1814-1853 - The Missionary Register [Sections relating to New Zealand.] - 1838 - Australasia--New Zealand, p 287-301

A few days ago we had our Puriri School Examination, the first since we have been here: a Branch School from Kopu also attended. The Rev. Messrs. Brown and Maunsell were present. The Infant School has made good progress: the average attendance has, of late, been about thirty; ten of whom can read fluently. The Boys' School is advancing: some among them write a good hand, and are getting on in their tables and arithmetic: most of them know all the Catechism. A few prizes were given; such as, slates, pencils, Catechisms, and Tracts. The little native children are very interesting.

I will here mention an anecdote respecting a very little girl who attends Mrs. Fairburn's School. A few days ago, a female belonging to the native village disgraced herself by sinful conduct. On passing by our gate one day, while Mrs. Fairburn was there, she stopped to talk to her; when Mrs. Fairburn reproved her for her bad conduct, and asked her if she were not ashamed. The little girl stood by, and heard the reproof: and turning to the delinquent, she said, "You have broken the seventh commandment." Thus reproved by a little child, she walked off, apparently ashamed and confused.

The Natives at this time are in a generally unsettled state in the whole of the Thames Districts, and have retired to their fortifications in order to be in readiness for war; which circumstance has much interrupted our schools, and Missionary work in general.

In taking a review of the past, from the time of our arrival on the 2d of July last, to the present time, we can say, that while we have had much to grieve us, and to call forth the exercise of our patience, we have, on the other hand, much to be thankful for; which ought to call forth our warmest gratitude and thanksgiving to Him from whom all our mercies come. Soon after our arrival, having enclosed a raupo (rush) house, 30 ft. by 20, we commenced a Boys', Girls', and Infant School; which have been pretty well attended, considering the few Natives at Mangapouri, and the unsettled state of those who are here. The average attendance on Lord's-Day Mornings has been about 70, and on Lord's-Day and weekday evenings about 30. In the Boys' School, on the week-days, there have been as many as 60, and as few as 12; but the average number has been about 25 or 30. Most of those who have attended school know the first two Catechisms; and about 15 can read the portions of the Scripture that are translated, pretty well, and write from dic-

tation. In the Girls' School, which has been conducted by Mrs. Hamlin and Mrs. Stack, there has been an average of 30; about 12 of whom know the first two Catechisms, and two write from dictation. The average number in the Boys' and Girls' Schools on Lord's Days has been about 30 in each. The Infant School was continued only a few months. The Natives moving out to Manukau in October, and the children accompanying their parents thither, there were only about two or three to attend afterward; so that it was given up: and this movement not only greatly reduced the number in each of the schools, but of those that attended the Services also. The numerous villages around us have been visited as often as circumstances would allow, by ourselves, and by Baptized Natives. There are a few, in several villages which have been visited regularly, who know something of the Catechisms, and assemble in the morning and evening for prayer. At Otawao, a congregation of 200 regularly assembles for Service on the Lord's Day; which has been conducted by Messrs. Hamlin and Stack, and, in their absence, by a Baptized Native. Many in this congregation know the first two Catechisms; and about eighteen have so far learned to read, as to be able to make out those portions of the Scripture which have been translated.

The Matamata Station was formed in May 1835. At that date, the Rev. A. N. Brown proceeded thither with his family, in the expectation of being shortly followed by Mr. Wilson. The delicate state, however, of Mr. Wilson's health induced him to apply to the Committee to change his station to Tauranga; and his place was supplied by Mr. Morgan. Of the temporal work done at the Station, the two raupo houses have been floored with timber, sawn by the Settlement Natives; and corn-stores, and outbuildings, have been erected. Timber for the erection of a store has been sawn; and a field, orchard, and gardens, covering a space of about ten acres, have been enclosed with a good substantial fence. Three Schools have been established, for boys, girls, and infants. About twenty in these schools have been taught to read the words of Eternal Life. The Catechisms have been committed to memory by about 100 Natives, and many have been taught to read and sew. The Services held in the Station have been on Lord's Days, morning and evening, and on Tuesday and Thursday Evenings; and a meeting for private religious instruction is held on Monday and Friday Evenings. The two Pas at Matamata and the Ropi have also been visited on the Lord's Day, and as often on other days as the circumstances of the Missionaries have admitted. In common with the other Southern Settlements, we have been much hindered in our Missionary work by the desolating war now carrying on, with fiendish determination, among the Natives of Waikato, Tauranga, and Rotorua. Yet we can say with the Apostle, Perplexed, but not in despair; cast down, but not destroyed. We have not been left without witness that a blessing has, in some measure, rested upon our labours. To several of the Natives we have reason to hope that the Gospel, under the teaching of the Holy Spirit, is proving a savour of life unto life; and several others have hitherto resisted the temptation of engaging in the present desolating war. In looking, therefore, at what our Master has already done for us, we bless God: in contemplating what He has promised to do, we take courage.

Nov. 29, 1835: Lord's Day-- Mr. Morgan and myself have been privileged to-day to preach the Gospel to various parties, in the Settlement, and on the plain, amounting to 500 Natives. We have had in our schools, 38 boys, 63 girls, and 42 infants. Prosper, O Lord, the work of thy servants, to the glory of Thy great Name!

Jan. 3, 1836: Lord's Day--The usual Services have been well attended to-day. There were nearly 200 present in the morning; and there were assembled in the three schools, 71 boys, 61 girls, and 49 infants. --I spoke, in the morning, on Covetousness.

Feb. 28: Lord's Day--We had nearly 200 Natives at our Morning Service. Mr. Hamlin addressed them. In the afternoon we visited the plain; but the thoughts of the Natives seem to be so much occupied by the proposed attack on Rotorua, that they manifested much indifference to the Message of Reconciliation. The schools were attended by 100 boys, 90 girls, and 50 infants. I preached in English, and administered the Sacrament.

April 6---Our work in the Settlement seems almost at a stand. Even the

school-boys desert their houses at dusk; and go either into the Pa to sleep, or secrete themselves in the bush, lest they should be surprised in the night by the fight which they are expecting from Rotorua, as a payment for the Chiefs killed at Maketu. I visited the Natives at the Pa: they seem desperately hardened. Still, necessity is laid upon us to preach the Gospel to them, whether they will hear or whether they will forbear.

April 8, 1836--The number of Natives attending the schools has been gradually decreasing, as their fears of the approach of the Rotorua Natives increase. One man attended school this morning with a loaded gun in his hand, lest he should be surprised by the expected fight. This Native is named Ngataha. He has been very constant in his attendance at school, and on the means of grace, ever since my arrival at this Station. He is a brother of one of the leading Chiefs at this place; but he refused to join the fight against Maketu, in which one of his brothers fell. He is much opposed by his wife, in consequence of his perseverance in attending our karakia (preaching). May he be kept, by the power of the Holy Ghost, stedfast and faithful!

This Station, which was formed by Mr. Wade in August 1835, continued to advance till March last; when war, with all its associated ills, bursting out among the various surrounding tribes, at once stopped, or rather severely checked, the progress of this Settlement. Though, previous to the formation of this Station, a degree of apathy was manifested by Ngatiawa, as to the residence of Missionaries among them; yet, since this field has been occupied, the Natives have conducted themselves toward us in a way which we had no reason to have expected, judging from the coldness discovered by them at the outset, an instance of which is worthy of being mentioned. After the loss of the Tumu, at which place they suffered considerably, several Chiefs called on us from Otumoetai, for the purpose of advising us to withdraw, at least for a time, from the scene of strife; expressing it as their opinion, that the Settlement would most likely be plundered by their enemies. They did this with a degree of good-nature and disinterestedness somewhat foreign to the native character.

In February, a school was formed at Otumoetai; conducted by Mr. Wade, with the assistance of Samuel, a Native, formerly living with Mr. Fairburn. Our schools, though not numerously attended, were regular, till the taking of Maketu: after which period it became no longer prudent to detain Natives living on the Settlement. The average attendance at the Settlement Boys' School was 35; at the Girls' and Infant School, 30 to 35; and at Otumoetai 25; making a total under daily instruction of 95. At present, only one large raupo-house stands at Papa. Timber and raupo have been prepared for another, which only waits the close of war for its erection. A weather-board store, a commodious boat-house, with a carpenter's workshop of raupo, and the native boys' houses, form at present our establishment. Very considerable difficulty has been felt in procuring fuel and fencing: nevertheless, I hope, in the course of time, that this may be obviated. Our boys have been employed in building their houses, fencing, and forming a road toward Rotorua, about four miles of which they had completed in March last. The general attendance of Natives at the Pas on the Lord's Days has been good; the average having been, at Otumoetai 110, Maungatapu 150, Maungamanu 90, Okahu 30, and at the Station 50: Total 430.

Rotorua Station was entered upon by a visit and ten weeks' residence, during the end of the autumn, previous to its final occupancy in the following winter. This was undertaken by one of the members going from Paihia, and another from Puriri; their intentions being to forward the erection of a house, and to make such preparations as were necessary, before either goods or stores could be conveyed thither. This Station is about twenty-five miles inland from Maketu and Tauranga, without any direct roads or rivers; and consequently very difficult of access.

These tribes were found sunk in sin, and in very bondage to their master

the devil, following all uncleanness with greediness. No disinclination was shewn to hear the message delivered to them; but it was a negative sufferance; and while hundreds heard, none regarded it, other than as an idle tale. From the period of our sitting down, the Station was steadily persevered in; and it may be said, that every thing was attempted to be done, where every thing was to do. A large raupo-house was floored, and fitted with every common and necessary accommodation: a double chimney was raised in it, of stone found in the neighbourhood; using pipe-clay and sand, well worked up, for mortar; which, from the slab-like nature of the stone, answered remarkably well. It may be remarked, that Rotorua is so entirely volcanic, that no clay to make brick can anywhere be found, nor does it possess any material for making mortar. An orchard was planted, with the following fruits, of many of the best European varieties--apple, pear, quince, peach, apricot, nectarine, mulberry, walnut, and cherry; the orchard being about an acre and a half in extent. About an acre and a half of clover and rye-grass was also laid down, and the whole fenced in with split fencing. A roomy carpenter's shop was also erected, and two boys' houses of raupo. Materials were partly collected and prepared, at the great Pa, for erecting a raupo Chapel and School-house there--a building much required. So far had we proceeded in our secular duties--and when taken in connection with the constant interruptions which all who undertake the formation of a new Station must bear with, we were thankful that we had been enabled to do so much-- when war broke out; and, as far as refers to regular duties, all was suspended; and little more than its bustle and alarm occurred, from shortly after Christmas Day to the period of closing this report. The Lord's Day had been regularly devoted to the spiritual instruction of the Natives; and the neighbouring Pas, on the margin of the lake, were visited when the weather would permit. The Adult School was not kept on with regularity; but, circumstanced as we all were, it was by no means neglected. The Girls' School was never well attended; though Mrs. Chapman was regular in attending to it, as soon as circumstances would allow. But little interest as yet was awakened among the women and girls in its duties; its average attendance seldom exceeding 10, except on Lord's Days, when from 30 to 50 were generally present: and the same observations will apply to the Adult School. Of the Infant School, a more encouraging account may be given. This, from the first, was well attended; and had our proceedings not been interrupted, would, no doubt, soon have increased: as it was, it had about 50. The prejudices of parents were beginning to wear away, and the children themselves were certainly pleased to come.

Of any spiritual improvement among the Rotorua Natives, nothing whatever can be reported. A visit was paid to five of the six Pas on Rotorua Lake, shortly before the expected war took its most serious aspect, for the express purpose of knowing whether the residents there really would build themselves a house that would answer for a Chapel and School-room: four of the five willingly consented; the other was quite indifferent. The Pa not visited was Huka's, the murderer; where the body of Hunga was taken and eaten.

On the week preceding Christmas Day, 1835, we were just beginning to feel some little ease from the burdens which for four months had pressed most heavily upon us, when on Christmas morning, just as I was preparing to assemble the Natives for Service, intelligence was brought me, that a Chief, named Huka, had that morning murdered, in the most treacherous manner, another Chief, named Hunga, a near relation of Waharoa, the celebrated warrior Chief of Matamata; and that the body had been taken to Huka's Pa, on the other side of the lake, to be eaten. I immediately ordered the boat to be launched, and, favoured with a fair wind, landed there in little more than an hour. The Natives received me in sullen silence; guessing, no doubt, my errand. On speaking to them on the subject, they would give no answer; and Huka himself, I found, was then at the great Pa; having gone there, as I afterward learnt, to karakia (to use some solemn form of words), and to hang up the poor man's heart in their sacred place, in order to avert any danger to himself-- a superstitious custom. One of my lads observed, that the body was brought in a canoe that then lay on the beach. I went

and looked into it: the water in it was deeply stained with blood, and a scaled piece of bone lay on some dried grass that was in it. I then, with deeply-excited feelings, called upon them on every account to give up to me the body of the murdered man; and, if on no other, to remember that Waharoa would be sure to seek a heavy payment--first for the murder, and then for the insult of eating the body of his friend. A young Chief then rose, and said that the body was not with them; that it had been quartered, and sent away in different directions; that they possessed the head, which they were willing to restore, but were afraid of Huka's anger. I told them to lay all Huka's anger upon me, and to give it up. He then walked a short distance, into a kind of tapued place, and, with the utmost unconcern, brought me the head, wrapped up in a dirty bloody native mat. I ordered one of my lads to uncover it: it was a heart-rending sight: only five hours previously it was full of life and animation: it was now cut about, and one side nearly scalped by the force of the blow it had received from the hatchet. I had it wrapped in a nearly new native mat, and, placing it in the boat, prepared to bring it away. My heart seemed too full to speak; yet I paused a few seconds, and then gave them a warning voice, and urged them to a consideration of the wages of sin, which their own experience could testify to be death. Returning to the Settlement, I buried the head in my garden for the night, and on the following morning delivered it up to some relations. The head, you are no doubt aware, is very sacred.

Jan. 13, 1836--Waharoa returned this afternoon, and I called on him immediately afterward. He would not consent to my going through to Rotorua, but only to Maketu, a place about two-thirds of the distance; and thence to send for Mr. Chapman, to meet me. It is impossible to judge what Waharoa's movements will be; but it is clear that vengeance will be taken by him, for the murder of his relative. He states, that most of the Rotorua Natives have consented to leave that place, and reside at Maketu; so that he may only have the tribe of the murderer to engage with.

Jan. 22 -- There has been much speechifying to-day and yesterday, with Ngakuku, and some of the principal Chiefs from Rotorua. None of them attempted to palliate the conduct of Huka, the murderer of Hunga. They all said that it would be straight for Waharoa to take a fight against Rotorua, and that no permanent peace could be effected till he had done so; but they requested that Waharoa would consent to myself and Ngakuku accompanying the fight, in order that they might give up a large payment for Hunga, and then make peace.

March 21--I visited the plain; and spoke to all the principal groups of Natives. They seem to be thirsting for blood: the poison of asps is under their lips. The language of Waharoa was very bad. One of his diabolical expressions to

me was, "How sweet to me will the flesh and blood of the Rotorua Natives taste, along with their new kumera (sweet potatoes)!" How truly is the character of these people pourtrayed in Rom. iii. 10-18! In the evening, I held my usual meeting for religious instruction: there were eight Natives present. It is cheering to the spirits, to turn for a little season from the thoughts of the morning's scenes; and to think, while answering the inquiry of this little band, What shall we do to be saved? that God has thoughts of mercy toward these poor heathen; and that, in the salvation of some of them, our Saviour will be glorified.

March 29, 1836--At day-break, Mr. Maunsell and myself started for Tauranga. On the road, I received a note from Mr. Wilson, stating that the fight had seized a party of eleven Natives at Tauranga on the Lord's Day, who were in some way connected with the Rotorua People.

March 31--We were aroused at midnight by a report, that the fight was close at hand. Among the foremost of the party was Waharoa; and as the great body of the Natives purposed sleeping in the neighbourhood of the Settlement, he came and lay down before the door of Mr. Wilson's house, as a guard for the property. The number of Natives killed by the fight and eaten at Maketu appears to be sixty-five. They have also taken a great many slaves, probably 150; and totally destroyed the Pa. Mr. Tapsell, a flax agent, has had his premises burned to the ground, and all his property either destroyed or carried away. So completely, indeed, was the place ransacked, that the Natives dug up the body of Mr. Tapsell's child, which was deeply buried in his garden, merely for the sake of having the little coffin for a box.

April 1 --The fight passed through the Settlement without having been permitted to do any damage. The sights, however, were harrowing--a heart stuck on a pointed stick--a head secured to a short pole--baskets of human flesh, with bones, hands, &c. protruding from the tops and sides--and, what more deeply affected me than any other object, one of the infant children of our school dandling on his knees, and making faces at, the head of some Rotorua Chief who had been slain in the battle. There was much, too, to add to the deep solemnity of our thoughts, in the consideration that it is the anniversary of the day on which our blessed Saviour agonized on the cross for wretched fallen man, that He might save him from sin, and the fearful dominion of the Prince of darkness. The language of my heart, for the moment, was, O that I had in the wilderness a lodging-place of wayfaring men, that I might leave my people and go from them! but it was the language of unbelief; and I checked my thoughts, to take refuge in the sovereignty and wisdom and mercy of our God. Christ has not died in vain, even so far as these people are concerned. He will not fail, nor be discouraged, till He have set judgment in the earth; nor should we, could we see, as He does, the end from the beginning. Lord, increase our faith! Having seen the Ngatimaniapoto through the Settlement--which was the object of my stay--we commenced our journey homeward. We walked on for an hour after the moon had risen, and then pitched our tents. Soon after midnight, however, we heard footsteps near our tents; and finding that it was the fight moving along, we arose, and continued our journey, by moonlight, in company with the band of murderers.

April 2--Journeying throughout the day with the fight. There were certainly not fewer than 1000 Natives, including women and children. The smell of their garments, and the packages of human flesh which some of them were carrying as presents to Chiefs at a distance, quite tainted the atmosphere. It might appear to be like casting pearls before swine to speak to the Natives to-day, intoxicated as they were with blood; but I could not help warning different groups, as I passed along, of the punishment which would await their diabolical wickedness in another world. At breakfast, I was inquiring respecting an interesting child near to me, when a man approached, and, rubbing noses with the child, passed sadly on. I then found that he was the father of the child. In seizing slaves at the battle of Maketu, the man was separated from his wife and child, who were taken by a different tribe residing on the Western Coast; so that it is probable he may never again see his family. Vile slavery! The consciences of these poor people appear to be so seared, that they do not seem to entertain a thought that there is any thing like guilt attached to their conduct. One of the Chiefs told me that he only went to the fight to seize some female slaves for "Mother" Brown's

school! while Waharoa asked me yesterday, in bravado, if I would have some human flesh to eat. On replying to him, that he would find that eternal death was the wages of iniquity, he said, "If you are angry with me for what we have been doing, I will kill and eat you and all the Missionaries." Like his master, the devil, he is, however, a chained lion.

April 5, 1836--From messengers sent by Waharoa, and the Tauranga Chief, our brethren entertained apprehensions for their property. The enemy was composed of various and strange tribes--was flushed with victory--and had tasted the sweets of plunder. Our wives, accordingly, were sent on board the Columbine; and with them some of the valuable boxes.

Our precautions, however, through the goodness of our Divine Protector, were unnecessary. They arrived peaceably; and we, without any apprehension, mixed among them. But who can describe the feelings of disgust and abhorrence which the whole scene was calculated to excite! Dead to all feeling, the victors, holding by the hair, shook in our view the heads of their vanquished foes; directed our eyes to the bones and hands which they were carrying in bundles on their backs; and offered us, for food, the flesh, the presence of which the abominable stench from their backs disclosed. Worn out with disgust, I returned to the Settlement. But there, similar scenes presented themselves; and a boy, not sixteen years of age, stuck up, within two yards of our fencing, a shrivelled human heart. Oh! these are scenes that call forth prayer-- that lead the mind to Him who is peace and loveliness--that constrain us to long for a termination of our warfare; for that victory which shall be celebrated by no blood, but by the holy rejoicings of a holy people!

Mr. Brown and I returned with that portion of the fight whose road lay through Matamata. On their way, and since their return, they have behaved to us with civility: indeed, they, in turn, are beginning to entertain fears; and more than once have requested us to write to King William, to tell him that they were not culpable in their treatment of Mr. Tapsell. Yesterday, some of the Chiefs requested me to speak to them. In endeavouring to convince them of their sin, I said, "Friends, your deeds are written in a book:"--interrupting me with impatience, "What book?" cried the chief speaker. --He feared that the Europeans had been writing to King William. His impatience was wrought up to the highest pitch; and I was obliged to assume a serious air, and say, "The book in heaven." "Oh! very good!" he replied, seeming to be vastly relieved by the explanation. ----- [Rev. Rob. Maunsell.

The Natives at Rotorua appear to be in a very daring and wicked humour. A few days since, they killed, in the presence of Mr. Knight, a woman whom they had taken prisoner at the Tumu. Our friends also state, that at a public meeting of the Chiefs at Rotorua they stated their intention of stripping the Mission Stations at Tauranga and this place, and taking the Missionaries, with their wives and families, prisoners to an island on the Rotorua Lake. They would find us rather talkative slaves, I expect. I do not suppose that they will be permitted to put their wicked threats into execution; but the very fact of speaking on such a subject looks like the breaking down of an enclosure which has hitherto been held sacred by the Natives. Still will our Lord be our refuge and strength a very present help in trouble; therefore will we not fear. ----- [Rev. A. N. Brown: May 24.

From the report of the messenger who brought our Letters, it seems that the Rotorua Chiefs have sent off messengers to fetch allies from Taupo and other distant tribes; so that the whole of the southern part of this island seems likely to become involved in the present lamentable war, which commenced with one murder, on Christmas Day, at Rotorua. From that period to the present, there have probably been upward of 400 killed--principally at Maketu and the Tumu; but small straggling parties have also been cut off; and preparations for war, even on a more extended scale, are now being carried on with fiendish determination. The numbers killed at the Tumu only, taking a very low estimate of them as given by Natives, amount, on the Tumu side, to 60 Chiefs, and more than 200 women and children; while there appears to have fallen an equal

number of men belonging to the Rotorua party. ----- [The Same.

The very mode of New-Zealand warfare is truly horrifying. It is not two large bodies of Natives merely meeting in a pitched battle; but, war being declared, each party sends out detachments into the woods; where they lurk upon the road-side, waiting for the appearance of some traveller or travellers, who, if not connected by treaty or relationship to them, invariably fall a sacrifice. They will sit a week or a fortnight at one place, in the hope of obtaining a single victim. The Lord has graciously preserved us hitherto in our journeys; and it ought to be had in remembrance, because it is so remarkable. ----- [Mr. Knight.

Mr. Knight, who, together with Mr. Pilley, was in the midst of this dreadful scene, thus describes the

Destruction of the Rotorua Station.

The first day was spent, by the invading tribes, in building their camp. On the 4th of August, they shewed themselves. Some of the Rotorua Natives went out to them; and a few rounds of musketry were fired, but without any effect on either side, both parties carefully keeping without the range of bullets. On the 5th, nothing whatever occurred, except that Waharoa sent a message to the Pa, stating it to be his intention to remove his camp to the Mission Station on the following morning. His message was delivered to us; and, as we knew that every thing bad might be expected from a nightly visit by New Zealanders on a war-expedition, we prepared for them, committing ourselves to the care of Him who hath said, Call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee; and thou shall glorify me. We retired to rest as usual. I, as a precaution, lay down in my clothes. However, it pleased the Lord to preserve us from the horrors of a night visit. With the earliest dawn of day-light, I left my room; expecting, if Waharoa came, that, as usual with New-Zealand fights, he would come before the sun rose. All was quiet. I walked into the garden, to examine the appearance of a place where we had buried several things the night before. Mr. Pilley soon joined me. I did not remain long at the spot; and had scarcely reached the garden behind the house, when I heard the sound of many voices, apparently proceeding from behind the hill, near the summit of which our Station stood. Having acquainted Mr.Pilley with it, we locked every door, not having any domestic at the Station; and walked to the top of a hill, immediately outside the garden, to reconnoitre. We perceived an armed party, consisting of perhaps seventy, running toward the Pa. At first, we thought they were Rotorua Natives; but when they reached a small river, they discharged their muskets toward the Pa. This immediately informed us who they were. The Rotorua Natives accepted the challenge immediately, left the Pa, and followed the small party, who retreated before them. Within half-an-hour of the giving of the challenge, the general engagement began; and had scarcely commenced, before the allies of Rotorua were routed; and unfortunately fled through our Station, thereby drawing the great body of the enemy upon us. A few of the foremost of the enemy were civil, and behaved respectfully toward us; but we soon saw that we were to share in the calamities of the day. I was standing outside of the pathway-gate, leading to the house, when two of the enemy came up and demanded admittance; alleging, as their reason, a desire to search whether any of their enemies were secreted there. I refused to admit them, assuring them that no Native was in the house. They would not believe me; and, seeing that they were determined to force an entrance by another way, I offered to walk with them. When I got to the house, the crash of doors, glass, &c. within, convinced me that all was over-- that the property of the Station was devoted to the enemy. I opened the door, and let in the two anxious beings behind me; who, from their manner, seemed afraid that they should not be in time to obtain a portion of the plunder. I walked into my bed-room, which had not been broken into: my two companions followed; and in a minute every moveable thing had disappeared. I knew that remonstrance was in vain; and therefore said but little. My room being cleared, I walked through the house, through such a scene as beggars all description: every room was filled with naked savages, armed, their countenances lighted up with an infernal expression of rage and exultation, horrifying; and many, most of them, sprinkled with blood, warm from the bodies of their enemies. With difficulty I got through them; and stood in the front

of the house, watching the distressing scene.

Mr. Pilley joined me: but we were not long permitted to be observers: we were separated: five men seized Mr. Pilley, and three myself. I remonstrated and reasoned with them; but all in vain.

The Natives, heedless of my remonstrances, after they had lugged and pulled me about, each wishing to get all, took from me my coat, waistcoat, hat, watch, &c, leaving me only my shirt and trowsers; and for these I was not indebted to their generosity; for at the moment of my deliverance, a man was threatening me with a blow from his battle-axe, if I did not give him my remaining garments, which I felt not disposed to do; but God sent me a deliverer, in a young Chief of Waikato, who, taking my part, rescued me out of the enemy's hand. He said, that, if I would walk with him, he would be my protector: which I thankfully accepted; knowing, that if I remained, it would only be to fall into the hands of perhaps a worse party than the one which had already stripped me. During this time. Mr. Pilley was contending with a party in another part of the garden; by whom, I believe, he was worse treated than I had been; owing, perhaps, to his resisting force by force, as well as he could. I was told by him afterward, that the Natives, finding that they could not get his clothes from him, threw him down and stamped upon him. One struck him with the butt-end of his musket, and threatened to shoot him: another struck him under the ear with his fist, the mark of which I afterward saw. He was certainly treated more roughly than I: and though he would, as he said afterward, have freely given them his clothes to let him alone, they would not accept his terms, but continued to pull him about, none wishing to lose his share in the prize: nor did they release him, until the Rotorua Tribe, rallying, drove them from the Station. He therefore escaped those horrid sights to which I was exposed for about two hours in the enemy's camp; which I will briefly describe. Having consented to walk with my deliverer, under God, we left the Station. We had not proceeded far through the fern, when I suddenly stepped by the side of a man just killed: he lay weltering in his gore.

I walked on, almost petrified; and passed bodies which here and there strewed the ground, until I came to a place where a number of bodies were laid out, previously to their being cut up for the oven. I turned away in disgust, and sick at heart; but whichever way I looked, some sight of horror saluted me. I walked to a short distance; but had not been there long, when a body, apparently that moment killed, was dragged into the camp before me: his head was off almost before I could look round: this did not satisfy the wretches; his breast was opened, and his heart, &c, steaming with warmth, was pulled out and carried off. I did not see such another scene as this; though, during the whole time of my being in the camp, I was exposed to the most revolting scenes: halves of bodies, quarters, legs, heads, &c, were being carried away, some of which were thrust purposely in my face.

When the fighting ceased, by order of Waharoa I was allowed to return to my Station. He accompanied me part of the way. I did not remain long at the place. Alas! it was no longer a Station-- it was a scene of ruin. Hearing that Mr. Pilley was at the Pa, I hastened thither. I need not say that we were rejoiced to meet, after the trials of the morning. About sunset, on looking toward our now deserted Station, we saw smoke ascending from the roof of the dwelling-house; and had scarcely noticed it, when the flames burst out from every part of it; and I may say, that in twenty minutes it was reduced to ashes. Every building in the Station shared the same fate, not even excepting the fencing round the garden. It was a melancholy sight, to see our beautiful Station in flames. Thus ended a Station which had not been in existence twelve months. The tribes of Rotorua burnt it down, in order, as they say, to prevent Waharoa from occupying it as a Pa, as he had threatened to do.

From the taking of the Tumu, the Stations at Matamata, Tauranga, and Rotorua, were each and all in expectation of being visited by the enemies of their particular people; each tribe sitting at its respective Pa, apparently desirous to go forth and attack their enemies, but withheld by the expectation of being themselves attacked.

Sept. 14, 1836 -- About three o'clock P.M., a young Chief, who rescued Mr. Knight at Rotorua from the hands of the savages who had partly stripped him, came to inform us, that he had just heard that a party of Natives had gone down to Waiharakeke, to plunder our property. At first, we scarcely gave credit to this report. However, we soon found that it was, alas! true. Tarapipipi, son of Waharoa, came directly after, and confirmed the truth of what we had previously heard. Having asked counsel of Him who alone can help us in time of need, and sought grace and strength for the trial we were about to endure, Mr. Morgan set out, accompanied by Tarapipipi, with the hope of saving some part of the property; but he had not proceeded far from the Settlement, when he met his boy Taupoki, followed by the American sent down in charge of the goods, who gave us the melancholy intelligence, that every package, with the exception of one, had been broken open, before his departure. It was truly a distressing tale to us; but we were enabled to look to the God of all comfort. We felt ourselves placed in a peculiarly distressing and perplexing situation. The principal Chiefs being absent, and having no one to whom we could appeal for redress, we were left, under God, upon our own resources; and the threats of the thieving party, that when they had taken away the property from the Waiharakeke they would come and strip the house, increased our perplexity; thus leading us to expect a fearful night. But the Lord supported us, and enabled us to cast our burden upon Him. We must confess, that we felt anxious; and who could help feeling so; knowing that we were in the hands of a blood-thirsty people, who, unguided by principle and unrestrained by law, only want a pretext to murder a fellow-creature; and with whom it is as vain to reason, as to throw chaff against a whirlwind?

Having made inquiries as to whom the persons were that had committed the robbery and threatened us further, we were informed that the leader of the party was a Chief named Marupo, signifying "murder by night"; a name given him on account of former ill conduct toward Messrs. Morgan and Brown. The party altogether consisted of the worst men in the Pa. They appear to have gone with the determination to plunder, in spite of all opposition; nearly all going naked, every one having his face blackened with charcoal, and being armed with axes or muskets. The attack upon the property was briefly as follows. As the American was sitting in the tent, he saw two men, with blackened faces, coming down the hill over against the tent. They entered it, and said that they were going to fetch potatoes from an adjoining plantation. They had scarcely said this, when, lifting up his eyes again, he saw about forty men, with their countenances disguised similarly to the first two, coming also over the hill. He had scarcely time to think that something bad was about to take place, before they made a general rush toward the tent, entered it, and broke open every package, except one hair-trunk belonging to the Rev. A. N. Brown; upon which a woman took her seat, and preserved it from destruction for the time. She afterward broke it open, and robbed it: and on being questioned as to what her reasons were for preserving the box from destruction, she replied, "I saved it for myself, not for Mr. Brown"--a genuine specimen of New-Zealand sympathy! Immediately, books, shirts, and various articles of wearing apparel, were strewed about, in all directions. The American, seeing that it would be in vain to remonstrate with them, hastened to bring us the heavy tidings.

Taiepa, son of Pohipohi, the second Chief of Matamata, offered to go with us; his heart being--to use his own expression -- extremely dark, on account of the work of his tribe. This young Chief is one of great hope and promise, he having begun to inquire the Way of Salvation. He, though the son of the second Chief, and consequently of great influence, refused to join his father in the late expedition to Rotorua, though earnestly requested to do so; and, as far as we can learn, he was influenced by no other motive than a sense of the evil of the thing in the sight of God. The account we are giving of the conduct of the Natives of this place generally, is dark and discouraging; but such an instance as the one mentioned is truly encouraging, and leads us to hope that that kingdom

which is compared to a grain of mustard-seed, is beginning to spring up in this benighted land, notwithstanding all the devices of Satan and wicked men.

Oct. 19, 1836--About seven o'clock this morning, three of the lads, who left yesterday, entered our house in a breathless condition, conveying the distressing intelligence that their little company had been attacked on the road by a murdering party from Rotorua, from whom they had made their escape. As the lads could give no information respecting their companions, we were left in a most anxious state as to their safety. In about two hours after, Ngakuku arrived, accompanied by two other Natives, bearing the mangled corpse of his only little girl, who had been murdered by the fight. They had taken away her heart, and the top of her head, as an offering to the Evil Spirit. In the afternoon, the remainder of the party arrived. The merciful preservation of twenty, out of twenty-one Natives, appears almost miraculous, and calls aloud for our praise and gratitude. It appears that the fight had been lurking about the plain between this place and Maungatautari; and that, attracted by the fire of our Natives, they directed their steps to the encampment, and arrived there shortly before day-break. The barking of a dog awakened some of the lads; who, hearing the sound of footsteps, endeavoured hastily to rouse their companions; and then rushed out of the hut, to conceal themselves; some in the fern, and others in the woods. Four girls, however, and two boys, were still in the hut when the fight came up; but, favoured by the darkness, they all escaped, except Ngakuku's daughter, who was seized and murdered. His only little boy he saved, by fleeing with him on his back, and hiding themselves in the high fern.

While talking to poor Ngakuku this afternoon, and endeavouring to administer consolation to him, he remarked, "The only reason why my heart is dark, is, that I do not know whether my child has gone to heaven, or to the Reinga. She has heard the Gospel with her ears, and read it to Mother Brown; but I do not know whether she received it into her heart." After the Evening Prayers at the Chapel, Ngakuku arose, and addressed the Natives from John xiv. 1.

Oct. 20 -- I buried poor Tarore, at the Pa. Those who so narrowly escaped a like death, followed the corpse to the grave; around which were arranged various groups, from the different native residences. After singing a hymn, and addressing the assembled party, Ngakuku asked me if he might also say a few words; and, on my assenting, he said, with deep solemnity of feeling-- "There lies my child: she has been murdered, as a payment for your bad conduct. But do not you rise to seek a payment for her: God will do that. Let this be the finishing of the war with Rotorua. Now, let peace be made. My heart is not dark for Tarore; but for you. You urged Teachers to come to you. They came; and now you are driving them away. You are crying for my girl: I am crying for you--for myself -- for all of us. Perhaps this murder is a sign of God's anger toward us, for our sins. Turn to Him. Believe, or you will all perish."--Can I doubt who it is that has given calmness, resignation, and peace to this poor Native, at a time when we could expect little else than the wild tumult of unsubdued grief? Let those who treat the operations of the Holy Spirit upon the heart as an idle fable, account on natural principles for the scene which I have this day been privileged to witness. It was not insensibility on the part of Ngakuku, for his feelings are naturally keen: it was not indifference towards his family, for he was fondly attached to his child. No! it was the manifestation of His power, who, amidst the loudest bowlings of the wildest storm, distinctly whispers to His Children, It is I, be not afraid; peace, be still!

Jan. 2, 1837--Struck my tent; and at nine o'clock proceeded in the boat. On passing Motuhoa, we were hailed by Waharoa, and invited to go on shore and partake of some food. The old man's language respecting the war was much more satisfactory than that held by him six weeks since. He complained that his sons would not listen to him as they used to do, but were always urging him to make peace; and he attributed their change of conduct to the karakia and our sacred books. On reaching the Papa, I received five Letters from Matamata, which were very encouraging.

Jan. 3--Nuka, and others, came over to the Station, to see me. His tone, like that of Waharoa, seems to be much altered; and he now expresses a wish that peace should be made with Rotorua.

Jan. 11 --I went to the Pa at Otumoetai. The Natives at that place are about leaving, to partake of a feast which Waharoa is preparing for them at Matamata. At the close of the feast, they proceed to attack Rotorua. They boast, that, with Waikato, they shall raise 2000 fighting men. It is stated, that some of Waharoa's allies are angry at his proposal to make peace with Rotorua, and that there is now a probability of this exterminating war being continued. Neither know we what to do, was the language of the devout Ruler of Judah, in his emergency; but our eyes are upon Thee. May we imitate his conduct, in the present dark and distressing position of affairs!

Jan. 15: Lord's Day--Native Service at Otumoetai: eighty present. Afterward, English Service at the Papa; and in the afternoon, Native Service at Maungatapu: 170 attended, principally women and children. The Native Chiefs at both Pas are engrossed with the proposed fight to Rotorua: and at Otumoetai, several of the Chiefs, in order to excuse their disregard to the Gospel, remarked, with much apparent satisfaction, that the principal sufferers at Matamata, when that place was attacked by Rotorua, were among those who made a profession of Religion, and refuse to live inside the Pa.

Jan. 17--Left the Papa, to visit Matamata. Slept at Matakaua; the tide being too low to allow our entering the small river Wangatete.

Jan. 18--Early this morning went on to Wangatete, where we breakfasted. At this place we met Waharoa and some of his party, awaiting the arrival of a part of the Tauranga Tribes, who are going to Matamata, to partake of a large feast prepared by Waharoa, and thence to attack Rotorua. They have collected for the feast, six large albatrosses, nineteen calabashes of shark-oil, several tons of fish, principally young sharks, which are esteemed by the Natives as a great delicacy, upward of 20,000 dried eels, a great quantity of hogs, and baskets of potatoes almost without number.

I was obliged to proceed by a different route, through the woods, from the one usually taken to Matamata, in order to avoid the murdering parties from Rotorua, who are said to be concealed in different parts of the forest through which the usual thoroughfare passes. The only Natives that we met were a party from Matamata; some of whom were engaged, in September last, in taking forcible possession of our property at Waiharakeke. They pretended to be very glad to see me; and shed not a few crocodile-tears after the native fashion, in order to prove their love to me.

Jan. 19--After some difficulty, arising from the flood, we crossed the river in safety, on a large bundle of rushes tied together with strips of the green-flag plant, and proceeded to our late Settlement. The place is much altered in appearance; weeds and fern covering the gardens, the fence decaying, many of the fruit-trees broken, and others removed. In consequence of this, Waharoa has rendered the orchard sacred, by calling the fruit-trees his head, which has deterred the Natives from doing any further injury to them; and the fruit will, probably, be allowed, as it ripens, to drop from the heavily-laden branches, and rot on the ground. Soon after my arrival, fifty Natives assembled, with whom I held Service. I afterward addressed another party at the Pa; and in the evening,

assembled 120 more to worship. At the conclusion of the last Service, Waharoa's son, and six others, came to my tent; and kept me until after midnight, explaining to them passages on the New Birth, our Saviour's New Commandment, the Conversion of St. Paul, &c. There were also many verses which they had marked in their books as difficulties; which consisted simply of words used by the Natives of the northern part of the island, but not by themselves: others were typographical errors only; while other words, again, were mere introductions of Englishisms in the translation, which could not be rendered by any native expression: and although these were matters of little importance, compared with such questions as What shall I do to be saved? yet were they pleasing, as serving to shew the diligence which these inquirers after truth had exercised, in reading and examining that portion of the Sacred Oracles which they possessed.

Jan. 20, 1837--Before four o'clock this morning, the bell was rung for school, when 110 Natives assembled. I addressed them from John iii. 36. Seventy-seven of them then formed into three classes; and twelve Natives in the upper class read to me a chapter in St. Matthew's Gospel, and afterward wrote a portion of it from dictation. During the remainder of the morning I was occupied at the Pa; where I succeeded in recovering two volumes of Scott's Commentary, Donnegan's Greek Lexicon, and a few other books. Some of the stripping party did not deny having other books in their possession; but they refused to part with them, because they wanted them as cartridge-paper. They are very hardened; and told me, in a taunting manner, that there were more of the believers than of themselves killed, when the Pa was attacked. It is matter of wonder, as well as of gratitude, that, on the occasion alluded to, so few of the inquiring Natives were killed. Interrupted by the ill-disposed Natives whenever they assembled for prayers, and disturbed by the noise and dancing in the Pa, they determined upon erecting a large building outside the Pa fence, which might serve for a dwelling-house, School, and Chapel. About thirty of them were sleeping in this building, when the Rotorua Natives attacked the Pa, shortly before day-break. Nine of the little band rushed out; of whom four were killed, and five wounded. Toward those who remained, a most wonderful Providence appears to have been exercised; for the assailing party, concluding probably that those who had run from the house constituted the whole number who had been in it, passed on to attack the Pa, without looking into the building, where twenty other defenceless Natives would have become their unresisting victims. There was another remarkable and, as it would appear, retributive Providence, connected with this attack on the Pa. Of the five Rotorua Natives who were killed, four were among the party who murdered Ngakuku's daughter. According to the savage custom of the New Zealanders, they took out the heart of the first man who was shot on the Rotorua side, and made it an offering to Wiro (the Evil Spirit). His mangled corpse, in a state of nudity, was then exposed on a rough wooden stand outside the Pa; where the horrid spectacle will probably remain, until the flesh has dropped from the bones. During the afternoon, I was occupied in examining those of the Natives who have regularly assembled for school since the Station was abandoned. I had many applications for books, slates, &c, for the use of the Schools; and Waharoa's son, Tarapipipi, requested me to place two of my lads at Matamata, as Teachers; which I agreed to do.

Jan. 27--At dawn, we were aroused by the firing of muskets. It proved to be a fight from Rotorua, attacking, from a distance, the Pa at Maungatapu. They seized an old Chief, two women, and two children, who were sleeping at a short distance from the Pa; and having killed them, they bore away their bodies to eat.

Feb. 4--Arrived at Hohinimuri. I found, by a Native Letter which was left here for me, stuck on a pole, that the boys who had been up with the boat to fetch us had returned, through fear; a murder having just been committed upon a Native, who was related to a tribe residing near the spot.

Feb. 5: Lord's Day--We heard much firing, during the day, in the direction of Patupo's Pa, where it is said that the tribe to which the murdered man belonged are assembling; and many fears were expressed, by my Natives, that we should be attacked, as a payment.

Feb. 24--Sailed this morning from Tamaki, in the Columbine.

Feb. 26: Lord's Day -- Arrived at Paihia about three o'clock this morning; and found my family, from whom I had been separated nine weeks, in the full

enjoyment of health. I was agreeably surprised to hear that dear old Mr. Marsden was again in the land; taking, I should think, a farewell visit, ere he enters into his rest.

Messrs. Brown and Stack have returned to the southward, in the Columbine. Mr. and Mrs. Stack have been at Paihia about ten months; but have now returned to their Station at Tauranga. Messrs. Brown and Wilson, with their families, have also spent eight or nine months at the northward. Mr. Wilson and family have been at the Waimate; and Mr. and Mrs. Brown, for the most part, at Paihia. Mr. Brown returns from the southward, for the purpose of taking Mrs. Brown to Tauranga; when Mr. and Mrs. Wilson proceed to their Station with them, in the Columbine.