In the register of church members, the last entry is dated 1890, with the following names: Charleston—George Robson Brown.
The Beach—Wm. Sutherland, Johanna Sutherland, James Harper, Margaret Harper. (“The Beach” was the Nine-mile Beach settlement, Rahui, where there were a public hall and a schoolroom.)
Brighton—Peter Johnson, Ann Johnson.
The following are extracted from the minute-books of Charleston Church, and of the Westport circuit of the United Methodist Free Church:—
10th September, 1867—Arranged for lectures by Messrs. Dutton, Broad, the Rev. Porteous and Rev. J. White. Mr. Porteous’s subject to be “Phrenology Practically Considered.” 11th February, 1868—Arranged to hold soirees, or tea-meetings, twice a year. The profit on first one was £66. The entrance fee was 5/-. From 1873 they were held only once each year. The last one was held in 1877. 3rd March, 1868—Resolved that “the church walls be lined with calico” and that a bell be procured. 28th May, 1869—A lamp provided for the front door, a ceiling added to the church, and the roof made water-tight. 31st June, 1871—Resolved that “the inside of the church be papered.” 10th October, 1871—Special thanks to Miss Brailey for many services to church matters. 28th September, 1873—Dr. Carr invited to preach. (It is understood that Dr. Carr was a travelling lecturer and phrenologist.) 28th April, 1876—Services at Nine-mile Beach to be fortnightly. 12th December, 1876—Mr. Alfred Peters nominated as a candidate for the Ministry. (He was accepted and appointed to Reefton.) October, 1896—Rev. S. Potts to visit Charleston. September, 1898—Services to be resumed at Charleston and at The Beach.
Mrs. Peters, of Papanui, has made available the following information from the papers of her late husband, the Rev. Alfred Peters. Mr. Alfred Peters arrived at Nelson from England about 1871. On the voyage he met a family en route for Charleston and was induced to accompany them. There he found ready employment. On the first Sunday after his arrival he attended service at the United Methodist Free Church. The preacher was “a half-caste negro who gave a good acceptable and profitable address.” The church, he said, had for some time been without a minister, and it would yet be some weeks before the appointed incumbent would arrive, so a call was made for a layman to occupy the pulpit during the interval. Mr. Peters was elected. He later offered himself as a candidate for the ministry, was accepted, and appointed to the Reefton circuit in 1876. He describes Reefton as being “in its glory as far as money went; reefs were being discovered and lodes of rich gold brought to light, fortunes made, and general prosperity prevailed, in which the churches shared.”
CHURCH REGISTERS.
Church of England. Baptisms: 24th May, 1869—Frederick Leopold, son of Frederick Leopold and Mary Raseniski, Brighton. 2nd June, 1869—Martha, daughter of Joseph and Margaret Plows, Charleston. 6th June, 1869—Charlotte Sarah, daughter of Samuel and Mary Eliz. Goodall, Charleston.
Marriages: 1st June, 1869—Joshua Lester Greenwood, Engineer, and Margaret Hanna. 22nd July, 1869—John Ching, Merchant, and Fanny May. 27th September, 1869—William Price, Miner, and Rhoda Mary Townsend. 13th October, 1869—Thomas Aitken Poole, Storeman, and Mary Jane Perry. (The Officiating Minister in each case was Rev. Thos. Flavell, Charleston.)
Burials: 22nd May, 1869—Elizabeth Meredith, Charleston. 25th May, 1869—Robert Kyne, Brighton. 3rd September, 
Rev. Father Morrissey, Evelyn King, Eliza Flynn, Master Maloney, Mrs. W. King, two Misses Maloney, and boy unknown.
Rev. E. S. Cross. Rev. A. Peters. Rev. Charles Penney.
Mr. and Mrs. Roger Walker. School Reserve, Darkie’s Terrace Road.
Roman Catholic Church. Baptisms: Helen Bossell, of Charleston, 15th June, 1867. Margaret O’Donnell, of Brighton, 17th June, 1867.
Marriages: Edward John Walsh and Johanna Ryan. (Date and place not given.)
Burials: No record ascertained.
Methodist Church: No records ascertained.
OFFICIAL REGISTER.
The first birth registered at Charleston occurred on the 1st July, 1868, at Brighton, and relates to George Peter Moss, son of Joseph Henry Moss, publican, and Elizabeth Moss, formerly Anderson. The Registrar was Charles Broad. The next birth registered relates to Amelia Marris who was born at Charleston on 12th July, 1868, the father being William Marris, sawyer, and the mother Loretta Marris, formerly Hore.
The first death registered at Charleston relates to an unnamed infant of James and Margaret Burke, the death occurring at Darkie’s Terrace, Charleston, on 27th August, 1868. The medical practitioner in attendance was William H. Dakers, M.R.C.S., of Charleston.
The first notice of intending marriage was given to the Registrar at Charleston on 3rd September, 1868, the parties being William Scott, saddler, and Martha Jane Sykes. The marriage was solemnised in the Registrar’s office by Charles Broad, Registrar, on the same date. There is also a record of the marriage of Philip Rooney, miner, to Mary Griffin on 1st December, 1868, at the residence of Mr. Daley, Charleston; the officiating minister being the Rev. Etienne Hallum, Roman Catholic.
There were earlier births, deaths and marriages at Charleston, but as these were registered at Westport or other districts, they cannot be traced. During the year 1869 there were thirty-nine births, twenty-two marriages, and twenty-seven deaths. During the year 1902 there were eight births, one marriage, and eleven deaths.
REGISTRARS OF BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES.
Charles Broad, 1st September, 1868; George Henry, 8th May, 1873; Thomas Dollman, 1877. From 1878 to about 1894, postmasters undertook the duties. Later again, Mr. R. J. Powell was appointed.
CEMETERIES.
The old Cemetery was on Public Reserve No. 5, at Constant Bay, being Sections 96 to 102 with some land adjoining them. It was not in use for long, owing to sea-encroachment and being overwhelmed by tailings from the Town Lead workings. The site proved unsuitable for the purpose, as funeral processions could reach it at low tide only, the hours of which did not always suit. It was inaccessible at high tide. Furthermore, the water-courses (from tailraces) that flowed across the beach, made crossings unpleasant, even difficult. It was abandoned in 1873 or 1874 and no trace of it now remains, beyond one solitary mound with a battered, iron railing around it; believed to be the resting-place of the victim of a shipping disaster. The sea and tailings have claimed the remainder of this sacred ground, wherein lay, or lie, the ashes of now-forgotten pioneers.
Of those laid to rest in this old burial-ground, the following names have been ascertained: Elizabeth Meredith, 22nd May, 1869; John Fraser, 3rd September, 1869; Mrs. Dale; Mrs. Salter; Charles Woodriff; Caroline Laing, 9th March, 1872; Lucretia Marris, 7th December, 1872; Miss Rosenberg; Rev. W. D. Rusz, 9th April, 1873. Of these, the remains of several, perhaps all, were removed to the Nile Hill Cemetery when it was opened.
In 1868 a grant of £101 was made by the Provincial Council for the “fencing of cemeteries at Charleston, Brighton and Westport.”
Roman Catholic Cemetery. This cemetery (or, strictly speaking, burial-ground, seeing that it was within a churchyard) was part of St. Patrick’s Chapel Reserve (No. 3) and in use from the date of opening of that Church.
Nile Hill Cemetery, of an area of three acres, was established on Nile Hill (on Point Robertson) when the old cemetery at Constant Bay was abandoned, in 1873 or 1874. In 1882 this was officially declared a cemetery under the Cemeteries Act of that year, and trustees in terms of this Act were appointed on 27th April idem. They were Roger Walker (Chairman), Gilbert Harper, George Moore, G. Brown, and M. E. Gardner (Secretary). The first meeting was held in Roger Walker’s house, Darkie’s Terrace Road. The first burial recorded thereafter was of one of the trustees, Gilbert Harper, who died on 29th May, 1882. However, there were many burials prior to 1882, but records are not available.
Funerals. It was a convention that all who could should show respect to departed citizens by attending their obsequies; and in most cases business was suspended during the afternoon of the funeral day to enable all to fulfil this duty, a tribute that few receive in the world of to-day. Charleston had no hearse, the coffin being carried on four or five shoulders, and covered by a wide pall. Mourners were provided with black crepe hatbands, whilst the undertaker (to-day termed funeral director or mortician) adopted conventional attire-frock-coat, top hat with long crepe streamers, and black gloves. The undertakers were Richard Treadwell and, later, George Hurburgh.
The following particulars of the funeral of the Rev.W. D. Rusz, condensed from a newspaper of 1873, is typical: “All shops were closed from receipt of the news of the death (8th April) until the hour fixed for the funeral (9th April) and then entirely closed until the following day (10th April). For the funeral most miners ceased work, and about five hundred persons attended, including Oddfellows and Foresters, and Sunday School children. The service was conducted by Rev. Flavell from Reefton, and Rev. Soutar from Westport. A town collection resulted in a sufficient amount to provide a handsome tombstone and railing.”
BIRTHS, DEATHS AND MARRIAGES.
Although official registration of births started in 1858 in accordance with the “Registration Act” of that year, it was not until 1868 that Charleston was constituted a district for the Registration of Births, Deaths and Marriages. Registrars’ certificates for marriages were not required before 1885, nor was the registration of death compulsory until the same year, 1885. As official registers prior to 1886 are not available, search has been made for church registers, but only two entries of earlier date than 1868 have been found.
On 15th October, 1867, Mr. J. B. Bennett, Registrar-General, wrote to the Colonial Secretary that: “The Rev. Stephen Hallum, Roman Catholic Clergyman at Charleston (Pakihi) has written to me strongly urging that a Registrar under the Marriage and Registration Acts should be appointed for that place. He represents that, at present, births and deaths are not registered, and great inconvenience is experienced as to marriages”; adding that “the Resident Magistrate is disposed to undertake the duties of Registrar.” The Superintendent of the Province was asked to suggest boundaries for a new district.
On 14th January, 1868, the Rev. Hallum wrote direct to His Excellency the Governor:
Charleston, 14th January, 1868.
“I have the honour to inform your Excellence that the population of Charleston is greatly suffering since a long time for the want of a Resident Registrar of Births, Marriages, and Deaths. To go to the Buller is the cause of great expense, and a great loss of time. Westport, Brighton, Cobden, Greymouth, have their Resident Registrar. We don’t know for what reason Charleston, which is improving every day, should be deprived of such an advantage.
“If the reason is that Charleston wants to be acknowledged as a separate district I hope that the interest you take for all the country of New Zealand, and for the populated parts of the country, will induce your Excellence to take soon the proper means to provide Charleston with a Resident Registrar, and to do justice to a population that will be greatly grateful to you for that advantage.
I have the honour to be
of your Excellence,
the humble, obedient servant,
Rev. Stephen Hallum, C.P.,
Charleston.”
On 20th March, 1868, the Colonial Secretary informed the Superintendent that it had been represented that the Cobden district (the Registrar of which resided at Brighton) should be divided into two districts; and asked him to furnish descriptions of the boundaries for Charleston, and the Cobden-Brighton, new districts, adding: “With respect to the Registrars, Mr. C. Broad, new Registrar for Cobden, would probably be Registrar for ‘Brighton’; and the name of Mr. J. R. Dutton, R.M., has been suggested for ‘Cobden.’”
On 5th May, 1868, the Superintendent recommended the following boundaries for the Charleston district: “Commencing at the mouth of the river Tikopihi on the sea coast and by that stream to Mount Faraday, thence by the watershed to the summit of the Buckland Peaks, thence to the head of the Totara, and down that stream to the sea coast.” The “river Tikopihi” was the stream later known as the Four-mile River.
The Superintendent recommended the following appointments for Registrars: Charles Broad, R.M. for Brighton; Charles Hugh Webb Bowen (Clerk to R.M. and Warden) for Charleston; James Roger Dutton, R.M., for Cobden.
On 31st August, 1868, a Proclamation redefined the Charleston district as follows: “Commencing at Razor Back Point near the mouth of the Punakiakia River on the sea coast; thence in a straight line due east to the top of the Paparoa mountains; thence following the watershed to the summit of Mount Faraday; thence in a straight line to the head of the Totara, and down that river to the sea coast.” Charles Broad was appointed Registrar for Charleston as from 1st September, 1868.