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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 6, Issue 1 (May 1, 1931)

Picturesque Paihia

Picturesque Paihia.

Leaving Waitangi we coasted the shore on our left and entered the pretty little bay, Paihia, with its beach of shining shells. A more beautiful bay, with a more beautiful view, would be difficult to imagine. In close proximity are picturesque islets so characteristic of the harbour; the coast circles round until far out just opposite, is the glimpse of open sea which marks the entrance. Modern homes, instead of the old Maori whares, now line the strip of level land between shore and bush-clad hills.

The old mission church has been replaced by a handsome stone edifice, erected by the present generation of the Williams family to the memory of their great forebear, Henry Williams. The monument in the foreground bears the inscription— “In Loving Memory of Henry Williams, 44 years preacher of the Gospel of Peace, a father of the tribes. This monument is raised by the Maori Church. He came to us in 1825, he was taken from us in 1867.” A few chains further on just above high water mark is a smaller stone marking the spot where the Mission ship “Herald” was built, and launched by Reverend Henry Williams on January 24th, 1826. And farther back, on the same grounds are the ruins of the early mission house where the first printing press was set up. Picture the interest of the savage tribes when, on the arrival of Colenso, the machine became animated with new life and spoken words page 49 were set down by mechanical aid, to be interpreted afresh by those learned in the art of speaking from a printed page. Ivy now creeps over the stones, while the original fig-trees still bear fruit.