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The Histories |
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The Histories of the Stevens—Croot Family Heritage |
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The Reverend Johan Freidrich Heinrich Wohlers (1811—1885) was the first resident missionary to the Southern Maori, and began his work among them four years before the arrival of the first Otago settlers. What the Rev. Samuel Marsden did for the North, Mr Wohlers did for the South. The peaceful progress of the southern province during its infancy was largely due to his restraining influence over the ignorant natives and lawless sealers and whalers. For over forty years he lived at Ruapuke Island. For many years he was the only person south of the Methodist Mission Station at Waikouaiti authorized to legalize marriages, and many a bridal party crossed from the mainland to Ruapuke in open boats for these most interesting of ceremonies. When Mr. Wohlers arrived at Ruapuke in 1844, the largest settlement of Maori in the south lived there. It was the residence of the distinguished people of the native race and of their most exalted chieftains. It was also the centre and gathering place of the Maori who were scattered all over the country , its isolated and inaccessible position making it an ideal refuge from pursuing foes. J.F.H. Wohlers was born in Germany in 1811, of poor peasant parents. After his conversion, he was educated for missionary work, and in 1842 with three other missionaries set sail for New Zealand. When they arrived in Nelson they were disappointed to find no natives there. While his three companions decided to stay and work among the Europeans, Wohlers accepted Mr. Tuckett’s invitation to accompany him on a journey down the coast to select a suitable site for a Presbyterian Settlement. Dunedin was the place chosen by Tuckett, who continued his journey of exploration as far south as Bluff. From enquiries made on the way down, Wohlers had learned that the largest number of natives in the South lived at Ruapuke, and he at once decided that there would be a most favourable place for missionary work. He took a boat from Bluff and landed at the island on 17 May 1844. There proved to be about 200 Maoris on the island and so Wohlers decided to make Ruapuke his headquarters. After several years, the strain of overwork, poor nutrition and loneliness began to undermine his health, and he was forced to take a holiday. A few weeks were spent with |
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Rev. J.F.H. Wohlers |
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missionary Creed at Waikouaiti who then gave him an introduction to friends in Wellington. This was where Wohlers met his future wife Eliza Palmer. They were married in Wellington on 21 September 1849. Wohlers’ practical knowledge of farming was a great help in the civilization of the Maoris. After the necessary buildings had been effected, mainly by his own efforts, he began to cultivate a garden and taught his neighbours to do the same. Mr Tuckett remained a faithful friend and helped with regular gifts of seeds and implements. One such gift, a flour-mill, enabled the community to turn wheat into flour. Both wheat and potatoes grew well and at one time both were exported from the island. Cows were kept for milk and butter and later sheep were brought to the island where they increased rapidly. In 1849 Wohlers was appointed registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. The position carried no salary but it was accepted and valued by the missionary for the official standing it gave him. In 1868 a school was built and opened with a roll of 50 pupils. A few years previously, the government had bought Stewart Island from the Maoris for £6000, on the condition that £2000 be reserved to provide schools for the southern Maori. In 1858, the accumulated interest from this fund was sufficient to build the school at Ruapuke. Two years later, Rev. Wohlers was given the position which he held until his death on 7 May 1885. Few people live to see their life-work completed, but in his autobiography, Rev. J.F.H. Wohlers was able to say that his work was done. Excerpt edited from pg. 39
A more detailed account of the life of Rev. Wohlers can be found in his published memoirs: Wohlers, JFH Erinnerungen aus meinem Leben. Bremen, 1883. Alternately you can read an account of his life |
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