MASON, JOHN (?-1843) the first missionary in charge of the Whanganui district, arrived there on 20 Jun 1840, with Mr and Mrs R. Matthews, and settled on the south side of the river at Putiki. There he built a chapel, while his wife kept the school. In Aug he exerted himself without success to dissuade the Ngati Tuwharetoa from proceeding to attack the Waitotara tribe, but shortly afterwards he acquired an influence over Te Heuheu by treating his sick daughter. In the first year of his mission Mason opened 13 chapels and 15 schools, and in the second he erected a brick church, which was opened on 19 Jun 1842. He had baptised 300 adults when he was drowned in Jan 1843 while fording the Turakina river on his way to Wellington.

Chapple and Barton

Reference: Volume 2, page 34

🌳 Further sources