Church Fords Waipaoa River

A church which once stood in Cobden Street, Gisborne, and which for 38 years has been at Waerenga-a-hika, was given another shift last month. It was taken across the Waipaoa River to a new site at Repongaere, Waituha, over the river from Waerenga-a-hika. The move, financed by a Maori Church Committee, was a risky one for both the chapel and the contractors, Monk Bros., but after many trials, the undertaking was brought to a successful conclusion. Picture below shows the building leaving the grounds of the Waerenga-a-hika College, which was destroyed by fire some years ago.

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Like a Noah's Ark without livestock, chapel appears to float on waters of Waipaoa.

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Leaving the site at Waerenga-a-hika.

Progress along main highway was watched with keen interest by local residents. Height of building caused many delays while power and telegraph lines were disconnected to allow its passage. From the hotel a short haul of a quarter-mile brought the building to the river. Although river level was low the ford proved to be difficult because of soft shingle, which bogged trucks and trailer. For shift valuable stained-glass windows and French Marcel tiles were removed first.

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Church and Trade were momentarily allied at Hika pub corner.

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Onlookers watch as chapel, with vanguard of three trucks, comes down to the river.

Excitement mounted as the crossing suddenly became hazardous. With the top-heavy chapel leaning perilously as the trailer wheels sank in the soft river-bed, the contractors brought three powerful trucks and two bulldozers into action. Two steel cables snapped like string under the strain. Two trucks had to retire, damaged, but the crossing was finally made successfully, much to everybody's relief.

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Trucks, bedevilled by soft shingle, start across river with chapel in tow.

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Cast upon the waters: the chapel, bogged down in shingle, refused to go further.

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Inch by inch, drawn by linked trucks and bulldozers, the caravan makes dangerous crossing of tricky ford.

At the close of an exciting day the chapel was finally hauled up a hastily-constructed ramp on the Waituhi bank and made fast for the night. The journey was completed next day in heavy rain.

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In late evening, watchers see chapel safely to the opposite bank. Note dog-fight in progress in foreground.

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Bulldozers build up road on Waituhi side as chapel completes its crossing.

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Shows an interesting sidelight. With the tiles removed, nine or ten birds nests were revealed in a neat row behind the building's facia boards.