Baptism of Te Ngahue.

Baptism of Te Ngahue, an aged New-Zealand chief, at Te Ariki, on the lake of Tarawera by the Rev. T. Chapman. J. Johnston sc. ca 1851.

[ca. 1851]

1851

Hocken Pictorial Collections - 12,346

a2384

Letterpress below image: Sir George Grey, Governor of New Zealand, being at Te Ariki, witnessed the baptism of this old Chief and was so much impressed by the scene that he had a drawing of it made, and kindly forwarded it to the Church Missionary Society. Te Ngahue is supposed to have been nearly eighty years old, and in all probability was near his end. He had long been a Candidate for Baptism, and had, with much labour, learned to read a little, and appeared to be looking to Christ alone for the salvation of his soul. He had not been able to master the Catechism and other elementary boks usually required to be learned by heart; but, under the circumstances, Mr Chapman thought it right to comply with the earnest desire of himself and friends that he should be baptized at once. He was brought into the Chapel on an amo, or native litter, and was baptized by the name of Hori (Gerge). Having shaken hands with the Governor, Mr Chapman and the other visitors, he was carefully wrapped up again in his handsome native mats, and borne back to his house. A full account is given in the Church Missionary Intelligencer for March 1851 (Seeleys, Fleet Street, and Hanover Street, Hanover Square), taken from the Journal of His Excellencyís Assistant Private Secretary; label in ink in Dr Hockenís hand: T.M. Hcken. Printed on silk by the C.M.S. for Governor Grey. Te Ngahue was baptized Dec. 29, 1849. The English people represented are Sir George Grey, Lieut. Symonds, Mr G.S. Cooper, the Private Secretary, & Mr Cuthbert Clarke the artist, who are accompanying him on the Expedition overland from Auckland to Taranaki, & the Rev. Thomas Chapman. T.M.H.; label: Na Te Hakena Tenei Tiki.

213 x 355 mm

wood engraving on silk

Dr T.M. Hocken’s Collection.

Dr T.M. Hocken’s Collection.

eng