VOLKNER, CARL SYLVIUS (1819-65) was born in Hesse Cassel, Germany, and served in the Prussian army. Becoming deeply interested in religion, he trained in the missionary college at Hamburg, and came to New Zealand in 1847 under the North German Mission Society. He first laboured in Taranaki, assisting Riemenschneider. Early in 1852 he offered his services to the Church Missionary Society, and shortly afterwards was sent to Maraetai (Waikato) to teach the men's school. In 1853, when that station was removed to Kohanga, he went ahead to prepare the ground. He married (1854) Emma, daughter of William Lanfear, of Christian Malford, Wiltshire. In 1857 he was naturalised. Having attracted the attention of Bishop Selwyn, he was ordained deacon in 1859 and priest in 1863. He was appointed in 1858 to assist at Waerengahika, but owing to the ill-health of his wife he was transferred to Opotiki (Aug 1861).

Volkner was a man of remarkable simplicity of mind and devoted piety, and acquired considerable influence amongst the wilder tribes of Bay of Plenty, notably the Whakatohea. A handsome church and commodious schoolroom were erected for him by the natives at Opotiki, he contributing largely. On the outbreak of the Waikato war he remained at his post, but when early in 1864 the Whakatohea threw in their lot with the King, Volkner took his wife for safety to Auckland. While he was away a Hauhau party arrived, ransacked the church and plundered the station. He was warned that it would be dangerous for him to return to his post, as missionaries would not be permitted by the Hauhau to remain amongst the Maori people. Volkner and the Rev T. S. Grace nevertheless returned by the schooner Eclipse, which reached Opotiki on 1 Mar 1865. She was seized by the Hauhau and looted. Grace and Volkner were taken prisoner but the captain (Morris Levy, q.v.) and his brother, being Jews, were regarded as akin to the Hauhau and spared. On the following day (2 Mar) Volkner was taken into the church and the leader of the Hauhau party, Kereopa te Rau, took the best of his garments. Volkner knelt down and prayed with some of the natives before being hanged from a tall willow tree. An hour later the head was cut off, and some of the rebels crowded round to drink the blood. Gouging out the eyes, Kereopa returned into the church, where he placed the bleeding head on the communion table, devoured the eyes and shared with his congregation a chalice full of blood. The head was then smoke-cured and carried to Poverty Bay. Kereopa was captured, tried and hanged on 5 Jan 1872.

W. Williams, W. L. Williams, East Coast; Grace; Stock; Stack, More Adventures; Cowan ii, 144-5; Buller; Wohlers; Cox; Southern Cross, 9 Mar 1865.

Reference: Volume 2, page 213

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