Survey of missionary stations. New Zealand.
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New Zealand
The B F Bible Society report--
Under the revision of Archdeacon Williams and the Rev. T. W. Meller, an impression of 15,000 copies of the Testament in the Maori Language has just been completed; and 7500 will, when bound, be forwarded by an early vessel to their destination--to the charge of the Church Missionary Society. These copies, when circulated, will swell the amount to 106,221 portions of the Word of God, placed by means of your Society in the hands of the Natives of New Zealand. The remainder of the former edition of the New Testament was divided by your Committee between the Church and Wesleyan Missionary Societies, each receiving 2450 copies.
Your Committee are truly glad to have it in their power to tell of the entire abandonment of the District of Hokianga by the Romish Priests, who had been stationed there for a period of twelve years.
--P. 221. [Report
CHRISTIAN-KNOWLEDGE SOCIETY.
No information of an authentic character has reached us in reference to the Canterbury Settlement which it is consistent with the design of our work to record. A notice has already been given of the translation of the Liturgy -- Pp. 221, 222.
CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
STATIONS AND LABOURERS --The Stations are taken in their order from north to south. Kaitaia lies in the north-west of the Northern Island; the five which follow are connected with the Bay of Islands. At a considerable distance to the southward lie Waikato, at the mouth of the river of that name, on the west coast, and Manukau, 25 miles inland; east of Manukau lies Hauraki; and further eastward, on the coast, Tauranga. Rotorua is in the centre of the Island --Poverty Bay, or Turanga, nearly in the same latitude, on the east coast--and Entry Island, or Kapati, off the southwest coast, and is the head-quarters of a district extending along the coast, from Port Nicholson on the south to the River Wanganui on the north. One Missionary at one time resided at Nelson, in the Middle Island.
NORTHERN DISTRICT---Kaitaia: 1834: Joseph Matthews: W. G. Puckey, Cat. --Waimate: 1831: Robert Burrows, W. C. Dudley-- Kaikohe: Richard Davis: 2 European Teachers; Nat. As., 30--Communicants, 613--Schools, 68: Scholars, 2689. There are 10 Churches built with boards, and between 30 and 40 native-built rush Chapels.
MIDDLE DISTRICT -- Bishop's Auckland: George A. Kissling: Robert Vidal, Sec. of Mission --Waikato: Robert Maunsell: Kaitotehe: 1843: Benj. Yate Ashwell-- Otawao: 1843: John Morgan-- Hauraki: Thomas Lanfear -- Tauranga: 1835: Archd. Alfred N. Brown, Christopher P. Davis-- Rotorua: Thomas Chapman, Seymour M. Spencer --Opitiki: John Alex. Wilson, Cat.; 1 European Teacher -- Ahikereru: James Preece, Cat.; 74 Nat. As. --Communicants, 1125 -- Last returns give Schools, 93: Scholars, 5418. There are nearly 100 native-built Chapels, and about 10,000 attendants at Public Worship.
EASTERN DISTRICT--Hicks' Bay: Poverty Bay or Turanga: T. S. Grace-- East Cape: Ralph Barker -- Uawa: Charles Baker-- Wairoa: James Hamlin-- Heretaunga: Wm. Colenso: 139 Nat. As. This District contains 5 Sta-
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tions, viz. Turanga, in Poverty Bay, at which Archdeacon Williams used to reside --Uawa, 36 miles north of Turanga, where Mr. C. Baker commenced a new Station --Heretaunga, East Cape, and Wairoa -- Communicants, 2992-- Schools, 78: Pupils, 3554.
WESTERN DISTRICT -- Entry Island: Wanganui: Richard Taylor -- Pipiriki: John Telford, Printer: 1 European Teacher-- Kapiti: Archd. Octavius Hadfield--Otaki: Samuel Williams-- 156 Nat. As. -- Communicants, 1064--The last returns give Schools, 28: Scholars, 2322. The Ven. Archd. W. Williams and Mrs. Williams are in England--Pp. 222, 223.
The number of Natives connected with the Mission of this Society may he estimated at 50,000: the Communicants are between 5000 and 6000. "It must be remembered," writes Archdeacon William Williams, "that none are admitted to the Lord's Table, as at home, simply because they express a wish to come, but that on each occasion they undergo an examination in the company of their Native Teachers and neighbours, when there is little opportunity for inconsistency of conduct to pass unnoticed. There is therefore the best reason to believe that the amount of real Christianity is great, and that the outward change is the fruit of a sound principle within."
Archdeacon Hadfield has accepted a proposal of the Governor to establish a Boarding School at Otaki for the Natives, the Government supplying the funds for the requisite buildings. A large piece of ground has been given up by the Natives to be attached to the School, and to be cultivated by the boys for the support of the establishment. [Report.
GOSPEL-PROPAGATION SOCIETY.
The Report informs us--
The Bishops of New Zealand and Newcastle, having been provided with a Mission Ship, "the Border Maid," by the liberality of Churchmen in Sydney and Newcastle, sailed last year on a Mission Voyage among the Melanesian Islands. The Bishop brought back to Auckland, on October 7th, thirteen youths, gathered from different islands, who are to be educated at St. John's College, and afterward to be carried back to their native islands, bearing with them the first seeds of Christianity and of civilization. Such has been the commencement of operations by the Australasian Board of Missions. The Bishop walked over about 800 miles, in ten weeks, confirming 3000 Natives, and examining every single one.
The Society's Expenditure from its General Fund in this diocese, during the past year, was 300l. for the College and 700l. for Missionaries. From the Jubilee Fund have been granted 1000l. for St John's College, Auckland, and 1000l. for a projected College at Poirirua. The sums are to be invested, and the interest applied for the education of poor students as Missionaries.
RELIGIOUS-TRACT SOCIETY.
Grants have been made to the number of 18,471 Tracts. A grant of 5450 Tracts has been made to the Rev. R. Ward of Auckland, and to the Rev. T. Hamer, of the same place, 3l., in books for a Station Library, and 3341 Tracts. The Rev. H. G. Johnson, of Otago, has also had a grant of 3050 Tracts --P. 223.
WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
STATIONS AND LABOURERS--Auckland: Walter Lawry, General Superintendant of the Society's Missions in New Zealand, and Visitor of those in the Friendly Islands and Feejee; Joseph H. Fletcher, in charge of the School for the education of the children of the Missionaries in New Zealand, the Friendly Islands, and Feejee; Alexander Reid, Master of the Native Training Institution: Thomas Buddle--Kawhia: John Whiteley--Mangungu and Whangaroa: John Hobbs -- Waima and Newark: John Warren-- Wairoa {Kaipara): James Buller--Waingaroa and Waipa: James Wallis, George Buttle--Aotea (Beechamdale) and Manukau: Henry H. Lawry, Gideon Smales-- Taranaki, North {New Plymouth): Henry H. Turton--Taranaki, South (Waimate): William Woon--Waitotara: George Stannard, As. --
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Wesleyan Missionary Society--
Wanganui and Taupo: William Kirk -- Wellington, Kapiti, and Cloudy Bay: John Aldred, James Watkin-- Middle Island: Nelson: Samuel Ironside -- Waikowaiti, near Otago: Charles Creed --Gratuitous Sunday-School Teachers, 531; Local Preachers, 322--Communicants, 4611--Scholars: Boys, 3781; Girls, 2930 --Pp. 223, 224.
In New Zealand we are favoured with peace, and in our work we are encouraged to "labour on at God's command." I have recently made our annual appeal to our people for their contributions to the Mission Cause; and as I am wishful to shew our subscribers that their offerings are entered in the Report, I shall append the list of subscriptions, and beg of you the favour to get them inserted.
The amount, you will see, is considerably more than we have realized in Kawhia in former years. One reason of that increase is an increase of ability, and another reason is an increase of interest. Our people need line upon line, and precept upon precept, in every thing; and this year I have found the good effect of example. [Rev. John Whiteley.
GOSNERS MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
NEW ZEALAND -- Chatham Island: Franc. Schirmeister, Dav. Muller, Oskar Beyer, Hein. Bauker, T. G. Engst --P. 224.
NORTH-GERMAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY AT BREMEN, FORMERLY IN HAMBURGH.
NEW ZEALAND --Ruapuki: Wohlers, Abr. Honore, M. Meier -- Warea: Riemenschneider--Waiana: Volkner --P. 224.
