New Zealand.
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NEW ZEALAND.
Advantage of Missionary Operations to Britain.
Look to the Missionary Work in New Zealand; and what was the aspect which New Zealand once presented? What was our connection with that country? Was there any thing in our intercourse calculated to impress the excellency of the Christian Name, or its importance, on the native population? Have we not read of treachery, cruelty, oppression of every shade, perpetrated on the New Zealander, because he was a savage, and ignorant, and had not the power to redress the injustice committed against him? Do we not read in the history of Duaterra 1 an awful record of the manner in which we treated the Natives of that country? And when they attempted to revenge their ill treatment, did we not look upon them as beneath all compassion, sympathy, or consideration? When the crew of the Boyd were treacherously murdered to revenge an insult, was if not the language of France-- "Exterminate them"? Was it not the language of America-- "Sweep them from the face of the earth"? Was it not the language of Britain alone-- "Do justice to the New Zealander"? But our efforts were then unsuccessful.
When Duaterra, a Native Chief, left
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New Zealand, his sole object was to see the King of England. He knew, perhaps, that visiting him would be productive of much personal wealth in returning to his own land, as Shunghee had been enriched before; but we give him not motives which were not expressed. He entered into compact with a captain of a vessel sailing from New Zealand to work his passage to England, and receive a certain remuneration on landing. He was to be permitted to see the King, and then to be brought back to his own land. This occurred, I think, in the year 1813 or 1814; and when Duaterra made this compact, he forsook his country and his friends, and trusted himself to the hands of a foreigner--to those who had often dealt unfairly. The vessel arrived after fifteen months' passage; but of Duaterra we heard nothing. Then Mr. Marsden, if I mistake not, was in England, and about to return to New Holland, with the difficulties of opening a Mission in New Zealand on his mind; but at the same time determined to seize every opportunity which might offer, and try what could be done.
The vessel which brought Duaterra here was unable to go back; and it so happened that he returned on board the same ship with Mr. Marsden. When they had been three days at sea, one of the sailors came to Mr. Marsden, and told him there was a New Zealander in the vessel dying in his hammock--his pride prevented any developement of his history--and requested Mr. Marsden to see him and to speak to him. He went, and found a Native Chief, covered with the old tattered remnants of a soldier's watchcoat, apparently labouring under incipient consumption, his body wasting with disease, and his heart breaking with disappointment, and smothering the deep feeling of revenge. Mr. Marsden spoke to him; but it was not till after several days that Duaterra told his history, how he had been ill treated on board during his passage hither, flogged for the faults of others, and not permitted to put his foot on shore in Britain, because it would then have been easy to avenge his treatment. He told his tale of disappointed hope; that he was robbed of his stipulated pay, and sold on board his present vessel. Mr. Marsden spoke affectionately to him, and spoke of the Gospel. Before, however, Mr. Marsden landed in Sydney, the New Zealander's heart was bowed under the simple preaching of the Cross; and, clinging to Mr. Marsden, about to be separated from him, Duaterra said, "Oh! if you have a heart of compassion within you, send some one to preach the Gospel to my poor countrymen." -- "Will you protect them?" said Mr. Marsden. "Yes," said he, the Chief of seven hundred people, "if I am acknowledged still, I will give my protection to them." Duaterra, after three years and five months, arrived home. Our Missionaries landed under the promise which he made: not a hair of their heads has ever been hurt; and the golden chain that binds us to New Zealand, that bright colony of England, finds in its first link a New Zealander ill-treated in a British ship, flung into the hold, and returning, abused and insulted, to his native land. But it was God's call to us. Paul was called into the land of Macedonia by a night vision; and never more distinctly was an appeal made to Missionary Effort, than when that poor New Zealander said, Come over and help us! ----- [Rev. George Hazlewood - at the same.
New Zealand, connected with the Church Missionary Society, always seems to me to mark one of the brightest points in its history. We heard this morning, from Lord Sandon, of the Report to the House of Commons on an inquiry into the state of Sierra Leone, as to its fitness for trade, for a Settlement, for a Colony. We have not yet, so far as I am aware, had any such Report on the state of New Zealand; but if one were presented, I think the first and primary truth that would come out in it would be this, That England owes that great and flourishing Colony--for such it promises to be--entirely to the Church Missionary Society. I believe I may say, without fear of contradiction, that the first European who made a settlement there was a Missionary of this Society. And therefore, putting the work of the Society upon its lowest ground--that of political usefulness, that of extension of the commerce and wealth of England, -- the first page of any Parliamentary Report on that country should be devoted to an expression of gratitude to the Church Missionary Society, for having gained for England that promising and important Colony. ----- [Pascoe St. Leger Grenfell, Esq. - at the same.
