1814-1853 - The Missionary Register [Sections relating to New Zealand.] - 1853 - Obituary notices of New Zealand converts, p 451-452

May 24, 1851 --To-day I buried Mary Ann Ripi, the widow of Broughton Ripi, the former Christian Chief of Mawe. She was one among the few who have been faithful from the beginning. Her health had been in a precarious state for the last three years, and we expected she would have been removed from us at an earlier period; but she was ready. In my visits I generally found her rather low in spirits, but apparently looking to the Lord in a spirit of meek resignation. Her children appeared to be the chief source of her troubles; and particularly a week or two before she died, when her daughter, having been reproved by her for having joined in a native dance, or professed some desire to be engaged therein, used harsh language toward her. This gave her great trouble, and I found her in a very sorrowful state on account of her children. I spoke to her daughter in her presence, which appeared to be some relief to her mind. Nevertheless, her faith in Christ remained unshaken with regard to her personal acceptance. When I next saw her all excitement had passed away, and a calm, settled peace had taken possession of her soul. Her faith was simply fixed on Christ, and she appeared to look forward to a happy deliverance from the burden of the flesh without doubt or fear. Charles and Sarah Taurua, and other Christian Friends, were with her in her last conflict, but all was peace. Happy soul! She is now where "the wicked cease from troubling, and the weary are at rest." The last tearful drop has been wiped from her mournful eye. She had been a widow, and solitary, ever since June 1838, when her husband died to be with Christ. Now they are again united, to part no more.

Sept. 5, 1851 --I buried Pirihira Tetau. She had been long ill, and had suffered much pain, but Christ was her hope. When I saw her last she was in expectation of death, but her faith appeared simple. She was peaceful and resigned, and her end was peace. When she found herself dying she called her friends around her, and gave them sound exhortation, and while thus engaged her spirit was removed to everlasting happiness. As she died in an out-of-the-way place, but very few people were present at her funeral, and those for the most part were in a dead, spiritless state. For a length of time, although baptized professors, they had lived carelessly, and, in a great measure, forgetful of God, but now more especially so. A disappointed person, who had returned from the gold diggings of California, had given out that there were strong indications of gold on the land belonging to this party. To this information they lent an attentive ear; and it is reported that they have long been engaged, although secretly, in searching after the hidden treasure. One of them, the principal man, observed upon the heap of earth thrown out of the grave, "If it were all gold it would be of great value." He was replied to, but without effect. The gold mania appeared to have full possession of their hearts and minds. They declared to me that they knew that gold had been found, and would not hear of my doubts being raised against the truth of their assertion. I could not but regard the deliverance of Pirihira as a great blessing. She was a fine young woman, and scarcely in the prime of life, and, had she been in health, she would have been in equal danger with her friends of falling into the gold temptation. I can scarcely conceive that a greater evil could befall us than that of the discovery of gold.

During the year several Christian Natives have died, and have afforded us some encouragement. Among them was Hoani Whakapiko, who died in January. He was one of the students of the Waimate Institution, and, after nearly three years' residence there, fell into consumption. He returned to our im-

mediate neighbourhood, and during a long sickness was visited by us. It was always a pleasure to visit him, as we uniformly found that the Word of God was his companion. His mind, under the tuition of the Rev. R. Burrows, had become much enlarged, and he frequently conversed in a manner which shewed the value of regular instruction and preparation for the work of the ministry. The sacrament was administered to him at his own house by his Principal, which was a great comfort to him. But it was in his last hours that his religion shone brightest. Most of his tribe gathered around him, when he boldly declared unto them his belief, and exhorted them all to stedfastness in God's ways, telling them that they were not to lament his death. His manner was so earnest, and his words so comfortable, that his mother--who has lost many children, and who would otherwise have bitterly bewailed the loss of this son--told me that she could not mourn after such a happy death.

The effect was quite different with the father, who, although a Christian Native, had frequently pained us by his flimsiness of character. He had no patience to "possess his soul:" his health gave way, and he died under a cloud, not speaking a word to comfort his friends. He told us that he was one who had had too many masters, alluding to James; and, explaining himself, he said he had listened to wild talk, and many hard and bad things, instead of improving his talents, and therefore he was dark.

One of our school girls, the daughter of an old Teacher, died in our Settlement in the beginning of this month. There was hope in her death. A little before, she sang the first verse of a very fine sacramental hymn, beginning with

Her last words were uttered on hearing the morning bell ring, when she reproved her cousin, about her own age, for not going off to School. Her father said he could not mourn, because of his good hope of her being in heaven.