1814-1853 - The Missionary Register [Sections relating to New Zealand.] - 1851 - Church Missionary Society, p 231-238

Divine Service has been held, both in Native and English, at Paihia and Kororarika every Sabbath when I have not met the Natives at their own places, as at Waikare, the Kauakaua, and Waikino. The attendance of Natives has been good, as all have joined us who might be in the neighbourhood.

The Lord's Supper has been administered at Paihia on the first Sunday of each month to the Europeans, and twice during the half-year to the Natives of the District. The Native Communicants

average about forty. Previous to the war we numbered not fewer than 300 Communicants. Of these, many have removed to the more southern parts of the island, and many have been removed by death.

Mrs. Williams, assisted by our daughters, has continued the Sunday School, as the women evidence great willingness to assemble for that purpose. By giving line upon line, and precept upon precept, it is hoped much benefit has resulted. The smallest number, including children, is between thirty and forty--frequently many more.

A School has been attended each forenoon by one of my daughters, the average number being ten. There are children in the neighbourhood, but at too great a distance to attend School. The general progress is satisfactory.

A Bible Class has been attended each Monday morning with much advantage,

In comparing the present state of our Christian Natives with our last Annual Report, we are convinced that our work has been progressive. Our Congregations have increased; and there is a visible improvement in their general conduct. The respect which has uniformly been shewn to their Missionary has in no way decreased; and the voluntary introduction of religious subjects, with apparent sincerity, more than at any time since the war, is to us an evident proof that the Spirit of the Lord is at work among them. The readiness with which not a few of our baptized Natives respond to the announcement of the day for the celebration of the Lord's Supper is also a token for good, as each one is subjected to an examination prior to his being admitted to that holy ordinance.

When, however, we remember that the great majority of the Natives in this District are baptized, and have been so for many years, the number who evidence the sincerity of their profession by their daily walk and conversation is indeed small. Did we not know that the same comparison holds good with regard to Christian England, we should be greatly discouraged in our work.

Several of our Christian Natives have been called away by death, of whom we entertain a hope that they have entered into their rest. Two of them especially evidenced in their last moments such simple faith in the merits of Christ, and expressed such a longing desire to depart and be with Him, that we have no doubt of their being now in glory. One was a female, who, although she had been baptized some years, up to the time of her illness had not adorned her profession. She was of a violent temper, which was often the cause of broils between her and other women of the Pa. God was pleased to afflict her severely for nearly a twelvemonth. At first she was impatient, but became gradually resigned to the will of God, and for four months before her death was seldom heard to murmur. The Natives of the Pa more than once remarked to me her calm and peaceful demeanour, and contrasted it with her former behaviour. Her last hours were those of extreme suffering, but her end was peace.

Thus we are not left without witness that our labour is not in vain in the Lord. We are called, however, to rejoice with trembling; for whilst some have been taken to their heavenly rest, others, who professed much, and for a time promised well, have gone out from us.

Three visits have been made to Wangaroa during the year, taking the Natives at the several villages on the coast in our way, and one to Kaitaia. The Natives at the former place are still, for the most part, very careless in their religious duties. There is, however, an improvement.

Our Adult Schools, both at the Station and at two of the native villages, have continued to progress. The Native Girls' School in the Settlement has also continued; and, although there is not that visible improvement that we could wish, yet we hope and believe that a work is being done, the fruit of which will be seen after many days.

The Committee must not expect great things, or, if they do, they must expect them to arise from small beginnings. We are happy, however, to be able to say that we have made a beginning of a Native-Teachers' Institution. Six pupils are now under a regular course of instruction, comprehending the Holy Scriptures, writing, arithmetic, geography, and the English Language. One is from Wanganui, recommended by the Rev. R. Taylor; two from the East Cape, sent by the Rev. G. A. Kissling; two from Kaitaia, recommended by the Rev. J. Matthews and Mr. Puckey; and one is a youth who has lived for some years in this Settlement. All of them have behaved well during the time they have been in the Institution, and five out of the six possess good natural talent. The industrial system has hitherto worked well, when we take into consideration that indolence and selfishness are prominent features in the New-Zealand Character.

Four hours each day are devoted to study--three in the morning and one in the evening. In the afternoon the pupils are employed in cultivating food for themselves, or in other work on the Society's Farm. Four hours may appear to the Committee a short period for study; but they must remember that these youths have never been under any regular system of School Discipline; added to which, the New Zealander quickly tires of one thing. At first, three hours' confinement in the School appeared to them a long time, but now they sometimes express their surprise at the rapidity with which the time has gone.

Of the true piety of these young men it is not so easy to speak. All are hopeful characters, and for some time before their admission here professed a good profession before their brethren. Were your Missionaries to wait until they could find young men willing to enter the Institution of whose true conversion they had no doubt, our number, I fear, would be few. Still there are hopeful characters, I trust, in all the Districts, some of whom, by God's blessing upon the means used, may become useful Native Teachers.

Their studies I have attended to myself. The visiting the sick, and the other duties of my district, T have attended to out of School hours. When not thus engaged, I have felt a pleasure in superintending their work in the field, which has been both pleasing to them and beneficial to my own health.

The different places and villages in the District have been frequently visited, both by myself and by Native Teachers. For a long period there has been but little assistance in this District from Native Agency: it is, however, now again apparently on the increase.

At Kaikohi the Lord's Supper was administered, on the 16th of September, to seventy-three Communicants.

The Day School, kept by my daughters at this Station, has been well and regularly attended. The average attendance has been thirty-five. Two of the children

have been removed by the Great Shepherd to the heavenly fold.

In our last visit to Mangakahia, sixty-one Communicants were examined, and entered for the next Lord's Supper; and several were added to the list of Candidates for Baptism.

Aug. 10, 1849 --There is at present a more peaceable disposition manifested by nearly all the people with whom I hold intercourse, than there was even a year ago. The Chief Heke is quiet, and his power is at present reduced by a division which has taken place among his people. The Natives generally have settled down to their cultivations, and have ceased, with very few exceptions, to carry arms in their migrations. The religious state of my district has, I hope, improved at Kaikohi and at Mangakahia; but at Otaua, where we had formerly forty Communicants, there is now scarcely a vestige of religion. It is also equally bad at Hikurangi. The improvement which has taken place at Kaikohi, of a genuine character, is confined to but very few, although we hope that some little movement has been made in the hearts of many. From the few I have lately received some assistance of a valuable nature, in helping to visit the sick, and in moving about among their friends.

Our Day School has hitherto given me much satisfaction; and it has been of service in other ways beside instructing the children. Children of thoughtless parents have attached themselves to the School, been regular in attendance, and made progress. This has at length brought the parents to Church on Sundays. One case was rather striking. The parents had lived with us, and were baptized at Waimate; but a great declension took place, and they again followed their native superstitions. They were visited, and entreated and warned from time to time, but without effect. At length they were visited with affliction. The mother lost her reason, and] their two elder children became very ill. The eldest, a fine boy of about twelve years, died, although every effort was made to restore him after their state became known. The second of the children was restored, and she, on her recovery, attached herself to the School, and brought a little brother with her. They are still in the School, and the girl is now a forward scholar in the highest class. The parents have been induced to come to Church; and the mother is again blessed with reason, although not perfectly restored. Several of the friends of these children, beside the parents, have also been induced to come to Church. This is but one case out of several.

Aug. 11 --To-day several people have been with me: one, a young man lately brought under the influence of the Gospel. He said, "I am come to talk with you. My mind is in much heaviness, on account of the hardness and sinfulness of my heart." I read to him Romans vii., and he several times said, "That is how I feel: that is my case," &c. Some weeks ago I learned he had been to Nathanael's, 1 and sowed his wheat for him and repaired his fences. It is true he has married Nathanael's wife's sister; but still, such personal spontaneous acts of kindness are too rare among the Natives. On another occasion, I met him on the road going to spend a night with the afflicted family. A few days ago he came to me with a pig, late in the evening, and told me he wanted a blanket. I reminded him that it was dark, or nearly so. He said, "Never mind, between you and me." The blanket was given to him. Next day I visited the afflicted family, and found that Nathanael's wife had given birth to a child, which was wrapped up in the new blanket. They told me he had brought it in the night, and that he had that day gone to Waimate to sell some wheat for them. His visit to me to day explained the matter. These are, I hope, fruits of the Spirit: the change in this young man is very conspicuous. He attended Heke during the wars, and no doubt was of a daring character. After the peace he returned home to his family, who are religious, and applied himself to acquire a knowledge of writing and figures. This he did with great facility, but until lately his bearing has been distant and proud. He is by birth respectable.

Sept. 5 --Yesterday we witnessed evident fruits arising from the reading of your Jubilee Letter. About a fortnight ago a baptized woman broke out in bitter lamentations against herself, on account of

ber sins; not of sins committed, for she is generally a correct-living person, but of sins of the heart. To-day she spoke in the same way, and acknowledged that when she heard your Circular Letter read she was struck with surprise at her careless indifference for the salvation of her soul. She felt that it was of more importance than she had hitherto, considered it, seeing others took so much care for her, people of a distant land, whom she had never seen.

Sept. 18, 1849 --Our number of Native Communicants last Sunday was seventy-three, the largest number we have had since the war. Our previous examination took a fortnight. In some, much and distressing ignorance was manifested, although combined with sincerity and a Christian Life; in others, there was a clearer knowledge; and in a few the light of life shone forth. All were, I trust, under the influence of grace; and all have, I hope, received Divine benefit. William Watipu, a Chief and a Teacher, and the writer of one of the Letters to you, said, in answer to the question, "What is the inward part or thing signified?" "We eat the body of Christ, and drink His blood, truly, but spiritually. The symbols enter the body: the spiritual benefit, the heart." On my assuring the people that such was the nature and extent of our sins that we each required all Christ's atonement for us individually, and that, nevertheless, there was a fulness of salvation in Him which never could be exhausted, "Yes," replied a young Chief of great respectability, "it is inexhaustible, and may be illustrated in the following way--If a body of water twenty feet square were to be measured off in the sea, a ship might arrive, and take up the quantity from the identical spot, but it would leave no vacancy. Thousands of ships might follow, and do the same, but still there would be no diminution of water, even in the measured spot."

Oct. 15 --On the 1st of this month I set out to visit the Mangakahia District. In the afternoon of the 2d we arrived in the valley, and found a canoe ready to take us down the river: in the evening we arrived at the Pa. The 3d we spent in giving personal instruction to the Communicants.

On the 4th we proceeded down the river to Reweti Maika's place. Here also the system of giving personal instruction was commenced. The 5th was spent in the same way, and one adult was set apart for baptism. The Catechumens were not so forward as we expected to find them. This is easily accounted for, by the root of bitterness which has sprung up amongst them, occasioned by the party mentioned in my last, who laid claim to a portion of their land, and which was quietly given up for the sake of peace. 2 Nevertheless, it was evident that their minds were not quite easy under the deprivation, as some of them did not hesitate to make uncharitable remarks, which I felt it my duty to check. As the party who had taken the land were within a few miles, I made up my mind to pay them a visit.

On the 6th I set out, accompanied by the Chief Rewiti, for that purpose. We were received, according to general custom, with civility. They proved to be a baptized party, and had been among the first baptized; but, having joined in the war, the effect was destructive. The Chief was a fine specimen of the native race. He was a grey-headed old man, but upright, nearly six feet high, and stout withal. They were earnestly invited to return to the fold from which they had strayed, and assured of a gracious acceptance, if they returned with true, penitent hearts. I found they had been twice visited by our Teacher, and with good effect, as their little prayer-bell was neatly fastened up for daily use, and the books were lying about, as though they had been used that morning. I told the Chief I hoped to visit him again in the summer, and recommended that they should live quietly together.

I did not invite them to join us on Sunday; but on Sunday Morning, the 7th, the Chief, with a few of his party, arrived. This gave me an unexpected pleasure, and much apparent satisfaction to all parties. He remained with us during the Services of the day. An adult was baptized in the morning, and six children at the Evening Service. Here I had a Congregation of nearly seventy people, where, three years ago, the name of God was scarcely thought of. The whole of this little Congregation is in an inquiring state.

On Monday, the 8th, we returned to

the Pa, and found the Congregation still assembled, but digging up and clearing their burial-ground, in order to sow it with grass. In the evening, after Service, I examined Candidates for Baptism, among whom was an elderly Chief of considerable note during the war. Previously thereto he had lived in the neighbourhood of the Bay, but since the peace he has been living at Mangakahia. For some time he has had a strong desire to be baptized; but there appeared to be a kind of wild inconsistency about him which made us fearful of his sincerity. Now his conversation was more to the point: in fact, it was perhaps as much as we ought to expect from him., Nevertheless, he must wait three months longer, and in that time his true character may manifest itself. The 9th was spent with the Communicants in close examination. At the Evening Service a child was baptized. During my stay, 61 Communicants were booked for the next Lord's Supper, and 49 Candidates for Baptism examined.

On the 10th we left, and proceeded up the valley on our way home. In the afternoon we arrived at the furthest Native Settlement on the river. The party was small, and amongst them were a few of the former baptized, who had fallen back on their native customs. These looked ashamed. In the evening they assembled. After the Service, several of them spoke of the state of their hearts. They were addressed again on the morning of the 11th, and we took our leave of them, and set out on our return home, which we reached in safety after a hard walk of ten hours.

This journey has given me and my Christian fellow-travellers much satisfaction. The Lord appears to have blessed the labours of His native servants, who have been again roused up, not only to labour at home, but to visit the places around them. To their labours, under God, I ascribe the present movement. Two of the Teachers returned from a place twenty miles distant from them, while we were there. The account they gave of their reception was very encouraging. As it was their second visit, they found Morning and Evening Prayers had been re-established, for this also is a fallen party. One of them had become, during the war, quite a prophet amongst them, and was the cause of much evil. The account then given of him was astounding, and the Natives looked upon him as a prodigy, so that whatever he said was acted upon. This man did not attend, but the Teachers found him out, and entered seriously into his deception, shewed him his danger, and pressed him to return into the Church by true repentance, at the same time assuring him if he did not he would be lost. He said he now knew he had been deceived, and felt ashamed of himself, and did not like to unite himself with the praying people, as he was sure they could only look upon him with suspicion. The principal Teacher, Matiu, was much encouraged. It is by such simple means, carried out in sincerity, that the Lord is likely to bless.

On our return, I learned that the Chief Heke was very ill, and on the 13th I went to visit him. There did not appear to be more the matter with him than usual. His lungs have been affected for some time, and every new cold is felt. He was not in the best of tempers with my people. I entreated him to return into the bosom of the Church, and had his consent to visit him next Sunday. 3 These are the trials which affect the Missionary-- trials arising from the apostasy and inconsistency of false brethren. I have heard and read of the deprivations and laborious duties of Missionaries, but have never felt them during the twenty-five years I have been a servant of the Church Missionary Society; but the hinderances thrown in the way of the Gospel by false professors I have felt

In reporting on the events of the past year we feel great cause for thankfulness, notwithstanding that it has been a year of great affliction to our Natives, and, through them, to us. We do not remember to have had so severe a winter and spring. Between thirty and forty have died in our District. The prevailing disease, which has been so fatal, may be called the New-Zealand fever, and

but a few years since it destroyed numbers. It has greatly alarmed many, especially as it has carried off several careless professors, among whom were two backsliders.

One of these, named Thomas, formerly a Teacher, died, we trust, truly penitent. He had fallen into sin, and of course left his work, to the great grief of his people, for he was the promising Chief of his village. When he was first taken ill, his fellow-teacher of the same village visited him, but found his conscience hard. He said he thought the Almighty was dealing hardly with him; to which the other replied, "Have you forgotten the parable of the barren fig-tree? Three years I come seeking fruit on this fig-tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground?" This greatly-afflicted man was visited by us and the Native Teachers, and much was done to alleviate his sufferings; but the Christian Natives would frequently say, "He will not recover: his body will be destroyed, that his soul may be saved in the day of the Lord." It appeared to be so, for, as his afflictions increased, so did his penitence. All who visited him believed that he had found mercy of the Lord. He felt that his affliction was just, and that God had forgiven his sins. He died, exhorting the people to hold fast on in the way of godliness. It appeared remarkable that some of his heathen friends should say to us, "His affliction and death are just, because he had forsaken his faith." It is a well-known trait in the New-Zealand character, that they admire consistency: an inconsistent Chief or Teacher soon loses influence.

Several Christian Natives have died happily in the Lord. I have great pleasure in reporting the case of Arihia, the mother of a young man named Paul, who died a happy believer in the Lord. Some few years since, this woman was one of the Congregation at Okahu, at the foot of the beautiful mountain range at the back of our Settlement. She possessed a simple, lively, and strong faith in the Redeemer. She often said that she had been a wicked woman in her day, before the Gospel came; and she considered it to be "God's work of mercy" to spare her to hear the words of life. I had known her for many years, and, whether in health or affliction, I esteemed it to be a privilege to converse with her. She could not read, but her memory was well stored with Gospel truths, and her case, as well as numerous others that we have known, serves to shew the lasting benefit of our incomparable Church Service, and also of duly and systematically instructing the Native Teachers. The last time I went to see her she repeated the first and second verses of the 23d Psalm. During my absence from home she died happily, conversing much with her Teacher and others of her relatives. I inquired of her son-in-law, "What particular words did your mother leave for her children?" He said, "She talked much with her Teacher; but her chief word to us was, that she had been formerly a great sinner, and that it was God's work of mercy which had made the difference." Her children fully understood this to mean that they were to attend to the same Word, which was able to make them also wise unto salvation.

The temporal state of our people, the affliction excepted, has been prosperous. They were blessed with abundant crops of wheat and kumara, and, in many places, with large crops of potatos. We have also great reason to be thankful that, with one exception, they have lived in peace and unity. 4

Our duties, both in and out of the Settlement, have continued the same as in former years. We have twice visited the distant places of Parengarenga--North Cape--Oruru, and Parakerake; and the Natives living within ten miles of us have been regularly visited during the year, as circumstances have permitted.

The Native Teachers have continued to render their cheerful and acceptable services and it is through them that the Word of the Lord is regularly heard in every village which has embraced the Gospel. On Saturdays I have held a Meeting for them, which has, notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, been more than usually well attended, and with increasing interest. There are often eighteen Teachers present.

We have had separate Schools for boys and girls, which are doing as well as we can expect. The number of boys now

attending is nineteen, and of girls twenty-two, fourteen of whom are boarders.

On the Lord's Day three stated Services have been held in the Settlement-- two for Natives, and one for Europeans-- which have been well attended; also a Sunday School. Prayer-meetings, and other Services for the spiritual benefit of our people, have been held twice on week nights. The Lord's Supper has been administered twice during the year, viz. in June and November: the Communicants at the former period were 125; at the latter, 183. Two Candidates for Baptism were admitted into the visible Church by the Archdeacon, on Sunday, December 2. There are many more Candidates for Baptism on probation.

During the year fifty infants have been baptized, eight native couples married, and there have been three burials in the Settlement.

An old man, named Nathanael, died in our Settlement about a month ago. This man embraced Christianity ten years ago, and was a constant attendant on the Means of Grace. He lived two miles off, but, though lame as well as old, nothing but very bad weather or illness would keep him from church. When he found himself poorly, five weeks since, he came to our Settlement, and sent word to us that he was ill. In a little time his hands swelled fearfully, and he was told that probably this was the Lord's call to him to leave this world. He was quite resigned to it: two years before he had, feeling himself lonely, prayed to the Lord to take him if it were His will. It was his delight to have the Word of God read to him, and to be prayed with. Three days before he died I visited him, when he said, "Satan is buzzing about me." He was asked what Satan wanted, when he said, "To trouble and darken me." On being asked what he must do, he replied, "I must fight the devil, when he will flee from me;" and he wished the Word of God to be read to him, and to be prayed with. He fought Satan with God's Word and prayer, and Satan left him. The Christian Natives had a high regard for him. Two Teachers were with him when he died; and they reported that his conversation was very edifying, and that he died very happy in Christ. After he had been buried some days, I learnt incidentally a circumstance which, with regard to his real conversion, is worth recording. I had always supposed that he had been a very quiet, good kind of person; but I was told that he had been a very wicked man, and a murderer of the worst sort. I was told that it was frequently his practice to tell his friends how vile he had been, and he used the strongest native word to express how he "loathed" himself on account of it. Where conviction and conversion are genuine, they act in the same way in people of all nations; for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him, to give both repentance and remission of sins.