1847 - Selwyn, G. Annals of the Diocese of New Zealand - CHAPTER VIII. STATE OF THE MISSION, 1845-6.

       
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  1847 - Selwyn, G. Annals of the Diocese of New Zealand - CHAPTER VIII. STATE OF THE MISSION, 1845-6.
 
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CHAPTER VIII. STATE OF THE MISSION, 1845-6.

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CHAPTER VIII.

STATE OF THE MISSION, 1845-6.

WE must now resume our account of the Mission during these times of warfare and trouble.

The station at the Waimate was for a considerable period occupied by a body of English troops, and the missionary work there almost entirely suspended; but Mr. Burrows continued at his post, and in a letter, dated January 14, 1846, he thus writes:--"Such is the feeling abroad among the neutral natives, that they will ultimately be crushed by the British forces, that had it not been for the united efforts of the missionaries, the probability is, that instead of 400 or 500, with which the Government have had to contend, they would have had 4,000 or 5,000.....Up to this time, we have not only been permitted to visit the disaffected natives, but have received kindness from them, and been treated with respect."

At Kaitaia (a station further removed from the seat of war), on the arrival of the news of

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the conflict at Kororareka, the chiefs met, and manifested the best feeling towards the Government. There were present ten Wangaroa natives, who had come expressly to sound the Kaitaia natives as to their intentions, and to learn if they would sit still, and not molest their wives and children, in case they should go to fight with the soldiers. Nopera Para-Kareao (Noble), (the chief mentioned as reading prayers, see pages 65, 66), told them that it was not the first time he had been kind to Europeans, nor the first time that Ngapuhi (Heke's tribe) had been unkind. He suggested to all the chiefs that none should be allowed to go to the bay at this time, lest they should fall into temptation. To this they all agreed; and although there were two chiefs who wished to accompany the Wangaroa natives, they would not allow it.

Archdeacon Brown gives the following general view of the state of the Middle District, in a Report for the year ending Dec. 31, 1845:--

"The Lord's day congregations have maintained their usual average attendance; the places of some who have cast off their profession being occupied by others who have lately joined the church. The daily services have not been attended with the regularity which has marked past years, and the adult day-schools,

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with few exceptions, are discontinued. Numbers of the young men have been tattooed during the last few months, and with this return to the heathen custom of their forefathers, they have discontinued their attendance on the means of grace; while the northern war has not been without its effects in rendering many of the natives listless to the message of salvation, and inducing suspicions in their minds that their country will ultimately be wrested from them. Amidst very many discouragements, the work in which we are privileged to engage is yet progressing."

The Rev. C. P. Davies, stationed with Archdeacon Brown, records during the last half year of 1845, that he had accompanied 150 of the natives of Tauranga in a journey to Maketu, for the purpose of making peace with one of the Rotorua tribes, who had for years been bitter enemies. The effect of this peace has been that the principal chief of Tauranga has since regularly attended the church services, and many chiefs of Rotorua have followed his example.

Mr. Maunsell, writing from the Waikato river (another station in the Middle District), states the following particulars:--

"Excited as have been the minds of the people, they have not declined in their attend-

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ance on our religious services. The number of worshippers in immediate connexion with this station is 970, and of Sunday scholars 103--making altogether 1,073. We have now the prospect of having completed, in the course of a few months, a little Gothic building, which will, I hope, serve as a neat model for a New Zealand church. The work of translation has been much interrupted, but the remaining portions of the Pentateuch are now ready for the press."

The following account given by Mr. Maunsell of the conduct of some tribes in a dispute respecting land, will serve to show the influence which Christianity has gained over the minds of the natives:--

"September, 1845.--The last three months have witnessed some severe trials of the sincerity and forbearance of my people. There are now, unfortunately, two disputes about land in this district. One of these disputes was commenced, about six months ago, by one of the parties taking possession: the others (the Ngatipora tribe) immediately felt themselves bound to assert their claims; and both tribes built very strong fortifications within about 100 yards of each other. They have been thus entrenched during the last four months, and have had frequent disputes with each other.

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Aware themselves of their excitable character, they were very unwilling that I should leave them, as the 'Teacher' being present, served as a check on both parties. I also was desirous to spend among them all the time I could spare from my other labours; and hope that, on the whole, we have gained instead of lost by the whole occurrence. I had school in the morning before they got their food. At ten o'clock, and a little before sunset, a reading meeting and evening service at one Pa, and after that a reading meeting at the other. On the Lord's day, if the weather at all permitted--for from the Bishop downwards we are all open air preachers here--both parties, no matter what their quarrels might have been on the week days, quietly met on a spot between each fortification for the services and for school. On fine days the congregations averaged between 300 and 400. As these sat attentively round me --the magnificent Waikato rolling his smooth waters onward, the blue heavens spread forth above, and a most enchanting scenery encircling us, I often, in the evening services, as the sun was setting, and a star twinkling above, indulged the solemn feelings which the season suggested, and enlarged on the unity and dignity of the Creator. Another great benefit which we reaped from these otherwise untoward proceedings was

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the being brought into closer contact with the lapsed natives. After their fall into sin, they feel a kind of shame, and absent themselves often altogether from prayers. Simple conversations do not always seem to be sufficient to urge them to return; but they quietly join the reading classes, to which they are very partial, and thus gradually rise into the class of worshippers. Many, during the last four months, have thus been restored to Christian communion. In all these contests, much as there is to deject, I find many things to encourage. Almost all the speeches made by the combatants, and, indeed, their actions, attest the power which the Gospel has even now obtained over them. Many things, it is true, have occurred, which must appear most strange to those who are not accustomed to observe the development of native character, and to penetrate through, often, very incompatible appearances to the substance. The people of England, methodical and consistent even in anger, can scarcely conceive two large bodies of men meeting, fully armed, engaging in a most strenuous struggle, one party in breaking down, the other in defending, a piece of fencing, and both using the most violent language to each other; the bell for evening prayers ringing, and both parties, each in their positions of defence and attack,

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with their guns lying beside them, joining in worship, while I addressed them from Ephes. iv. 26, and, pointing to the setting sun, urged my text, "Be angry and sin not; let not the sun go down on your wrath:" then, rising up, each dispersing to their respective encampments, quietly preparing food for the Lord's day, and meeting together on the morrow for worship, as if nothing had happened."

CHILD AT TE RAPA.

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