1814-1853 - The Missionary Register [Sections relating to New Zealand.] - 1852 - Church Missionary Society, Kaitaia, Middle District, p 363-368

July 30, 1849 --Our Monitor's wife was taken alarmingly ill with inflammation of the lungs, through exposure to the wet and cold in fetching firewood. Her illness increased to severe convulsions and hiccough, and we expected her dissolution every moment. When she was at all sensible, she repeated suitable hymns and precious portions of the Divine Word. Her husband being Monitor of the Boys' School, the greatest anxiety was felt and manifested both on her and his account, and prayer was made to God in faith. When I had given her up, her husband went outside, and kneeled down by moonlight, about eleven o'clock at night, and prayed to God to restore her to life and health, if it were His will. He told me he prayed, using these words, "Here I am, O Lord. I desire to do Thy work in my appointment. Have mercy on me and on my dying wife; and, if it please Thee, restore her to life and health, that I may go on in the work of teaching; for if my wife dies I shall be hindered (or useless)." Not willing to see her die, I left at twelve o'clock, and offered up prayer for her recovery; and though I left her in awful convulsions, I felt convinced that she would now recover. Through the divine mercy she is restored to perfect health, after having every care the Settlement could bestow for many weeks. We all accepted this as a mercy: all the Natives, and many Europeans who witnessed her sufferings, look upon her as one raised up from the dead.

Feb. 6, 1850 --I set off for Parengarenga --North Cape--and had a pleasant, but very hot trip. The Natives had seen our fire, and were out in a canoe for us. They were all very glad to see me, and the Natives with me. The Christian Natives here have built a commodious Chapel. I had a Service with them on Saturday, and a meeting with many young people who are Candidates for Baptism. The two Teachers here are the eldest sons of the two principal chiefs, and are good men-- each of the same name, Brown. These teachers, and others of the people, behaved most properly to the captain and mates of a vessel, who, with two Boarding-School girls, were put on shore a few miles distant by the piratical crew, who mutinied the night they left Sydney Cove, and have run off to California. The New Zealanders would not have behaved like this a few years ago. These Christian Natives, living sixty miles from us, shewed these afflicted people all the kindness they could, and the Teacher's brother came with two of the officers to our magistrate, who instantly sent a vessel to convey the party to Auckland. The pirates were "honourable thieves," for they gave the captain and all of them the whole of their clothes, &c and a little bread, &c, to keep them alive. The young women also were honourably dealt with. The chief, Tom Bowline, who formerly lived at the Three Kings, was on the spot when these pirates landed the party, and, fully understanding matters, went off in his canoe to the vessel, taking potatos, &c, which he bartered for bread, tea, and sugar, in order to provide for the white people. Would, or could, our own countrymen have done more? May the prayers of the Lord's people, from the founder of the Mission to the present day, in behalf of New Zealand, be abundantly answered! The last time Mr. Marsden was in New Zealand, I heard him say to a whole Missionary Party at the Waimate, "The Lord will surely bless you and your families, and I believe that He will also bless the Natives." The pirates passed by our coast at Wharo, sailing with two black flags. Several other vessels were to be taken in the same way.

Feb. 16: Lord's Day --At Parengarenga I held Divine Service, and preached to the whole population--for all attended --from the parable of the lost sheep. The Natives were very attentive, but the Chapel was oppressively hot.

While the Teachers, were having Sunday School, I visited the principal chief's

daughter, about 16 years of age, who is all but dying of consumption, and very anxious to be baptized. I had weeks ago heard a good report of her, and was anxious to see her before she died. She told me what she had told some of our travelling Teachers, that she never knew how to pray till she was afflicted. She seemed to have a simple faith in Christ, although her experience was, of course, not of a high order. She was a fine, healthy-looking girl when I was here last year: surely man walketh in a vain show, and childhood and youth are vanity but too often. Her father and mother are most attentive to her: very few English People could sustain the constant watchings that these parents and many others are called upon to endure for their sick friends. An old blind lady, an aunt of the dying girl, and also an elderly woman, came to be baptized. The blind woman seemed very desirous of being devoted to Christ. She said, "I cannot see any thing in this world, and it is my wish to be Christ's, and to seek happiness in Him and His Word." She spoke out with great boldness. Several pious chiefs, and one or two Teachers, were present when these three adults were baptized--by the sea-shore. The sick girl chose the name of Margaret, and Brown the Teacher, nephew of the two aged females, chose Leah and Rachel for them. I was rather surprised at the names; and in the evening I asked Brown who told him of Leah and Rachel. He replied, "I have read as far as that in the 'Scripture'"--Pentateuch--"which you sent me"--about two days before. "Leah was the elder and Rachel was the younger, and so I chose these names for my two aunts--Rea [the native pronunciation of Rachel] for the blind one, being the elder. I saw from this that the Pentateuch would be most eagerly sought for, and read with attention. This young man is allowed by all who know him to be one of the most obliging and polite Christian Natives known, and he is much noticed by the principal chiefs of the Rarawa.

March 3, 1850: Lord's Day --I am at Oruru, on a visit. The Parakerake People are also here, and assembled with the Oruru People. I had Divine Service with them in the open air, and they were very attentive. The text, 1 Peter iv., was very appropriate to a company of backsliders. I strongly invited all to Christ, to arm themselves with His mind, and leave off sin, referring to that beautifully-translated chapter, Romans vi., and also viii., extraordinarily fine! The congregation were roused when, in the latter part of the discourse, I told them that a man who considered himself a good swimmer might leave his canoe a little while, and amuse himself in the water; but a shark coming after his leg, he would call out, "Take me up! take me up!" They well understood this, as applicable to backsliders exposed to Satan's destruction. An elderly pious chief told me, the next day, "Your preaching yesterday morning caught the whole congregation"--like a shoal of fish in a net, which he illustrated by extending both his hands.

In the evening I had Divine Service, when Noble and his new wife again attended. I addressed the assembly from the same text as in the morning, giving them notice that Hopepa would say a few words. I allowed him time, by being a little shorter than usual. He took for his text the first four verses of Psalm cxxx. I retired within the tent while he addressed the assembly. I was a little fearful that he would not handle the subject properly, especially the fourth verse; but I was most agreeably surprised, and think that I never heard a better discourse. He chose this subject himself, at an hour's notice; and considering the character of the assembly--a considerable portion of them backsliders, having marked their faces--it was admirably well chosen. He referred to Psalm xvii, dwelling much on prayer that goeth not out of feigned lips. But when he came to the fourth verse, which I supposed he would find a little difficult, he was singularly happy in its elucidation, and extremely polite. So far as I can judge of native feeling, they must have felt his remarks to be very poignant. He said, "Verse the fourth says, There is mercy with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared." He made a significant and well-chosen pause, and then cuttingly added, "Our verse does not shew us much mercy. Let us transpose the verse, and put it in this way--'Let us fear Thee, and Then thou wilt shew us mercy.'" He also much pleased the good Natives here, by relating the account of Karaka Wati, a person of great and victorious courage, into whose sacred name all brave New Zealanders were once

baptized, or confirmed. He said, "Formerly, when young men first went to battle, they would assemble at the sacred water, and be sprinkled in Karaka Wati's name. Now, should a young man prove courageous, and successful in catching a man, he would have his name holden up, and his father, and mother, and sisters, would be anxiously listening, on the return of the fight, to hear the youth's praises spoken of, and great joy thereby would be given to his friends. But should the youth, sprinkled with sacred water in the name of so brave a man as Karaka Wati, prove a coward, you all know how ashamed all his friends would be of him, and no one would say, I will be like the coward." Hopepa then applied this to backsliders, and besought all present not to copy after cowards, but to look to Christ and His saints, and persevere.

Our Readers must be prepared to hear of occasional manifestations of the old warlike spirit which once glared so fiercely among the New Zealanders. It could not be expected that a conflagration which ad involved the whole native population, and which had burned so fiercely and so long, could in so short a time be so completely extinguished as to leave no embers behind. These outbreaks, from the facility with which they are stayed, only serve to exhibit more clearly the decided change which has taken place in the native character.

Aug. 25, 1850: Lord's Day --A few days since there was one of the narrowest escapes of a battle at the Settlement Bridge that ever I witnessed. This was owing to great imprudence on the part of our chief Busby Ripi, who had sent a heathen native to take a native woman--the widow of an European lately deceased--for one of his young men whom he wished to see married. I never saw natives more determined: and on the woman's protector, who is a brave native chief, calling out to the women and children to "clear off" the bridge--for action--the opposite party stripped off their clothes and rushed with their bayonets to the bridge. I was sitting amongst the opposite party at the time, endeavouring to prevail upon them, as they had acted on wrong counsel, to return quietly. When they heard the words "Clear off!" or "Stand clear!" each one said, "Yes, yes!" "Indeed, yes!" "I respond to that!" and their clothes were off and spears in hand in a trice. They dared each other in an awful manner-- another European and myself were on the centre of the bridge--but after a quarter of an hour's coaxing, with good words, the parties separated friendly, and left the woman with her friends. The Natives of New Zealand are something like the Arabs, and other free and independent nations. They must be dealt with according as they are. They are a race of soldiers--of men who know their own history well, and their country's capabilities; and it is, indeed, a wonderful thing to find that they have been so tamed by the Gospel that thousands have received the Truth in the love of it. In my opinion, a thousand Lazaruses raised from the dead would not be a greater miracle than the reception of the Gospel by the Natives of these islands.

Sept 29 --During the past week there were two grand weddings, the bridegrooms being two of the principal chiefs' sons. They slaughtered fifty-four pigs, a sight I never saw before. The head chief observed to me, "A wedding-day is a notable day, and this is one of our good customs--to let our friends see that we have something for them to eat when we call them together." This chief gave me, for ourselves and school-girls, two of the fattest and best pigs--280lb. of pork. If our Natives would exert themselves, which I hope they will do yet, they might rise in a national capacity under the mild sway of our Government; and they might greatly help, in time to come, to maintain a Christian Ministry.

Nov. 21 --I set out with my Natives, Busby, our chief, and our children's Schoolmaster, for Parengarenga. We rode by the western coast, a level road of seventy miles, eleven being across the desert, but which to me, from its variety, its lakes, and the numbers of sea birds which come among the sand-hills to lay their eggs, was very interesting. The chief was very kind to our Natives, and when one was tired he gave up his horse. At other times he would say,

"Come, let us give up our horses to the Natives a little, and rest them," which we were glad to do. I never travelled with a more polite and kind fellow-traveller in my life. On arriving at the river we swam our horses across, three at once; and so strongly did they swim, that the large war-canoe was pulled along by them. Hope inspired them, for there is a hill in front of the crossing-place, and green food upon it. In returning, the horses are not so courageous, when the Natives assist them, by paddling: the reason is, the flat desert of white sand on the opposite side appears all sea, and so they are at once disheartened. My horse at first actually turned back. So much for hope and its power.

Nov. 24, 1860: Lord's Day --A large party of Natives assembled in their commodious Chapel, among whom was the chief Tom Bowline, of the Three Kings. His son was a Candidate for Baptism. I this morning admitted into the visible Church of Christ twenty-five adults and two infants. This was a very interesting sight, as this place was, through war, utterly without inhabitant, and it was the Gospel alone that permitted these people to return, and thus to inhabit the desolate places. I much enjoyed this visit, and pray that the Lord may still bless this people, not weighing our merits, but pardoning our offences. In the afternoon I visited an old and feeble woman, an attendant on the Means of Grace, whose son, a fine young chief, was most anxious to have her baptized. I had a long talk with her, and baptized her in the name of the Lord, the son promising to pay every attention to her while she lived.

Dec. 4 --I went to the Poutaki, a village nine miles off, to visit an old blind woman of the name of Pore. She had been anxious for baptism for some time, of which I had been several times reminded by the Teacher, and also by the chief, her relative. They would say, "The blind person wishes to be baptized; she will not live long; do not delay." This old woman has long attended the Means of Grace, and appeared truly serious. Our itinerant Native Teacher was present, and he inquired of her, "Do you know what it is to pray?" To which she answered, "Do you mean long prayers, as those used in Divine Worship?" "No," was the reply; "but short petitions, such as that used by the publican, God be merciful to me a sinner. She replied, That prayer is my sleeping friend, meaning, that that was the petition she mostly used, and her last prayer at night. She walked into the native-built Church with some Christians of the village and the Native Teacher of the place, and was baptized by the name of Keturah.

Dec. 15: Lord's Day --Mr. Burrows and I administered the Lord's Supper to 280 Communicants. The congregation was very large and very attentive. Five pounds five shillings were collected in silver, and two pounds ten shillings in tickets for produce, for the Schools. The Natives seem to rejoice to give something, and I have heard many of them say that it was very painful not to have any thing to put on the plate. It was formerly thought that a New Zealander must never give any thing. This, however, was in "the shrubbery days" of the Mission, which we trust have been succeeded by the growth of more matured plants, and a better state of Christian Feeling. When the venerable Mr. Marsden first founded the New-Zealand Mission, he found it absolutely necessary to give much away to the chiefs and people. A little present generally satisfied them, such as a fishhook, a shirt, a pipe and tobacco. So accustomed was he to make presents, that when he visited New Zealand for the seventh and last time, and was staying a week at our Settlement, he gave to every Native who visited him a pipe and a fig or two of tobacco, which they received from the white-headed old gentleman as a gracious present, and would linger about the front of our house to have a long look at him--they said he looked so venerable.

March 29, 1851 --We had our Teachers' Meeting. When we were reading through the Psalms, I asked why the word "judgments" was given to the laws or Word of God. Himeona, our oldest Teacher, said, "Because, although God is absent, or unseen by us, yet His Word judgeth us." "Yes," rejoined Meinata, "a man is sometimes unwell before he knows it, or at least before he owns it; but if one who understands looks him in the face, and says to him, 'Are you unwell?' he will say, 'I am.'" This Meinata thought was like the Word, which sometimes judged a man by telling him his malady before he owned it, and thus

the Word or law of the Lord was called judgments. I told them, in addition, that it meant deep thought or counsel on the part of the Almighty. They assented to this, and said that what the Lord did or said was not a thing said or done at random. In this manner our Native Teachers' Meeting is conducted--i. e. with an orderly liberty, if I may so speak, of making remarks in reply to my questions.

I am happy to report that the Church has hitherto, under God's blessing, fully answered our design. Natives from all parts of New Zealand find here a House of Prayer, in which they may worship God, in spirit and in truth, and hear and learn His blessed Word. Our Christian Converts likewise, residing in the vicinity of Auckland, who have Chapels at their several Settlements, assemble here in a body on the days when the Holy Communion is administered, or when their Candidates for Baptism are presented for special instruction.

We have three Services on Sundays--

1. Morning Service in the native language. It is gratifying to report that at this Service we have at all times a good attendance, and frequently most crowded congregations, listening with devout attention to the messages declared to them in the name of Christ our Saviour.

2. Afternoon Service. This is avowedly for a small number of Natives, who have in some degree learnt the English language, and delight in an English Service; but it is, in reality, regularly and respectably attended by Europeans also.

3. Evening Service. A small, select, but interesting congregation, forming a circle, as it were, with our Native-School Establishment.

We have Sunday School also from twelve to two o'clock p m. On the 30th of June I received 27 adults into the body of Christ's Church. They had been daily under my special instruction for seven weeks, and from what I saw and learnt of them I have reason to hope and believe that they came to the ordinance of baptism by repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. I also baptized 26 infants during the year. The average number of Communicants at St. Barnabas' is 56, and the Communion is administered every three months.

The number of inmates at this establishment was, to the month of August, 29. As the means for its support were inadequate, I gave to 13 of them my willing consent that they should depart to their respective places of abode. I say willing consent, because I felt unwilling to involve the School again in financial difficulties. The average number, consequently, for the year 1850, has been 21 or 22. The conduct and progress of the girls has given Mrs. Kissling and myself unqualified satisfaction. We look upon these girls as seedlings which will bear fruit, or as bread cast upon the waters, which will be found many days after our labours have ceased in the Missionary Field. Their moral and religious influence will no doubt have, in due time, a bearing on the aboriginal population. As our strength declines, our humble efforts, in dependence on God's grace, may thus grow with the growth of the rising generation, and tend to glorify our blessed Saviour in ages yet to come.

The people generally attend the Services, both baptized and unbaptized. Since the last admission to baptism, a great

many Candidates, in proportion to the population, have offered themselves, and been admitted as such. I have had in my family a man and his wife, with their two children, and four native girls, whom Mrs. Lanfear has instructed with a view to their forming the commencement of a School, if means should offer.

The Day School here is at a very low ebb, and can scarcely be otherwise with a population of about 2000, scattered over a surface of 200 miles, with a language to learn, medicine to dispense, sick to visit, Candidates to instruct, and sermons to prepare.

I have baptized 94 adults and 123 children in the course of the year.

The year that has passed has witnessed but few alterations in the district under my charge. While no indications of deep workings of religious feeling in large bodies have been manifested, the steady attention of my people on the means of grace sustains hope; and the happy and quiet departure of individuals in the faith of the Lord Jesus to the sure resting-place has encouraged the persuasion that the precious seed has taken root, at least in the hearts of some.

Through God's overruling providence, this district has been preserved in peace, and the efforts of some of the people, anxious for war, have been frustrated. We have now hopes that peace will be permanent. A considerable portion of my people have migrated to the neighbourhood of Auckland, some in consequence of the late war in this district, others through the attractions of the township. I have been enabled to pay them visits, but have not enumerated them in the return of congregations, as I am not at present able to visit them regularly.

The translation of the Old Testament, and the revision of the New, have occupied me much. Archdeacon W. Williams' departure for England, on leave of absence, presented such a good opportunity for printing the New Testament hi England, that I have, during these last three months, devoted myself almost exclusively to the completion of its revision. Fortunately, we had both already proceeded far in this important labour before his intention of visiting home was formed, and, during a month's visit from him to Waikato Heads, we carried it to the sixth chapter of the Epistle to the Hebrews. I am in hopes that the remainder will reach home in sufficient time to be carried by the Archdeacon through the press, with the other portions that he has taken with him. The second part of the Scripture History has issued from the press: it contains a short harmony of the Gospels, which, I trust, will be very useful to our Native Schools.