Chapter 20

PART TWO

Wellington Township, June 1840

Intense brown eyes stared at him from behind the leafy protection of a thick bush. They watched malevolently as the figure slowly approached. Carefully repositioning itself, it tensed, poised to make a move, to strike and catch him unawares. Small eyes narrowed as Andrew squelched through the mud, his voice carrying easily in the early morning chill.

"Why do animals need to be fed so early in the morning?" he grumbled as he approached the small pen that housed the waiting sow. "Especially on a Sunday morning."

Carrying a bucket containing food scraps and slops, he stopped a couple of feet from the rickety fence as the sow sprung from behind the bush to attack.

Andrew laughed, "Not this time, Pork-Chop, you'll have to do better than that."

With the bucket raised, he threw its contents into the pen, half of which landed on the head of the disgruntled pig. Pork-Chop immediately began to eat, maintaining a wary eye on Andrew, as he in turn assessed her.

"Soon, my dear, soon," he said over his shoulder, as he carefully made his way back up the short muddy path to the small prefabricated cottage he shared with Eleanor.

Andrew and Pork-Chop did not enjoy a harmonious relationship, and when opportunity availed itself, she took great delight in giving Andrew a swift knock with her head. When she was younger and smaller, it was of little concern, but as she grew, so did her strength, her blows often catching him unawares and leaving him sitting on his rear end in the mud. Pork-Chop had a lot of growing to do, she was young, but still carried enough weight to inflict damage. It was highly unlikely that the two would ever create a bond and reach an amicable understanding. Pork-Chop was jealous of Andrew and protective of Eleanor. With her, she was always gentle and affectionate.

It was early on a beautiful, Sunday morning, and on Ngaiti's urging, they would attend a service at Wellington's first church built at the Te Aro pa. Eleanor was preparing breakfast as Andrew came in, returning the bucket to its place in the corner.

With much joy and celebration, the couple had only recently relocated to their modest cottage assigned to them by Colonel Wakefield. It was quickly assembled on the gentle slope of a low hill overlooking Lambton Harbour in Wellington. After the experiences they suffered in Britannia, their new home was heaven. Eleanor even had a real stove.

Wellington was located on the southwest side of Port Nicholson. Ringed by hills, it offered adequate shelter from the cold southerly winds and a deep protected harbour, perfectly suited for shipping and serving the growing community. The New Zealand Company divided Wellington into two areas. The first was hilly Thorndon Flats, where Colonel Wakefield built his single storey home and office, only a few minutes' walk from where Andrew and Eleanor lived. The Company named this neighbourhood after Thorndon Hall in Essex, the residence of the New Zealand Company board member, Lord Petre. However, the locals now referred to the area simply as Thorndon. Mostly inhabited and cultivated by Māori, the second area was named Te Aro Flats, which contained sizeable portions of reasonably flat and productive, fertile land, and where the Te Aro pa was located.

Eleanor was excited, and with her mouth full of bread she waved a letter she received from her Aunt Mary who lived in Van Diemen's Land.

"You're going to get marmalade all over that letter if you don't put it down."

Eleanor mumbled an unintelligible reply that made them both laugh.

The letter explained the difficult economic times and the family's struggles after experiencing the loss of two ships they owned. Uncle Charles owned a small shipping company and met with moderate success. By expanding the business, they began delivering needed goods and merchandise to whaling stations in New Zealand, but two quick accidents saw their business suffer. The letter went on to explain how Charles was considering moving the family to New Zealand and beginning a new life. He felt New Zealand offered a better future for them.

"When will they arrive?" asked Andrew.

"She doesn't say, only that this is something they are considering and they will let us know," said Eleanor, finally able to talk.

Andrew smiled; he knew Uncle Charles and enjoyed his company and humour.

"It will be wonderful to see Uncle Charles again, you must be pleased Ellie?"

"I am, this is good news," Eleanor put the letter down, and realised the time. "Andy, if we are to go to the church service we must leave soon."

"I'm ready," he replied, helping Eleanor clean up from breakfast.

"He says he asked God for land to build a place of worship," translated Ngaiti quietly, "and God provided."

Minarapa Rangihatuake stood at the pulpit of the newly completed Wesleyan Church, built in the extensive Te Aro pa in Wellington. Appointed as a preacher by Wesleyan leaders Rev Hobbs and Rev Bumby, Minarapa now stood facing his congregation, his eyes blazed with spirit, taking in the faces of his congregation that sat before him as he finished his sermon. He spoke in Te Reo .

"God will always provide, open your hearts and allow him in."

Built of raupo, a type of wetland rush, local Māori carefully tied clumps of the stems together and then bound them to create strong, well-insulated walls and an elaborate high ceiling. Decorations and Māori paintings adorned the interior walls and a large, wooden cross stood protectively over the mostly Māori congregation, who sat attentively on mats listening to the sermon.

"And now we have a fine church. A church we can all be proud of."

A murmur of agreement rippled through the ardent flock as they acknowledged the hard work and effort of everyone who had contributed to its construction.

Minarapa nodded and smiled before continuing.

"But more challenges face us and we can overcome those challenges as we have confronted and surmounted others." Ngaiti continued his interpretation for Andrew and Eleanor. "We will not allow the New Zealand Company to take our lands - just because they covet it!"

Minarapa thumped his fist on the pulpit to emphasize his point, again glancing at the faces around him.

Andrew raised his eyebrows and turned to Eleanor, also surprised at the change in direction and tone of the sermon.

A man's voice shouted out.

"What did he say?" Andrew whispered.

"He said we should kill them when they come," Ngaiti whispered.

Andrew winced.

Minarapa paused at the outburst and shook his head looking perturbed. "Christians shouldn't kill, that is not our way." He raised a finger pointing to the heavens emphasising his point. "But we can stop them! They will not trespass, and we will prevent their illegal claim on our land!" Again, his excited flock murmured in support.

"And we will forgive them. We will forgive them!" said Ngaiti.