Colenso’s birthday: A celebration to remember

Colenso’s birthday: A celebration to remember

The 200th anniversary of the birth of William Colenso last week was marked by five days and nights of events. The programme included the official bicentenary launch, two-day conference; the launch of Hungry Heart, Journeys with William Colenso by author Peter Wells, Choral Evensong, a special Sunday Service at the Waiapu Cathedral. Other events included a pilgrimage to significant Colenso sites in Napier, a tramp to the foot of Colenso Spur in the Ruahines and an exhibition, floor talk and workshop by Hawke’s Bay botanical artist Terrie Reddish at the Hastings City Art Gallery. For the ‘Colensophiles’ that gathered in Hawke’s Bay - including many of William Colenso’s descendants - the bicentenary was an exhilarating few days of impassioned discussion and dissection of all things Colenso.

The unveiling of a new portrait of William Colenso by Gavin Hurley was the highlight of the launch party, with the Hon Chris Finlayson, Minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage, acknowledging the contribution of Colenso not only to Hawke’s Bay, but also New Zealand and the British Empire.

The two day conference attracted a superb range of speakers, including an evocative opening keynote paper by author Peter Wells, enveloping us in Colenso’s world, and allowing a glimpse inside his personal journey with the man while writing his new book, The Hungry Heart. While Jim Endersby, the conference’s second keynote speaker, was not able to attend in person, his paper on the relationship between Colenso and Joseph Hooker, Director of Britain’s national botanic gardens at Kew, was presented by video link to a captivated audience of more than 90 delegates.

A highlight of the celebrations was the bringing together of many of William Colenso’s descendants. Family travelled from as far afield as Penzance in the United Kingdom (Colenso’s home town), Australia and Canada, with the youngest generation of descendents – Alex and Leah Bell, twins in their early teens - travelling from Waitomo to learn more about their fourth Great Grandfather.

The launch of a bold new book, The Hungry Heart, Journeys with William Colenso, by Napier author Peter Wells was a defining moment of the celebrations. As the first new publication devoted to Colenso since the 1948 Bagnall and Petersen biography, it provides a remarkable new perspective on William Colenso. Part biography, autobiography, travelogue, historical study and social critique, Francis McWhannell of Bethune’s in launching The Hungry Heart called it “eminently, delightfully readable”.

Wells writes of his five year journey with Colenso with such elegance and passion, the book is a must read for anyone with an interest in the story of our country.

The Colenso Pilgrimage took over 50 people on a journey to sites of significance in Colenso’s life in Hawke’s Bay, first visiting Waitangi, near Clive, the site of Colenso’s mission house and first home on arriving in Hawke’s Bay in 1844. Next, the group travelled on to Napier’s Botanical Gardens to discover the importance of the site in the national and international botanical networks of the 19th Century. This lead to the exploration of Colenso cottage, Colenso’s second Hawke’s Bay home on Hospital Hill and, finally, to his grave in the Napier Hill Cemetery.

The grave, now gleaming white - thanks to Mayor Barbara Arnott arranging for it to be cleaned in time for the bicentenary - was a fitting place to end the pilgrimage and remember Colenso’s connection to Hawke’s Bay, a place he loved and lived in for most of his life. 18 intrepid adventurers also embarked on a day tramp (which included over 20 river crossings) in the Ruahine Ranges to the Colenso Cairn at the foot of Colenso Spur. The Cairn marks the route of Colenso’s first crossing of the Ruahines in 1845.

The public were also treated to a traditional Choral Evensong and Choral Eucharist at the Waiapu Cathedral – services similar to those Colenso would have experienced in his lifetime. The beautiful voices of the Cathedral choir helped create two very moving occasions.

I think there was something for everyone and William would have been very pleased, if not a little taken aback by the enthusiastic discussion and acknowledgment of so many people, in so many different ways captivated by the man, his life and times.
~ Pam Joyce, Marketing Team Leader

The Hawke’s Bay Museums Trust holds the most significant collection of objects and archives relating to William Colenso in New Zealand. As part of the bicentenary, two significant collections were gifted to the trust. The first is a selection of what are thought to be among the earliest letters written by children in New Zealand. The five letters, written to William by his children Fanny and Latimer were generously donated by Christopher Parr during the conference. Neville Smith donated two composing sticks used in letterpress printing and typesetting, which are believed to have been used by William Colenso.

Due to popular demand we are pleased to announce Peter Wells will be delivering his keynote paper again, at a public lecture in March 2012 date to be announced. We also hope to run another Colenso pilgrimage in 2012. Keep an eye out on the www.hbmag.co.nz website for more information about these two events.

ENDS

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