1814-1853 - The Missionary Register [Sections relating to New Zealand.] - 1848 - New Zealand, p 359-369

By the rough copy of the "New-Zealand Almanack," which I send herewith, you will see that we have lately received a large accession to our Clerical Body by the Ordination of three Collegiate Deacons, all of whom are in connection with the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel.

The Ordination of the Collegiate Deacons was a most interesting occasion. Our Native and English Schools sat in front of the Communion Table, and conducted the Ringing. The whole Church, St. Paul's, Auckland, was crowded with a most attentive Congregation. Thirteen Clergymen, including the five who were ordained, partook of the Holy Communion.

The College is now beginning to discharge its duty of ministering to the neighbourhood. In a new Colony the proportion of sick and aged persons is very small, and therefore the Sunday Ministrations form a larger share of the whole duty of a Clergyman than they do in England. This is peculiarly favourable for the working of a Collegiate System, where the College Duties occupy the greater part of the week, and the Sunday is devoted to the care of the College Chapelries. Each of these districts now visited from the College will be formed gradually, I hope, into a separate parish, and will be fully organized, with a resident Clergyman, when the Deacon now in charge is admitted to the Priesthood. This is the plan which is now in progress at Auckland; but I fear the same process cannot be carried on at the other Settlements until Colleges on a similar plan can be formed in them. We are already come to the extent of our means, and cannot go further until we can form a self-supporting and reproductive system in the other places.

Our people have not been so much afflicted with sickness as in the former year. In the spring several sickly children and a few elderly people were carried off by the whooping-cough; but since that period the general health of the Natives has been good. The blessing of peace has also been continued to us, nor do we ever remember a period in which the Natives treated us with greater respect. The ruffled face presented by the state of affairs at the close of the last year has settled down into a calm; nor do we observe any indication, or any de-

sire, on the part of the Natives to break the peace. Nevertheless, we are aware that there are too many refractory characters among us, whose wicked dispositions are always ready to manifest themselves.

Hitherto Divine Service has been held in the School-room, but it is far too small for the purpose. I therefore proposed to the Natives that I should pay them for sawing the timber for a building forty-four feet long by about twenty-one feet wide, if they would engage to procure shingle and erect the building with my personal assistance. To this proposal they agreed, and 4605 feet have been sawn, for which the sum of 14l. 18s. 4d. has been paid.

Dec. 2], 1846--I had an interesting meeting with my people. Indwelling sin was a general source of grief, and complaint of hardness of heart. After the meeting I went to Opongo to settle a difference about damage done by pigs, and was enabled to succeed.

Heke called on the 12th of October, and my son spent the greater part of the morning with him. He told him their object would now be, as peace was ratified, to increase their breed of pigs and cows, so as to be able, in three years, to commence a mill on a sure and proper foundation.

Heke appears to be well disposed. He has selected a piece of ground at Hikurangi, and has cleared it. He has invited the scattered parties in the neighbourhood to come and live with him at the place, where it is his intention to build a Place of Worship. If the people agree with him in these points--namely, to come and live altogether at the place, and attend the public worship of God-- he has made up his mind to continue there: if they object to attend the worship of God he intends to seek for another place of abode.

Jan. 8, 1847--Dark as is every thing around us, I have met with a circumstance to-day which I did not expect to find. I went to visit one of Heke's men, from Waimate, who is very ill. He had not been baptized, nor had he ever, to my knowledge, made any profession of religion. He soon began to express to me his desire to be prayed with, and lamented his having been led into sin, and kept in it. He said, "When we lived at Waimate together all was well: it was but a little, and I should not have joined the party. But I did join it. We turned to ridicule good things, and now all is wrong. It is true, from the commencement of the war to the present time, I have never left off praying." I asked him whether, if God should restore him, he should be able in future to withstand temptation. He replied, "Past experience will allow me to promise nothing." This circumstance leads me to hope that there may be still more dormant religious influence among that party than manifests itself.

July 24, 1846--I was visited by the Ohaeawae Chief, who appeared to be friendly. In the course of conversation he told me that a Priest, lately arrived from France, had visited Heke, and that he introduced himself to the Chief with the present of a gown in his hand for "Mrs. Heke." During their intercourse he observed, "John Heke, the Queen sent you Missionaries, and the Queen has sent soldiers to destroy you: this is all I have to say." This requires no comment on my part

July 25 -- As a party from Hokianga attended our Prayers to-night, the Chief was invited to take tea with us. I communicated to him what I heard yesterday relative to the observation of the Popish Priest. He said, "The Priests have addressed me in the same way on the same subject," From hence it is very evident that those Jesuits are not only trying to prejudice the people against us, but also against our Government. O how necessary is communion with God, and unity among ourselves, at this important period! I had previously heard that Heke had some intention of becoming a member of the Romish Church.

Since the 25th inst. I have had a long conversation with some of our leading men. The deep thinking men predict a bloody war, from the impression made on their minds by the position of affairs. The Chiefs appear to rely on the impression thus made on the minds of the old men. Seeing this, they were told that if they suffered their minds to be drawn from God by these things it would be so; because if they forsook God God would forsake them, and if God forsook them Satan would soon lead them on to war. This they acknowledged. They were reminded of their wonderful preservation during the last war, and asked to what they attributed it. They readily acknowledged the hand of God in their preservation. They were then asked whether they were not then in the habit of praying much. They said they were. They were reminded of their present state, when they frankly acknowledged that they had ceased to think as they ought of the God who preserved them, and expressed their belief that, should another war arise, numbers of them would fall in consequence. They said that the diminution of their tribes had been made a subject of much thought and conversation. It appeared a mystery to them that such should be the case, after having received so much good and nourishing food from the White People, in their pigs, potatoes, and corn. Formerly, when they lived on fern-root, fish, and the convolvolus root, they were a numerous people; and although they were often engaged in wars, in which hundreds fell, yet the loss did not appear to decrease their numbers so as to diminish the strength of their tribes; but now they were really reduced, as a body, to a very few in number. After having said much on the subject, they appeared to believe that it was the hand of God; because what evil they did formerly was done in ignorance, whereas now they had received Missionaries among them, who had taught them the knowledge of God; and therefore knowing, as they did, good from evil, and their hearts still following that which was evil, when they knew they ought not to do so, the anger of God had come upon them to cut them off for their sins.

Sept. 29 -- To mourn over the state of the Mission I shall never cease, the falling away has been so great and so extensive. There are, however, a few bright streaks yet left to brighten up our benighted horizon. One poor woman, whom I visited to-day, is apparently ripening fast for glory. She has lost the use of her bodily eyes; but her inner man is, I hope, full of light. She is ignorant; but what little Scripture she knows she appears to use to good purpose. She is drawing toward her happy home, as she is likely to fall a victim to the whooping-cough. She is blind, almost naked, her house is neither wind nor water tight, and she is solitary; but she is in possession, if my heart deceive me not, of riches so great that worlds could not purchase them.

Dec. 3--I visited the blind woman at Tuhuna, whose constitution is rapidly giving way under consumption brought on by whooping-cough. I have frequently been pleased with her conversation during her illness; but, alas! I have been so deceived by the Natives that I am suspicious of things of the kind.

Dec. 7--To-day the hand of death was on the poor woman. I asked her how she felt in the prospect. She replied, "Perhaps I shall go to Christ, and He will say, Are you a believer? Perhaps my reply may be, Lord, have I not prophesied in Thy name, &c. Perhaps He will say in return, I never knew you: depart from me, you who have been a worker of iniquity." She was reminded of Christ's invitation to sinners, when she answered, "Yes, I shall look to Christ."

Dec. 9--I visited Tuhuna, but the poor woman had died yesterday, and had

doubtless entered into rest. A party of Christian People were preparing her coffin from split timber. In alluding to a refreshing breeze which was blowing, one of the party observed, "We were yesterday blessed with a fog, which must have been very refreshing to the young plants: this was a manifestation of the goodness of God." O that we all possessed this spirit of humble submission!

June 20--At the Teachers' Meeting fourteen were present. It was a very interesting Meeting, particularly from Himeona, our eldest Teacher, asking the meaning of the sentence, We ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. He wished to know if it were to be applied to them. I was very thankful for the question, for I had applied it already, in the printed paper, to their denying themselves as to the time it would take them to have regular School with their people in the morning. They all promised to try their best, and I know that many of them commenced School; but in general the Natives are most remiss in sending their children. The Teachers are very much tried in this respect.

Sept. 27-- I went to the Congregation at the Awanui, and found that they had nearly concluded, having commenced earlier than usual. I felt inexpressible pleasure while waiting outside the native raupo (rush) Chapel, to hear the simple yet forcible manner in which William Tararu, a Native Teacher, explained the necessity and efficacy of prayer. I felt almost ashamed, remembering that he only had his Testament and Prayer book, and got on so clearly, and I, with every necessary help, could not yet address the Natives better than he.

The Native Teachers have, as usual, afforded us their services, and, on the whole, their conduct has been agreeable to their profession. Every Saturday they have met in the Settlement to receive instruction, to enable them the better to instruct others. They seem to prize these meetings; and although they thereby lose a sixth portion of their time, yet I have heard them talking it over that, throughout the year, many of their neighbours were not so well off for food as they. We feel bound to thank God for the effectual assistance which these Native Teachers have willingly given to this portion of the Lord's vineyard.

July 12: Lord's Day--I went to Ototoite, eight miles distant, to see a sick Christian Woman. She seemed to reap much benefit from being visited. It appeared to be a great trial to her to leave her family. One of her fine boys coming in sight as we were conversing, she said, "That boy is a treasure to me." I told her that when she died we would take all her children to the School: her brother is the Assistant in the School, and is of great service to us. By way of refreshment to himself, every few weeks he goes out itinerating to the Doubtless-Bay District. ----- [Rev. J. Matthews.

July 19: Lord's Day--I set off to the Kumi, about eight miles from home. I only rode the first three miles, not being able to take the horse any further. I and my guide, Jonah, then entered a long marsh bedded with water from the light rain that fell, when my guide said, "We are as wet as fishes." I then thought of my guide's namesake, Jonah, in the belly of a fish. After walking two hours through swamps we arrived at the Kumi. The Natives made a good fire in the house of a sick man whom I went purposely to see, and boiled some potatoes for Jonah and me. I asked for the books--the Testament and Prayer-books--that we might have Morning Service; but they told me they had only

just finished when I arrived. I was glad to find this the case. I then directed my conversation to the sick man, Rapi Kourna, and asked him how he was in body and mind. He replied, "Very poorly in body, but clear in my mind."--I said, "Do you enjoy the love of Christ in your heart?" "I do." -- "Do you think God would be justified in sending you to dwell with Satan?" He hesitated a moment, and replied, "Yes." I explained to him fully and clearly the nature of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, and bade him remember that we are not saved by our good works, but through the blood of Christ alone; and that good works must be the fruit of our faith in Him. He said, "My good works, where are they? my righteousness, where is it? there is none righteous, no not one." ----- [Mr. W. G. Puckey.

July 21--I went to see a blind Native named Job. This poor man is afflicted with excruciating pains in his limbs; but I found him, as to his soul, in a very prosperous state. He said that God's Word brought him joy, and that it was impossible for the Word of Truth to become error. I asked if any one had prayers with him. The Chief of the place, sitting by, an unconverted man, but otherwise very civil, said, "He is in too much pain to pray: his pains, when they come on in the evening, make him cry out so that we can hear him all over the village." I replied that pain would not cause a Christian to leave off praying, but the contrary. Poor Job spoke out words which more than paid me for going eight miles to see him. He said, "I have not left off praying, neither shall I. My praying secretly is like wrestling, as when one man wrestles with another." This is the first time that I have heard a Christian Native compare prayer to "He mea mamai" (hard fighting, or a taking hold of another). The unconverted Chief, a relative of Job, seemed quite pleased that Job had spoken out his mind, and replied, "Secret prayer he can manage; but the other, outward" -- meaning prayers from the book -- "he cannot, and there is no one here to help him." This poor man, I am thankful to say, has a pious son, who, with our appointed Itinerant Teacher, frequently visits him and his neighbours on the Lord's Day. ----- [Rev. J. Matthews.

I asked him how he was. He was some time before he answered, when he said, "I think I shall go to-day," meaning, that he should die. The tears ran down his furrowed cheeks as he said, "I am in some doubt whether I have completed my peace with God. I have cried to Him, and feel peaceful in my mind, but perhaps God has not made peace with me." I said, "If you rejoice in God, and feel the peace you speak of, I certainly think God has made His peace with you." "O yes!" he said, "I rejoice in God. The Lord is my salvation. I trust in Him. He is my refuge and high tower. I find shelter under His wings." Pleasure of the sweetest nature darted through my soul to think that my endeavours at a translation of the Psalms had been blessed even to this poor man, who could not read. I said to him, "Job, my soul is full of delight to see you, an old man who has been brought up in ignorance and sin, now conscious of the things which appertain to your eternal peace. I now feel assured that Mr. Matthews' labour and mine has not been in vain." He replied, "Far from it. Those who have attended to your instructions enjoy peace in two places, here and hereafter: they know the reason they were made." I then read to him part of John xi., and expounded several of the most striking verses. I asked him, in the middle of the discourse, if he were attending. He said, "O yes! I hear." I prayed with him and his wife, and proceeded to visit a sick woman who had been a priestess. "Well," I said, "old woman, where are native gods now?" She said, "I have cast them off long ago, for it is no one but the Great God who has brought me back from the gate of death." I exhorted her to pray to Him, for He alone could save sinners.

July 27 -- In the afternoon I went up the valley two miles to visit and baptize an amiable girl about twelve years of age. I believe she feared and loved the Lord, although it was but grace in the bud. She was one of the School-children; and while on a visit to Doubtless Bay the Natives gave her too heavy a load, which so affected her spine that on returning home she could not walk five yards. In this state she continued till she died. All the Christian Natives around

assembled to witness her baptism, and it was an interesting Service to us all. We named her Maria. She was of a very-modest disposition, and had a placid countenance. Her father is a Candidate for Baptism, and takes this distressing affliction much more patiently than most European Christians would. Many of the native young people are ruined through the cruelty of their parents, and the Chiefs' thoughtlessness. We do not fail to apply the Sixth Commandment to all such conduct.

Sept. 8 -- I went to Pukewau, on the sea coast, to visit two sick people on the borders of the grave. One of them complained of great hardness of heart: although she prayed, she said, she found no relief. I urged her to pray earnestly, and referred to the promise, I will take away the stony heart, &c. Two Native Teachers also talked with her on the same subject. I told her that I thought it was a good sign for her to feel her hardness of heart, as, knowing her malady, she might the more readily apply for the remedy. She seemed to understand this, and I told her that even a hard stone was worn by water continually running upon it. I spoke to her of Baptism; when she said she wished me to visit her again, and in the mean time she would send for her pious brother to converse with her. Her mother, an old woman, was also in a dying state. She likewise is a promising character, and has for many years attended the Means of Grace.

Sept. 15 -- I went to Pukewau, and, after an interesting conversation with the two sick women, I baptized them. The poor woman who had complained so much of her hardness of heart had found that her hard and stony heart was taken away. At my request several of the Teachers had been to visit her, and she mentioned one of them whose words seemed blessed to her. I asked if she now felt, and could say, that Christ had died for her sins. She said, "Yes, Christ has died for me." She had prayed for a light and a soft heart, and she had found the relief she sought. I asked if she desired to be baptized in the name of the Holy Trinity. She said, "I desire that." I said within myself, This is a case in which no one can deny water. I then, the Christian Natives of the village being present, admitted her into the visible Church of Christ. She is the mother of three fine children, and her husband is now a Candidate for Baptism. He observed that her last illness was caught by her attendance at Church before she was able, which was, I believe, the case, she having to walk two miles in the rain.

Both these women have since died.

Sept. 19--It was well nigh evening when we arrived at Noble's house. He seemed very glad to see me, and bade me welcome. His wife would, in addition to shaking hands, rub noses with me. This is rather a curious ceremony, as the case requires study to know when to leave off. It always finishes with a kind of push, but whether the inviter or the invited should give the ceasing signal I hardly know: in this case I gave it, right or wrong. I think it is a good custom, in its place, and much neater with them than shaking hands, as they do not now paint their faces. I held Evening Service in Noble's house, which was very clean, and he had clean native carpeting for me to sit on. I expounded a portion of Scripture.

Sept. 20: Lord's Day -- Before Evening Service I conversed with the father of several young baptized Chiefs of the Patu Tribe, as it was said they had left off prayers. The father spoke most earnestly on this, and said, "Our having no regular prayers of late has made me a turoro (a sick man). It is 'he mea taurekareka pu'" (a slavish thing indeed to live without prayer). After Service, Noble and the greater part of the assembly remained; and on asking of what they had been talking, he told one of my Natives, "We have been talking over the subject. Some say that the preacher said that if we leave off prayers we shall begin to kill White People!" Noble said to them, "Lay fast hold of that: it is a good word to make us careful, and it will be true if we forsake our Religion." How ready are we to say, Is thy servant a dog, that he should do this thing?

I went to Waro, and afterward proceeded to the house of an old Chief, nominally a Roman Catholic, expecting

to find him at home. I was disappointed, however, but proceeded along the beach, and found him by himself chopping out bolts from the wreck of the schooner "Industry," which was lost there about nine years ago, and was but the day before washed out of the sand by the violence of the surf, which was now raging fearfully. I said, "Oh! I find you are at work!" "Yes," he replied, "doing a little."--I said, "I have been at your bouse. I came to converse with you." --"What about?" "About subjects for Sunday." After a few minutes' consideration he said, "Let us go up to the house, out of the wind." We went, when his wife came out to us, and the following conversation took place. "Morenga," I said, "you are getting old." "Yes," he replied, "all men are." -- "It is time to think about death and another world." "What about it?" -- "To become acquainted with God and His Son Jesus Christ." His wife laughed and sneered, and the old man said, "I shall remain as I am. Look at those inside the Church"--meaning those who had been baptized: "there is one just gone by newly tattooed." -- I replied, "If that man has done wrong, he will be answerable for that wrong. Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners. Last Sunday was the day, a long time ago, on which He ascended up to heaven to prepare a place for all those who attend to His invitation." "Oh!" he said, "there are many ways to heaven; but do you think He cares for me?" -- "Yes," I said, "and for all poor sinners." I quoted the words, Come unto me, &c. He and his wife both laughed. --"Ah!" I said, "there is a day coming when you may not laugh. Hear this! you and I must stand before the judgment-seat of Christ, and every one will receive according to their works." I then left, and felt very low-spirited until I arrived at another village, the inhabitants of which were engaged in worship. I visited a poor sick woman, whom I found simply depending on Christ, and in a very pleasing state. Thus are our bitters mingled with sweets, and our difficulties with encouragements.

Our Natives have been well off this last winter for wheat, which has been a great blessing to them, as their crop of potatoes has been but very scanty. I have provided many of them with cows, and several with sheep: one tribe has as many as seventy. I want to see them esteem all those comforts that Europeans do, for it is my opinion that civilization will not proceed without it. Their desire for horses is without bounds: this I do not like, as I fear in time they will be too much like the wild Arabs. To complete the temporal happiness of the Natives about five miles around us a small windmill is wanted--one which will cost about 50l. in England.

They are progressing in spiritual knowledge as well as we can expect. The Word of God is widely circulated among them, and the numerous little villages are visited by the Teachers, who attend the explanation of the Sermon every Saturday. Their number averages 16. These are able to go where we cannot always. I am happy to say that several little works have lately been printed by a Native at my press, and one very much appreciated by the Natives. The press has proved a great blessing to this Settlement. We are not well off for type, only being able to print two pages at a time; but when we cannot do as we would we must do as we can.

Oct. 2, 1846--I have been making preparations for bee-breeding, that our Natives may obtain some of the European comforts as well as ourselves. They are very desirous of becoming possessors of every European Article.

Sept. 21--I have taught a Native to graft, and he and I have grafted about 500, the greater part of which have taken. The way to civilize the Natives is to give them what we possess. They like fruit, and they like honey. I gave a Chief a bit of honey one day, when he looked at me astonished, and said, "The sweetness went right to my ear."

The Natives have promising crops of wheat and potatoes coming on. This is a noble district for wheat, potatoes, sheep, and cattle. All kinds of English fruit-trees, and I think the vine and orange, would flourish here. Here the Natives are keeping their little flock of sheep, about sixty, and have a substantial fence made for a fold to put them in at night. There are at this place 2000 acres of good grass for feeding sheep, with hardly a bit of fern in it. This is all in the native keeping; and the price they obtained for their badly-cleaned wool last year so surprised them, that their eyes are opened with regard to sheep; so that I have no doubt they will become, as fast as they can, a pastoral, as well as an agricultural people. When this shall be the case, they will of course be civilized, even according to our idea of the matter; but I think that even now they approach near to it. I think that, when they can, they will be willing to help the cause--the great cause of the Gospel.

May 10: Lord's Day -- I was conversing with John Bunyan this evening, and among other remarks he mentioned his first ideas of the Lord's Day. He said, "When the Missionaries first came to New Zealand the Natives saw that one day in seven was set apart; but for what purpose they could not conceive. Potatoes were scraped, wood was cut, every thing was put in order for the Sabbath: there was no work done on that day. The news of this mode of sitting still on the seventh day soon reached Kaitaia. At that time I was idly inclined, and thought I should like to join that sect, as I should then ensure, at all events, one day in seven to indulge my idleness; not having any idea that the day was set apart for the worship of God. Family Prayer was also introduced into our family by my brother, who was present at your Morning and Evening Prayers while you were cutting the road through the great forest to Waimate." John Bunyan is now a converted Native, and the Schoolmaster of our Kaitaia School.

During the last three months we have distributed among our Natives about 200 Testaments, beside a number of valuable Tracts and Catechisms, which have been eagerly sought after. The Prayer Book with the Psalms has been especially prized. We have disposed of about 100 of them, and, to satisfy those who have none, we are obliged to excite their hopes with the promise of a speedy and full supply of them from England.

Our Girls' School has given us some trouble of late, owing to the indulgence of parents, who, listening to their children's silly complaints, have removed them, to spend their time in idleness and mischief. On the formation of a Central Committee, I shall propose to have girls sent from other Districts, with a view to raise them to Monitors or Schoolmistresses.

The condition of the native population in the vicinity of Auckland calls for some strenuous efforts, and I feel anxious to lay my hands to the work while I am among them. A Church for the Natives at Auckland is of the highest importance: in this all my brethren in the Mission agree. Yesterday I called on His Excellency the Governor, and most of the official and respectable members of the European Community, and felt highly gratified at the kind and corresponding disposition which was manifested by all on this subject. In the course of next week I hope to commence the subscriptions and collections, placing Governor Grey and Mrs. Grey, Chief Justice Martin and Mrs. Martin, at the head of the list. I shall hereafter report to you the real success which may attend this undertaking. Nothing of the expense, I hope, will fall on the Society; while our Christian Natives will have a place in which they may attend the preaching of the Gospel and the other Means of Grace so needful for them in the midst of error and corruption. The Bishop, the Rev. S. Williams, and myself, have alternately attended to the Service at Auckland, and we have often as many as 180 Natives assembled in a School-house on Sundays. My other Native Congregation--at Orake, nearly twenty-five minutes' ride from our house--is also promising. They have a pretty Chapel, built of wood, the Bishop having borne half the expense, and the rest the Natives themselves. In making a collection among this Congregation for the Hospital at the College, on a sacramental occasion, they contributed 2l. 8s. 6d. --a fair index to their good feeling.

In most places of our district we have succeeded in securing neat houses for the exclusive purpose of worship and Schools. Those in connection with the Otawao Station are particularly worthy of notice, as indications of the religious feeling of the people, and as specimens of native workmanship. The deficiency in our School system continues to be a source of much anxiety to the Missionaries of this district. Placed, as each is, in such an extensive sphere, with such a multiplicity of duties, and the people so dispersed, we are totally unable to bestow on any particular School that steady attention which is so vitally needed in all such Institutions; and we are thus compelled to witness our young people advancing to maturity with no higher advantages than those derived from desultory week-day catechization, and from such Sunday-School instruction as can be secured by the Missionary through Native Teachers, or from his own examinations at those Settlements which he may on that day be able to visit.

My leisure time has been occupied in preparing a revision of the New Testament, with a view to the Revision Meet-

ing appointed by the Bishop. In the beginning of August I proceeded with my family to Auckland, and shortly afterward was joined by Archdeacon W. Williams, when we commenced our labours. At the end of three months we had reached the end of the Gospels, but the Archdeacon could spare no more time from his district, and we were obliged to conclude. Since my return home, in the early part of December, I have visited every place of importance in my district. In but few instances have I seen much fervour of religious feeling; but almost everywhere very considerable regularity in attendance on the Means of Grace. An improvement in the character of the Native Teachers, and, through them, an improvement in our School System, is, I find, more easy to desire than attain. Single-handed--obliged to pay two visits every year through the Waikato, and to spend so much time at Revision Meetings, beside the other work of translation--and absent thus a third (this year more than a half) of the year from the Station--I find I cannot follow out any regular system in it. A children's Day School is conducted regularly by Mrs. Maunsell's Assistant, Miss Rymill, without any expense whatever to the Society. The attendance, however, has been so irregular, from the scattered state of the people, that we have decided upon engaging an European Teacher, and maintaining a Boarding School for native girls--a portion of the population that most grievously needs attention. This School we hope to maintain, in a large measure, from local resources, especially if we get a little assistance from the Society.

At the commencement of the last half-year much sickness appeared among the Natives around us and those in the Settlement, and many were removed by death. Among these was Ana, the old widow of Te Koke, the former Chief of this part of the Bay. For the last twelve years this old lady resided near us, having embraced Christianity among the early members of our Church. She always conducted herself with great propriety, taking quite a lead among the women, not only of her tribe, hut those around. Though naturally of a violent temper, she became possessed of a child-like simplicity and faith, seeking to order her walk and conversation by the precepts of the Sacred Volume, referring all her difliculties to us, and always manifesting a cheerful readiness to act by our advice. She shewed great concern for the welfare of her people, particularly in the late disturbance. She had a matronly charge in the Native Girls' School, to keep the children within bounds by her presence. She was always in her place at the Service and at the Sunday School, and though too old to read well, could follow the reading. She knew many portions of Scripture by heart, and in her illness spoke of the fourteenth chapter of St. John as giving her great comfort. She was upward of sixty years of age when she died.