1814-1853 - The Missionary Register [Sections relating to New Zealand.] - 1849 - Church Missionary Society, Western District, p 519-521

       
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  1814-1853 - The Missionary Register [Sections relating to New Zealand.] - 1849 - Church Missionary Society, Western District, p 519-521
 
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Church Missionary Society, Western District.

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New Zealand.

CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.

WESTERN DISTRICT.

WANGANUI.

Report for the Year ending June 30, 1848.

The Rev. R. Taylor has transmitted the following Report of his extensive District for the year ending June 30, 1848 --

War was raging at Wanganui when the year commenced, and that not at a dis-

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tance, but at our very doors. All was then indeed dark: no prospect of peace appeared: every thing seemed to threaten a long continuance of the visitation, and dark surmises of the consequences filled our breasts: but when peace seemed the most remote, then the Lord proved that He overrules all things by suddenly restoring that blessing to us.

The spiritual state of the District, also, was very gloomy. The adversary threatened, and seemed ready to make an end; but the dark clouds have rolled by, and the sun again shines upon us. Much of that deadness and indifference to religious duties, which we had to deplore, has given way to a spirit of earnestness and love of prayer. The Scriptures are diligently read, and the Means of Grace attended to. This is not only the case with those Natives who declined taking any part in the late war; but even among the others, I am thankful to say, many are diligent in prayer and supplication at the Throne of Grace.

This awakened state has been more especially manifested in the increased attendance at the Lord's Table. Never have so many previously commemorated a Saviour's love in this district; and never have I been so strict in my requirements.

I am happy also in being able to report, that the love of private prayer is increasing, and that many appear really to appreciate the privilege of going to that Throne of Grace where they can ever obtain all that they truly need.

On the other hand, however, there is much to lament, and compel the Missionary to pursue his way with fear and trembling. The Natives seem now to have access given them to the tree of good and evil as well: even in their heathen state it is doubtful whether they were so fully acquainted with that depth of depravity which they now see daily and openly displayed by those who call themselves Christians. Their open efforts to poison the Native's mind, and corrupt his morals, render the Missionary's duty a very anxious one. Their evil influence on the rising generation is especially to be dreaded; and it is here that I feel I can say very little that is satisfactory: most of those who have fallen, both male and female, have belonged to this class. I trust, however, the Boarding School-- which I confidently hope will soon be in a more efficient state--will prove a great check to the evils complained of. After all, we must rest in faith that the Lord will not suffer the tree of His own planting to be rooted up, and that He will be exalted among the Heathen, from whatever quarter they may come.

The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper seems to have been administered to 1520 persons at five Stations, and 161 adults were baptized.

We regret that we are obliged to limit ourselves to a few extracts from Mr. Taylor's Journals.

Visit to Pipiriki--Administration of the Sacraments.

Feb. 27, 1848 --I was obliged to have the Service in the open air this morning, on account of the size of my Congregation, which would have required a much larger Church to contain it, although this is one of considerable dimensions. I afterward administered the Lord's Supper to 188 persons. Although this is a much smaller number than on previous occasions, yet, considering the sad effects of the late war, this may be regarded as a sifted Congregation, as none of those who took any part in the war were permitted to attend. I felt much comfort in administering these sacred memorials of a dying Saviour's love; and I trust the humble look and apparent devotion of many testified that it was not a mere external rite, but that the Lord was indeed holding communion with us. One of the Communicants was totally blind: it was an affecting sight to see him led in and placed before the Lord's table: his placid look seemed to say, that, although all was dark without, even the pitchy darkness of Egypt, still, as there was then light in Israel's dwellings, so there was the true light granted to cheer the soul of this poor believer. In the afternoon I baptized forty adults and thirty children. It turned out rainy, so that I was obliged to have the Service in the Church, which hindered many from attending, as there was no room.

Feb. 28 --After Morning Service, I re-married twenty couples, and then attended a Meeting of Natives to adjust differences. After dinner, another Meeting was proposed, relative to a new Church, and the erection of a mill. I suggested that, to avoid interruption from the crowd, we should go to Nga Mahanga, to see a new Church, to which all assented. The scenery is very picturesque; the cliffs lofty and precipitous, then table land, and high mountains in the distance. We passed up several rapids, and soon reached

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Nga Mahanga. Here we had to climb the precipice by means of ladders--the place being several hundred feet above the level--when we reached a considerable plateau of land. The Natives have built a very creditable Church, which forms a very picturesque object. The scenery is quite alpine. They had cooked food for us--eels, potatoes, and squashes. Hence we reached Pipiriki in time for Evening Service. I forgot to say that our Committee, held in the canoe, unanimously determined to rebuild the Church of mud, if I would only shew them how, this kind of work being new to them; and when it is completed, they are to have a mill.

Feb. 29, 1848 --Hori Patene and Hamuera took me to see a spot on the other side of the river, which they thought was suitable for a mill, which they are most anxious to have, finding already how tedious the steel mills are. I was much satisfied to see the extent of cultivation belonging to this Pa: it far exceeds that of any other which I have seen. In order to see the full extent of land cultivated, I proposed ascending an isolated peak, which appears to be nearly 1000 feet above the level of the river. The day was extremely hot; but I was dimply repaid for my toil by the extensive view it gave of their cultivations, and the surrounding country. The scenery reminded me of Switzerland--deep gorges and wooded hills, deeply wooded to their summits, reaching to an elevation which in that country would be covered with perpetual snow.

As we ascended, my companion told me he would shew me where they formerly buried their dead. He said it was a cave on the summit of the mountain; but that since they had become Christians they had given up the custom. He remarked that formerly, whenever they ascended to that cave it always rained; but that since they had embraced Christianity it had not done so. The summit was a narrow ridge, presenting a perpendicular face of about sixty feet on one side. We went beyond that to a spot where the side inclined more gradually, which I descended with some difficulty-- on account of the steepness, and slipperiness of the grass--when we came to a small tree, which he bid me lay hold of and look down. I did so, and then saw the cave, or chasm, which has evidently been formed by the subsiding of one portion of the mountain, leaving a space between the part which had sunk and the portion of the mountain which remains. The Natives say that this chasm reaches to the bottom of the valley, which is very likely to be the case: if so, it must be at least 500 feet below the spot on which we were standing, where the top of the mass which had sunk was not above four feet wide, and overhung a perpendicular precipice which reached to the bottom of the valley, formed by a more ancient landslip. The sight made me dizzy, and I was thankful to creep up the steep face of the mountain and return. My companion told me that they formerly threw the bodies of their Chiefs down the end of the chasm which I saw; but their slaves were cast in at the other end, which was considered less honourable, so that distinction of rank was kept up even after death. I have no doubt the bodies of slaves and Chiefs came together before they reached the bottom. It is remarkable how these poor Heathen choose the caves in the rocks and mountains to hide, as it were, their bodies in. How many, in the last day, will call upon the rocks and mountains to fall upon them, and cover them from the searching glance of God!

We descended, and found a party of Natives busily employed threshing and cleaning wheat in their canoes. They immediately began putting questions to me from Scripture. I have been much pleased with their constantly doing this, as it shews they are always thinking of what they read; and when any passage perplexes them, they generally take care to commission the first who goes down the river to ask me its meaning. I told them that God had evidently fulfilled His Word in their favour-- "They that honour me I will honour;" that the extraordinary quantity of wheat they had raised, and the abundance of food they possessed, shewed that the Divine favour had rested on them. They said they had already remarked it, and moreover, that the Patutokotoko tribe, once so formidable, and having so many great Chiefs, seemed to be "rupeke ki te mate" (counted out to destruction); that once they believed, and then gave it up, and from that time they had not prospered; that they had built Pas, but never inhabited them; that their great Chiefs were dead; and their tribe was dispersed about, having no fixed abode.


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