RECENT INTELLIGENCE. New-Zealand Mission.
[Image of page 82]
RECENT INTELLIGENCE.
New-Zealand Mission.
We rejoice to state that the communications of our Missionaries continue to be of an encouraging character, and that the desire for Christian instruction, which, from a combination of untoward circumstances, had so much diminished amongst the New Zealanders, seems to be reviving.
We now give some extracts from Despatches lately received.
MIDDLE DISTRICT.
Mr. J. Morgan, who is stationed at Otawao, mentions in his Journal many interesting circumstances. On June 17th, 1848, he proceeded to visit the native village, Wawarua, to which blind Solomon, the Native Catechist first carried the Gospel in the latter end of 1845. 1 Its distance is thirty-seven miles from the central Station; and, owing to delays in crossing the rivers, Mr. Morgan did not reach it until an hour after dark; yet at that hour about twenty Natives assembled, with whom he held a Bible class. After prayers they kept him until midnight answering Scripture questions, and conversing about a mill which they wish to order from England. These Bible classes were in active operation throughout his district, and Mr. Morgan adds--
It is very cheering to find so many, living at such a distance from the Station, holding fast their profession, and nightly assembling themselves together to read and converse over the sacred Word of God. These evening meetings under the Native Teachers are very general in the district, and I always request that they be held every evening, either in the Teacher's house, or some other convenient place.
The subjoined account of the death of two little girls is a beautiful illustration of the Scripture truth, "Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength"--Psalm viii. 2.
Aug. 3, 1848--I buried Papahia's child. After the funeral, Manewa informed me of the death of two of his little girls, aged about seven and eleven years. One of them died on the Sunday, and the other on the following day. The eldest girl, during her sickness, kept her Catechism bound by a girdle round her waist, and frequently made use of it to instruct her
[Image of page 83]
brothers and sisters. She exhorted her parents to continue to seek God. "Mother," she said before she died, "be strong in prayer, and do not neglect to go to hear Nikorima -- the Native Teacher --preach about the things of God." The youngest said, on seeing her parents weeping over her, "Weep not for me, but for yourselves. I am going to enjoy eternal life. Be strong in prayer for yourselves. Pray to God to give you new hearts, &c." The father expressed his determination to follow in the footsteps of his children. I much regretted that my arrangements for the day did not allow of my obtaining further particulars; but I felt cheered at the joyful end of these lambs of Christ's flock.
We add the following evidences of advancing civilization amongst the Natives of the Middle District.
Oct. 23, 1848--At Kimi Hori's request, I went down to assist him in the engagement of a European as a farm-servant. He entered into an engagement with a man named Carter to farm and improve the land, and to receive in consideration one half of the standing crop of wheat. The two first ploughs and harness to be purchased by Hori and his tribe, after which Carter is to bear one half the cost of ploughs, &c, purchased in future. The fences, &c, are to be erected jointly. A cart for the use of the farm to be purchased jointly. A barn forty to twenty feet to be erected. I also engaged a European to make about 10,000 bricks for ovens for the Natives. Manuka --one of Hori's tribe--engaged a carpenter to build him a boarded house, twelve by sixteen feet, with a verandah. The cost of the house, including timber, windows, doors, chimney, and painting, will be about 30l. Manuka delivered to the carpenter pigs to the amount of 20l., and some sawn timber. This will be the first native boarded house erected in this part of the country. Some months ago I recommended the Natives to take flour down to the Auckland market, and they are now preparing to start with three or four canoe loads. Hori's party are also scraping flax to purchase the ploughs, &c, for their intended farm. I felt thankful to see so decided a step taken toward civilization; and although these advances must, occupy a portion of my time, I feel assured that it is our duty to endeavour to promote both the spiritual and temporal good of the Natives. A few years ago, when visiting them, they rejected the Gospel, and turned a deaf ear to all our entreaties to cease from war and cannabalism. Now the Gospel is winning its silent way, and civilization adds fresh comforts to their homes. The miller informed me that the quantity of wheat ground at Ngauhuruhuru this season is about 2-300 bushels. The wheat fields are more extensive this year.
Oct. 24 -- Engaged to-day with my Native Teachers. In the afternoon a party of Natives arrived from Auckland. One of them brought a bell, about 241b. weight, a present from the Governor, Sir C. Grey, to Kimi Hori Waru, for our Chapel at Ngauhuruhuru.
EASTERN DISTRICT.
The Rev. J. Hamlin has returned to his Station at Wairoa, in the Eastern District, from whence he had been absent four months at Auckland for the benefit of medical advice. On reaching his Station he was enabled to write the following brief, but truly encouraging communication to Archdeacon W. Williams --
I found all things here, as it regards the Natives, in a most encouraging state. The number of Candidates this year I understand will exceed any of the former years. Reading classes, too, have considerably increased, as well as Congregations and Schools. The Native Teachers have attended to the post assigned them.
WESTERN DISTRICT.
We now turn to the Western district, under the charge of the Rev. R. Taylor, assisted by the Rev. S. Williams.
Mr. Taylor's district is very large; and, to supply as far as possible the spiritual wants of its scattered population, he adopts the following plan-- A village is selected as a central point, to which the Candidates for Baptism and the Lord's Supper may assemble, from different directions, to meet their Pastor, and, by prayer, and the use of the Sacraments, and the ministry of the Word, be edified. Mr. Taylor thus describes the encouraging circumstances which presented themselves at one of these places of assemblage, called Hikurangi--
Oct. 1, 1848--It was a cold frosty night, but the morning was lovely--not a cloud was to be seen. My pulpit was carried out on a grassy plain near the Church, which was enclosed with the tents and sheds of my Congregation, built in continuous lines so as to form a square. On one side was the Church, and beyond it a beautiful grove of karaka trees; on the other, a beautiful grassy slope, crowned with houses and people; in front, a mountain, forming an amphitheatre, running to the height of nearly
[Image of page 84]
a thousand feet, crowned with verdant grass and trees; and behind, a mountain range, rising abruptly from the banks of the river. Before me was a Congregation of full 2000 in number. The lesson for the day--Mark iv. 4--was very appropriate--Christ preaching to the multitude from the deck of a ship, from the calm surface of a lake, which, though hushed in deep repose while he proclaimed the Word of Life, afterward was ruffled with storm and tempest. I selected this subject for my text, and I trust I was enabled to speak a word in season. There was something peculiarly interesting in this assembly, it being the first re-union of the tribes which has taken place since the war. Many have assembled here who never before joined the Church. With them this has been the first acknowledgment of their faith in Christ, and this was the case with the great heathen Chiefs of this river; so that I cannot but regard it as a memorable day, one which will have a lasting effect upon these tribes.
After Morning Service the Communicants, 440 in number, assembled in the square before the Church, which was too small to contain so many. Standing, therefore, at the door, I commenced the Sacramental Service as far as the consecration of the elements, when half the number entered and received the Sacrament: they then went out, and the other half took their place. Among them was my old friend Wirihana of Pipiriki, who is perfectly blind. Whilst these were receiving that Sacrament, I caused those who did not partake, to hold School with the unoccupied crowd. I arranged my Candidates for Baptism--120 adults, and 40 children--in a double circle in front of the pulpit. In the middle of the circle was laid a poor woman in nearly a dying state. I never baptized so many Chiefs at once. Among them were nearly all the chief leaders of the late war. It was an interesting sight to see them all kneeling in a large circle, dressed in their best, to be admitted as servants of the living God.
