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The Cyclopedia of New Zealand [Auckland Provincial District]

Rev. William Gittos

Rev. William Gittos, the veteran Wesleyan Maori Missionary, was born at Ingleton, County Durham, England, and at the age of ten came with his parents to New Zealand, in the ship “James.” The voyage was a very protracted one, nearly a year being occupied in reaching their destination. The vessel called at Cape of Good Hope, Tasmania, Wellington, Auckland, Bay of Islands, and finally Hokianga, where she loaded with spars for the admiralty. As the “James” came up the harbour of Auckland, the guns of a man-of-war were firing a salute in honour of the first anniversary of the Colony, January 29th, 1841. Mr. Gittos and family endured many hardships in their new homes in common with their fellow-settlers, all supplies having to be imported from Sydney, with the exception
Rev. W. Gittos.

Rev. W. Gittos.

of such articles of consumption as could be obtained from the Maoris. Many of the settlers grew their own wheat, which was converted through the medium of a handmill into excellent flour. The chief difficulty was in the matter of education for the young, and Mr. Gittos, senior, supplied this want by starting a night school for his own and the children of adjacent settlements. At the same time he started a small tannery and was very successful in his experiments with the barks of various New Zealand forest trees, chiefly tanekaha and towhai. On the outbreak of Heke's war in 1845, most of the inhabitants of Hokianga were obliged to leave their homes and Mr. Gittos and his family were among the refugees who embarked on board the Government brig “Victoria,” Captain Richards having been sent to protect and remove all who were disposed to leave the vicinity of hostilities. In company with Mr. John Webster and Judge Maning, of Hokianga, Mr. Gittos, then a lad of sixteen, was present with some other youths at the first battle of Okaihau, and this scene seems to have been the kindling of a life-long sympathy for the Maori race. For some years he was employed in the building trade and in 1853 went to Melbourne page 231 to further extend his knowledge of the business. The state of his health however necessitated his return to Auckland where he entered the Wesleyan Church on probation, and in due time was ordained and sent to take charge of the Kaipara churches, chiefly Maori. Life in the Kaipara in those days was one of adventure, well-suited to the enterprising spirit of Mr. Gittos whose early experience now proved most valuable, especially in boating and building, and all the various mechanical requirements of a life in the bush. His skill as a sailor was proverbial, as a healer of the sick and in surgical operations he was very successful. His knowledge of Maori gave him a great advantage, and he early instituted schools and Bible classes at all the settlements on that extensive estuary. For eight years he and his wife lived a life of solitude, occasionally seeing a few run-away sailors or Government surveyors on their way to more remote blocks of land. In 1862, when the first detachment of Nonconformists arrived in the “Matilda Wattenbach,” great was the excitement on seeing the tents pitched at Port Albert. Mr. Gittos and family visited the settlers on their first Sunday and a service was held in the open air, after which a simple meal was partaken of and thus a friendship began which continued all the years of Mr. Gittos' sojourn in the Kaipara; a friendship only enjoyed by those who have sympathised and suffered in company; “share and share alike” was the motto of those times. After 29 years' service Mr. Gittos' health failed and necessitated his removal to Ponsonby. After recruiting for a time he removed to the Waikato where he exerted his influence among the “kingites” and in spite of great suspicion and shyness, on the part of the Maoris, finally succeeded in winning the confidence of Tawhiao. Mr Gittos was also very watchful over his people in political affairs in the Kaipara, and succeeded very happily in keeping them free from the influence of disaffected tribes. At the time of the escape of the Maori prisoners from the Kawan, they came in a body to the settlements near the mission stations, and were entertained by the Maoris, but there was no sympathy evinced apart from that of relationship; they were allowed to rest awhile and go on their way, the Government at Mr. Gittos' request sending a vessel to convey them to their homes in the Waikato. Mr. Gittos' term of service in his Church extends over forty years, during which period he has lived to see flourishing villages where only fern and forests formerly grew; he has seen Auckland rise out of the barren wilderness, and all the adjuncts of civilisation become matters of every-day life. It is a very sore point with Mr. Gittos that the Maoris are on the wane; and that in this connection the white man is not free from blame.