1814-1853 - The Missionary Register [Sections relating to New Zealand.] - 1845 - Church Missionary Society. Northern District.

The work goes steadily on, and many have been added to the Church during; the year: the Lord is doing great things among the Heathen. We have now entered upon our thirtieth year in New Zealand; and have to record that a greater change has taken place than, at the commencement, could have been expected in the time.

Waikato was a very bigotted, superstitious Heathen, of a very turbulent and avaricious disposition, hasty in his decision, and resolute in the execution thereof. Years ago, when Wareporka, his brother-in-law, came to Divine Service on Lord's Days, Waikato generally found some work to do to annoy and oppose him. He now-- acknowledging that he opposed the Gospel a long time, and that we had been striving with him for many years-- says, that God has again knocked at his heart by His Word and Spirit, by His servants the Missionaries, and by his countrymen, by sickness, and the death of some of his children; and that therefore he resigns himself to the call of his Maker and Redeemer. I hope and pray that he will bring forth the fruits of righteousness to the glory of our common

Lord and Saviour. The Rev. H. Williams baptized Waikato "Josiah Pratt; Hira, his wife, "Jane Marsden;" and his eldest son, Toko, "Mortlock:" his three younger children are also baptized.

There are at this Station upward of a hundred Natives baptized, and about forty confirmed by the Bishop, who are Communicants. Two days in the week are appointed to meet the baptized Natives, to read the New Testament.

We have had the honour and privilege of a visit from the Bishop of New Zealand, at this Station. His Lordship had given me notice, a month before, of his intention to hold a Confirmation, on the 19th of August, at Wangaroa; and proposed that I should assemble and examine the Candidates on the 17th, that on the 18th he would examine them, and on the 19th baptize such as were prepared for Baptism, and confirm the Candidates for Confirmation. The season was to us most solemn and interesting. Sixty Native Christians, and two Europeans, were confirmed; and five adults and four children were baptized.

On the next day, which was the Lord's Day, the Bishop administered the Lord's Supper to all who were confirmed the day before, and preached to a small European Congregation. In the afternoon his Lordship visited our Congregation at St. Paul's, held Divine Service, and baptized four children; and then held Service with about twelve Europeans.

Since the Bishop's visit to oar Station we have been favoured with a visit from the Rev. H. Williams, who administered the Lord's Supper to about 60 members, and baptized 8 adults and 10 children.

The Papists do not gain ground here.

They have commenced circulating books among the Natives; but it is singular that they do not make any effort to teach the Natives to read, at least so far as I have heard. A Priest is stationed at Wangaroa, and visits a little body of Natives at Matauri; and, among all the Natives with whom I am acquainted, I know of none more ignorant, more debased. Some of these were, a week or two ago, baptized by the Romish Bishop.

The Popish Priests are actively engaged in dispersing their dangerous errors; but they have found the knowledge of the Scriptures a most effective barrier against them, and I am happy to say that they are on the decline. They are, however, active followers of their master, and do his work with diligence. The grant of Testaments from the British and Foreign Bible Society has been a great blessing to the people, and given a fatal blow to Popery. The Priests have put forth two books, most weak and unmeaning, the grand topic of which is the antiquity of their Church, we being but rotten and broken branches, which will soon be gathered to be burned. I have had three sharp public contests with these people in the native language. At our second meeting the Natives ran off, and would not wait for the poor man to conclude his speech. At our last, the Priest was laughed to scorn; yet they invariably claim the victory.

The Natives under my charge are interesting, though there are many things to discourage. There is abundant proof that I am not labouring in vain. Some are still being added to the Church; and those already admitted are, for the most part, slowly, though I believe steadily, progressing in knowledge ; and some, certainly, in Christian experience. We have reason to fear, indeed, that there is much chaff among the wheat; but that many are experiencing the power of Religion within them is evident from their life and conversation. Among many instances of backsliding and hikewarmness, it is cheering to the Missionary to listen frequently to the simple expressions of Christian experience from the lips of others who shew the inward working of the Spirit of God. I am often reminded of St. Paul's own experience, as expressed in the seventh chapter of his Epistle to the Romans, when I hear a Native speaking of feeling two spirits or wills within htm, contrary the one to the other--of his difficulties in prayer--and the impossibility of keeping his thoughts steadily fixed on the Service when at Church.

Judging from my own District, Popery here is certainly not on the increase. The Priests have their adherents; but they are, for the most part, worthless characters, who continue in all their Heathen practices.

Since my last Letter, Dec. 15,1843, the goodness of God has been continued and extended among the Natives. When I visited Mangakahia in the latter part of November, I took my principal Kaikohi Teacher with me, who had recently been under very deep convictions of sin; hnt had also been blessed with a sense of pardoning love through the atonement of Christ.

We found the peaceful inhabitants of this fertile and romantic valley in a state of great excitement, in consequence of a visit which had been paid them, not of a friendly nature, by some of their more distant friends, to remove a woman of some consequence, who was about to be married to one of their Chiefs. The Saturday was spent in the examination of Candidates for Baptism ; and the whole of

the Lord's Day was devoted to religious exercises. On Monday the people assembled to have their grievances adjusted; and some harsh sentences were made use of by the principal people, who were the aggrieved party. In the morning of Tuesday the Chiefs left, in a dissatisfied state. I then met the other people, and requested them to remain firm in their proceedings; and recommended them, if the Chiefs should seek recompence for the insult which had been offered them in the removal of the woman, to separate from them by removing down the river: this they promised to do. I left them next day.

In a short time, news reached Kaikohi that an awakening had taken place at Mangakahia. My Kaikohi Teacher set off immediately to visit them, and his report was very satisfactory. On the 3d of February I arrived among them, accompanied by the same Teacher. A change was visible. I had not been long among them before some of them came around me, acknowledging, with apparent contrition, the heinousness of their sins. After having examined the Candidates, I addressed them in the open air. After Morning Service and School on the Lord's Day, I went down the valley to visit a sick person. As we passed by a village we saw a man lying by the side of the road, covered with his blanket. I drew the blanket from his face, and inquired what was the matter. All he said may be comprised in these words : Mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up. I spoke to him, and passed on. On our return, a young Chief, who had accompanied us, turned round and stood before us in the path, and spoke, in a serious manner, of the wickedness of his heart and the burden of his sins. I spoke of the love of God in Christ, and of the visible display of that love toward them in thus convincing them of sin. This melted his heart, and the tears ran down his cheeks. I observed to my companion, "No crucifix is required here to work on the affections." After Evening Service, which was rather late, the serious Natives assembled around our tent, and we conversed with them until nine o'clock under the broad canopy of heaven. Monday was spent in religious conversation and examining Scripture: in the evening we assembled in the Chapel. Tuesday was also spent among them in a somewhat similar way. On Wednesday we left them, with much regret.

In this District the work is growing upon us. They told me another Chapel would be erected further down the river, at the fall of the year, when the material would be ready: this I engaged to visit. From this Tribe the Bishop sent a Teacher to one of the Kaipara Tribes: among those people, also, a stir is reported.

Much of the time since my return from Mangakahia has been spent at home on account of ill health; but at present I am much better, and hope to be able to commence my labours again to-morrow. The Lord is still doing His own work; but the adversary is on the alert, endeavouring, I fear, to counterfeit the Religion of Christ in some. Much wonder is excited in the minds of many as to what these things mean. The Natives, in their former state, thought much of dreams; and on this ground Satan is endeavouring to approach them. May the Lord enlighten our hearts, that we may not be ignorant of his devices!

It being my purpose to visit the coast to the south of Hawkes' Bay, and the "Columbine" arriving at Poverty Bay in October, I took a passage in her, intending to land at Port Nicholson, and proceed thence by the coast. The state of the weather did not allow me to follow out this plan; but eventually we landed at Castle Point, near to which one of our Teachers is stationed. Mr. Colenso was with me, having been directed by the Bishop to visit Ahuriri. We staid in the neighbourhood of Castle Point fifteen days; and a party of Natives living forty miles further south came to us there, with the Teachers also from Wairarapa, or Palliser Bay. From thence we continued our journey to Ahuriri, staying at all the principal villages in the way. From Ahuriri we passed on to Wairoa, from whence Mr. Colenso passed over the country to Turanga.

I admitted to Baptism several Candidates at different places, who had been under the charge of the Native Teachers,

and administered the Lord's Supper to the Communicants. But throughout the journey there were frequent indications of the great want of resident Missionaries. They have the form of Christianity ; but they need more instruction than their Native Teachers, who themselves need to be taught the first principles, are able to give them. It is proposed to place Mr. Hamlin and Mr. Colenso in that quarter. I subsequently visited Table Cape and the neighbouring villages.

The Bishop has appointed a Meeting of certain members of the Mission for the purpose of revising the translation of the Prayer Book. To this I am summoned, and ought now to be on my way to the Bay of Islands, to remain there until next September; but a sad accident has occurred, which will delay my movements a few weeks. A substantial house has been in the course of erection for the last twelve months, and was so far completed that my family might now have been in it; but, on the 8th of last month, the building caught fire, through the extreme carelessness of a Native, and in less than ten minutes the whole was in flames. A good deal that was valuable was rescued from a small store attached to it; but the three cases of Testaments, which had been deposited there as the place of greatest safety, we were unable to remove. About 300 copies were afterward recovered from among the embers, as soon as the violence of the flames had subsided: the rest were entirely consumed. Beside the Testaments, the loss is principally confined to the building ; but this is a serious one, and cannot be replaced without much expense. Instead, therefore, of proceeding to the Bay of Islands at once, I am obliged to remain until a small building is erected for the present accommodation of my family; the habitation we now occupy being unfit for another winter. When this shall be completed, I hope to proceed to the Bay of Islands, by way of Turanga and Auckland. This sad accident has doubtless been permitted for some wise purpose, though we cannot see the reason of it; and while we grieve on account of the loss, we may rest satisfied in the assurance, that even the most minute circumstances which befal us are ordered by unerring wisdom.

Feb. 15, 1844 --Marianne, the wife of William Jacob, the head Teacher, died. Her end was peace. She had long been afflicted, and for the last six months had been suffering severely from diseased lungs. She bore her sufferings with Christian fortitude, while she looked forward in faith to the rest that remains for the people of God. Her affectionate husband for several months attended upon her with great assiduity and kindness. My visits for the last six months have been almost daily; and I have throughout been much gratified in witnessing the power of Divine grace in her deportment. So striking an instance of genuine Christianity in a New Zealander has afforded me no small encouragement.

Feb. 17 --I read the Burial Service over the remains of Marianne. More than 100 persons followed the corpse, all deeply attentive: in short, many could not but lament their loss, as she had been to them a mother in Israel.