They died during a skirmish that took place on Moutua Island in the Whanganui river.

The Society of Mary's archivist, Elizabeth Charlton visited the memorial this month and noted that as a result of a recent refurbishment Br Euloge's name can now be clearly seen.

"Older mentions of the memorial noted that Br Euloge's name could only just been seen," she said.

The white marble statue of a weeping woman, a personification of grief, stands in Moutoa Gardens/Pakaitore in the city of Whanganui.

The memorial was erected by the European citizens to commemorate the kupapa who fell in the engagement on Moutoa Island. About 50 Pai Marire also perished.

It is unclear how Br Euloge met his death.

In May 1864, a party of Pai Marire supporters from the upper Whanganui River were heading down the river to attack Whanganui town.

Their path was blocked at Moutoa, by the party of kupapa led by two chiefs from Putiki, near the river mouth. The encounter lasted not much more than 30 minutes.

An account of the engagement, a 100th-anniversary publication, relates that Br Euloge was wounded in the head by a member of the Pai Marire party and died some hours later.

This account was said to be an eyewitness account was told by Arana Tinirau, chief of the Ngatiruaka. and written down by his son Paamu Tinirau.

Other accounts which say Br Euloge was shot whilst standing on the river bank, or tomahawked.

Source

• Supplied: Society of Mary Archives
• Voxy
• NZ History
• Image: Supplied Gerald Charlton

"How Far is Heaven" which is being shown as part of the New Zealand International Film Festival was shot by by Chris Pryor and Miriam Smith shot over a year while they were living at Jerusalem.

It is first and foremost a rapt pictorial response to its beautiful setting through four seasons. Its recurrent subject is whether three Pakeha nuns, kaitiaki of the church and convent founded in the 1880s by Suzanne Aubert, are serving any useful social purpose there in 2011.

We meet the sisters, 94 year old Anna Maria, splitting the fire wood, Sue making jam and preserves, and Margaret Mary, volunteer-teaching at the local school.

Magaret Mary is diligent, patient and well aware that she mightn't know half of what's going on, she connects most readily with the kids when she teaches music.

But the taniwha under the bridge exercises a stronger hold on young imaginations in Jerusalem than the Christmas Nativity play.

Before the showing on Saturday the film makers spoke about the film and Sister Sue said an opening prayer.

View Trailer

Source:

• New Zealand Film Festival
• Image: New Zealand Film Festival