1814-1853 - The Missionary Register [Sections relating to New Zealand.] - 1848 - New Zealand, p 281-286

June 28, 1846: Lord's Day--I held Service in Herekiekie's house; but had a very small Congregation. I was pleased, however, to see that Chief and his wife attend, as they did not when I visited them before. He told me that he always refrained from work on the Lord's Day, and read a portion of the Scriptures from the book which I had given him. Before, he was an avowed follower of the Romish Church.

After Service he took me in his canoe to Te Rapa, where I went to bury the dead. The lake is so much higher than usual, that it seems to threaten to cover the low lands. When we were half a mile from Te Rapa, I noticed that the lake was still discoloured with the vast quantity of mud which had flowed into it. We landed a little beyond the site of the Pa. The entire valley now presents nearly a level surface, being rather the highest in the centre, and sloping from the mountain to the lake. It is one mass of ochreous mud, with here and there a fragment of a tree protruding. The stream which flowed through the centre of the valley, which formerly was the lowest part, now flows on one side, and falls over a cliff about 12 feet high, forming a considerable cascade. The mass of mud was at first more than twice its present height. It may still be 10 feet deep in places; but at the sides it is not more than 4 feet, and where Te Heuheu's house stood about eight. Had he fled six yards to the left he would have escaped. The only vestige left is a lofty pole, which, strange to say, though standing on much lower ground than the Pa, escaped, and the turf near it is still green. The avalanche went on either side of it. (June 1848.) The trees, and vast quantities of soil, were carried into the lake, and some of the branches are still above its surface. On these the poor fowls were found sitting in the morning, and were saved. The place is still tapu; but not the slightest opposition was made to my going on it. I went as far as the supposed situation of Tamati Waka's house, accompanied by Wiremu, in places sinking up to the ancles. I read the Burial Service over him and four other baptized Natives still entombed in their houses. It was a solemn consideration that so many bodies, which, when I was last here, were endowed with life and health, were now buried in the mud on which I was standing! The old Chief, talking of his rank, and power, and capability of doing any thing he liked--all gone, and the place itself a desolation of mud! Both man and the works of man have alike disappeared from the spot, and the wild ducks swim unmolested close to what was once the busy haunt of man. Secret things belong to the Lord, and in His hands we must leave them. I could not repress a tear from falling when I thought of the past and compared it with the present. A poor old man, Horopapera, whom I baptized when. last here, pointed out the residence of the baptized Natives, and his countenance shewed how deeply he felt the annihilation of his tribe. I spoke to him of the vital importance of faith in Christ--that, clinging to Him only, and at all times, we may ever have a sure anchor of hope. The poor old man heartily assented to what I said. The entire body of Natives belonging to the Church of Rome, which here had its chief seat in Taupo, was, I believe, cut off to a man-- Protestants, Papists, Pagans, all removed! Horopapera is the sole baptized Native who survives. I afterward ascended to the grave of Abraham, a Port-Nicholson Chief, whose body, being recovered, was buried. Having performed this last melancholy office, we returned to Tokanu.

June 29 -- I went to see Herekiekie's new house, nearly the last work of Te Heuheu, and a noble building of the kind it is! It is about 40 feet by 25, and is 20 feet high in the centre by 6 at the sides. It is ornamented, in place of family pictures, by a number of images representing the different heads of his family. If faithful resemblances, they do not speak much for the beauty of the originals. This is the largest, most highly

ornamented, and best finished, of all the native houses I have seen.

After the tangi, which was very long and loud, speeches were made, Herekiekie leading. One old Chief alluded to the many deaths which had lately occurred among their principal Chiefs--Turoa was dead, Watanui had followed him, and now Te Heuheu. This was a proof that their old gods cared very little for them, or else had very little power to help them: "and what," said he, "can the new God do? The Missionaries speak of His power, His goodness, His love--can He make alive? Great is my grief when I see all the old Chiefs thus dying away." After the speeches, food, as usual, was brought: forty Natives of the Pa came in a long row, each bearing a kete (native basket) of food. When the bustle and confusion had somewhat ceased, I had an old gun-barrel struck as a bell, and soon had a large Congregation. In a long speech I referred to what the old Chief had said, telling him that, although our God was a new God to him, He was from everlasting; that His power was infinite; that He could kill and make alive, &c.; concluding by expressing my hope that the Divine Blessing would bring home the word to their hearts, convincing them of sin, and constraining them to flee to Christ.

In the evening the two brothers of Herekiekie came to my tent, soliciting the gift of a Testament On examining them in it, I was pleased to find that they could read; and I trust they are anxious to learn the truth. It cheered me to hear them, and to notice the attention they paid to what I said. When I was here before, all these people were the avowed followers of the Church of Rome: they then paid no attention to my words, and only Herekiekie would take a book from me, which I thought was more from politeness than from any desire for it. Now, I trust a new order of things has arisen, and I humbly pray that the seed of eternal life may take root in this place. Herekiekie publicly attended Service this evening, which is a great step to something better.

A poor girl, the wife of one of my Wanganui Natives, who is staying at Rotoaira, came through all the snow that I might baptize her little babe, which was only born yesterday. I told her how imprudent it was to make such a journey in such weather, just after her confinement; when she said that she was afraid of missing me, as I was going to return a different way, and she was not going back to Wanganui for several months.

July 1, 1846--This morning I held Service in Herekiekie's new house, and had a very large Congregation. I had a long talk with Herekiekie, and I trust he has now made up his mind to renounce heathenism. He has engaged publicly to read prayers every Lord's Day to his tribe, which I cannot but hope the Lord will bless as a means of his conversion. I felt thankful to hear his determination, and thought it an ample remuneration for the fatigue of this journey.

I had a kind reception from Iwikau and his tribe; but there is little prepossessing in their appearance, and they are either Heathen or Papists. Iwikau sat some hours in my tent, and seemed to assent to the advice I gave him not to abandon Taupo. 1 After he had left, Horopapera came. The poor old man shed tears when he spoke of the dead, and said that he was alone among the Heathen and Roman-Catholic Natives; that they laughed at him; but that he was not discouraged, for he felt he had nothing to lean on but God. I trust a good work is going on in this poor simple Native's mind. Iwikau attributes the death of his brother to his having turned to Christ, which he said he had done since I visited him last summer, and that that caused the anger of his native god.

The body is concealed in some cave; "for," said the Chief, "if it were known where he was buried, people would come from all parts to steal his bones." He is erecting a kind of mausoleum to his memory. The Natives were busy preparing food for the expected Tangihanga (crying party), and I was much pained to see a poor pig thrown alive on the embers, and a fellow scraping off with his hands the skin and hair as it was scorched from the body, the poor animal all the while uttering agonizing cries. I made them knock it on the head immediately. They did not think they had done any thing wrong, which shews how hard the native mind naturally is--how dead to pity, and also the amazing power of God in softening these flinty hearts, and filling them with the feelings of humanity.

July 3, 1846--About ten o'clock the fleet of canoes containing the Tangihanga appeared in sight. They formed a close body, and then the party fired their guns. The Natives of Pukawa assembled to see them, and each gun which made a louder report than another elicited a shout of admiration. As the fleet drew near it was loudly cheered, and presented a very interesting appearance. It approached in the form of a close triangle, and appeared to be one mass of human beings, each having his head ornamented with a green branch. They were received with the waving of branches, and loud shouts of welcome. A long fence of fern, about six feet high, had been previously made to form the court of reception, in which the visitors stood in the form of a half moon, the people being arranged in a similar way on the opposite side. The principal Chief, with some females, stepped before the rest, and then the tangi commenced. There must have been nearly a thousand present, of whom fully six hundred engaged in the tangi; and such a loud, continued cry I never heard before. When it was over, speeches were made, each speaker repeating a song that he thought appropriate to the matter of his speech. It is surprising what a number of songs they have, and how they think of them. Iwikau spoke in a very animated way, and danced, and kicked up the earth with his heels, to the admiration of all.

The subject was, his disgust at the land for having overwhelmed his brother, and his determination to leave it, and thus to punish it by rendering it taurekareka. 2

I had a further conversation with Iwikau, in which he repeatedly declared his intention of abiding by my advice. I told him I had now finished the object of my journey, and I trusted that it would please God to make him a lover of peace and a believer in Him. He expressed much warmth of feeling; and when I told him that I must this evening return to Tokanu he said he could not hear of it--that we had not slept together; which I suppose was the greatest token of friendship he could shew me. I told him, however, that I was quite satisfied of his friendship without this further proof.

At Tokanu I had prayers in Herekiekie's house, in which he united. I trust he and his brothers are sincere. This is the first time I have had any real hope that they listened to me. Herekiekie informs me that Iwikau dare not stay at Pukawa, as he does not possess strength to maintain his post; that the Waikatos threaten to have Pahi kauri, the name of Te Heuheu's meri, which, in fact, is the chief emblem of the sovereignty of New Zealand, and may be styled, with some justice, its sceptre. Iwikau has buried it. He does not succeed to his brother's rank, because he is not the first-born, who is styled the Ariki; and therefore it is not probable that the powerful Tribes around will allow him to retain this much-prized token of supreme chieftainship.

July 4 -- About ten o'clock we left, Horopapera being one of my companions for the journey. He is going--for the sake of some books which I have promised to give him --a hundred and fifty miles in the depth of winter! We reached Poutu, seated at the southern end of Rotoaira Lake, a little before sunset, and shall remain over to-morrow.

July 5: Lord's Day--I held Service, morning and evening, in a Church which is not quite finished; but will be a very good one of the kind when completed. I was much pleased with my little Congregation: it was very attentive, and,

like a cottage in a vineyard, it stands solitary in the midst of heathen neighbours. I was pleased to see Hemapo, Herekiekie's next brother, at the Service and School, and afterward to hear him read the Scriptures in his house. The Church was entirely built by a Native called Puke, who little more than four months ago was a Heathen. The Lord, however, stirred up the Spirit within him; and, to the surprise of the neighbours, his first work was the erecting a Church. Nor has he relaxed in his efforts since; for, as the Teacher of the place is a very indifferent one, he has in a great measure supplied his place, being very diligent in teaching and hearing the Catechisms. In one of the houses which I entered, I noticed a Letter from William to the Teacher, and was much pleased with it. Among other things, he tells him to be sure that his building be placed on the right foundation, that is, Christ; and he exhorts him to pray that they may be effectually drawn up out of that pit into which Satan had cast them when they were living in heathenism.

I held Divine Service in my tent with my little flock in the wilderness. I afterward heard them repeat the Catechisms, and questioned them as they said it. In the evening I had an interesting conversation with Raniera, the Teacher of Tunuhaere. Speaking of prayer, he said he knew that when we really prayed in faith God heard us. I replied, "Yes; but as we do not know what is good for us it is better to commit ourselves to the Divine Care, and pray that the Lord may give us what He sees to be good for us." "Yes," said he; "but when you and I were on our journey from the Waitara, along the Taumatamawe road, when it poured down incessantly day after day, you prayed that the Lord would cause it to cease, and the next morning it was beautiful and fine; so God does answer special prayer. "I had forgotten the cir cumstance until he reminded me of it, and then I recollected the prayer, and the Lord's goodness to us. I told him that if we lived as God's children, He would, as our Heavenly Father, give us all things we needed here, though we have no right to expect the fulfilment of every prayer; because oftentimes we know not what we pray for.

I overheard a Native in the next house praying most fervently for himself and wife, and then for me, his Minister. I have long urged upon them Family Prayer, and it gives me much pleasure to find that some have adopted it.

During the year all the Native Settlements connected with this place have been visited. To the villages of Massacre Bay I have made two voyages, and to the other distant portions of the Station one voyage. Latterly, the people at Motueka, to which place we have now a well-defined horse-track, have had periodical inspection and Services at intervals of about a month. This is one of the places at which my people have chief intercourse with the European Settlers, and one or two instances have occurred in which my influence has been beneficially employed in mediating between the two races. For the most part, I am thankful to say, the Natives appear to be most friendly and peaceable in their disposition. They are almost universally taking to the cultivation of wheat; to which, under the conviction that it will tend to establish them as a settled population, I have urged them whenever opportunity has presented. I have occasionally taken advantage of my presence at their Pas to direct their ope-

rations in sowing, reaping, and stacking their corn; and in the evenings these proceedings have formed the basis of instructive remarks. Both personally--upon occasion of their visits to the town --and by letter I have had much intercourse with the great body of Natives connected with me. An acquaintance with the Gospel has extended among the southern Natives; so that from the Ngaitahu who dwell below Cape Foulwind, and from the same tribe living near Port Cooper, I have requests for instruction, books, and Baptism.

Oct. 6--I reached Tomatea, and was most heartily welcomed. I believe in each little village they would rejoice to have their own Pastor, if that were possible: all would appropriate to themselves the Teacher who has to be divided among many places. Comparing the exceedingly small number of Labourers with the vast extent of country, population, and number of villages, we should in despair ask, What are they among so many? but for the evident tokens by which it is manifested that the Lord has blessed, and does bless, the work.

Oct. 7--I very carefully examined six well-instructed young persons, who are well reported of. The classes here are in good order; and altogether the state of the village encourages me very much.

Nov. 25--I have had full employment in reading with the Natives, answering their questions upon the subjects of our lection, and examining the Candidates for Baptism. As many are absent, the number who attended School on Lord's Day was but 130. It should always be remembered, that, according to the present constitution of the native character and habit, our Schools are not restricted to children--possibly very few children may be there--but comprehend all who make a profession of Christianity, from the youth just entering upon life even to decrepit old age.

Jan. 26-28, 1846--I have spent a considerable portion of these days in the native harvest-fields, directing and assisting the Natives in their labours, this being their first wheat-crop. They had, in one part, a few sickles, and in another the services of one hired White Man; but the larger number effected their task thus-- plucking up the stalks, they formed a bundle of them, and then with a sharp hatchet chopped off the roots. In this manner they cleared a considerable space very rapidly. They have an excellent crop, and, for the most part, they completely separate all injured ears, and put them quite away, before they bind up their sheaves.

It is not impossible that various difficulties may yet beset the Natives, arising even from their industry. Thus, my people have been diligently cleaning flax; whereupon some of the Ngatirarua have attempted to tapu the most convenient and valuable flax districts, so as to prevent my Natives cutting the leaf. Again, threats have been whispered of an intention to drive my people from the lands which they have, with infinite labour, cleared and cultivated. The principal party who would try to dispossess them have not made any profession of Christianity.

May 25--At Waikato I met a steady, intelligent Native, Abraham te Matimati, who was baptized by me some months ago, and travelled down, with a young man named Libni, to his own people, about three weeks' journey down the west coast. He brought me a letter from Mr. Charles Heaphy, who has since returned, after spending some days at Araura, where he found several who had never before seen a White Man. He tells me these are all desirous to see me, regular in their worship, and anxious for Baptism. Abraham has given me a list of seventy-five in all who belong to that Pa. See how, in an almost miraculous manner, a knowledge of the Gospel spreads among the Natives of these isles! Abraham

came northward to see his friends: he also saw the work that was going forward, heard the glad tidings, and believed: he hastened down to tell his people, and I recommended Libni as his companion, because he was well able to read and well reported of. Now, from distinct and independent testimony, we learn how their communications and conduct have affected all their fellows. Lately I have heard that a few years ago that part of the coast was deemed most savage; insomuch that sealers have for weeks and weeks lodged upon the Black-reef, not venturing to land lest they should be destroyed. Now, Mr. Heaphy reports that not only did they hospitably entertain himself and his fellow-traveller, Mr. Brunner, but that, when they were leaving, all the inhabitants escorted them a day's journey, carrying supplies for them. Not many weeks have elapsed since one of the principal Teachers in Queen Charlotte's Sound wrote to me, to say that a native vessel had come up from Port Cooper, the crew of which were all desirous of Baptism, and that they wished for a Teacher and for books.

In working homeward we were one day thoroughly drenched; and the rain and storm continuing through a second day, we returned a few miles, in order to obtain shelter. In the course of the night, when they supposed me to be asleep, Joseph Ngapaki, and the crew with him, gave to their friends a very correct statement of my explanations to them on the previous Lord's Day--what one had forgotten another remembered: adding together, therefore, their several stores, they thus assisted the Word in its free course.

In each village that I entered, as soon as the people knew me to be a Missionary they seemed to think their long expectations were about to be realized, and that they were to have a Father placed among them. Great, indeed, were the expressions of their disappointment when they heard that I was only journeying along, and that I could hold out no prospect of their obtaining further help; all that was in my power being earnestly to press them to be constant in their entreaties to the Lord of the harvest that He would send forth labourers into His harvest. But the necessity for further assistance arises not only from the anxiety of the Natives, and from their numbers, but also from the distances intervening between the villages, and the labour of travelling. When people in England hear of one hundred, or one hundred and fifty miles, their ideas run upon railroads, and they imagine that a few hours would suffice to convey a traveller from one end of his course to the other. They know not the tedious, wearisome walking over heavy, and sometimes trackless, sand-hills and stony beaches; they know not the cliffs and hills; they know not the burdens which are often to be carried, in the shape of books, medicine, provisions, tent, &c. In fact, taking into consideration all the difficulties which attend Missionary Operations in this particular part of the country, my opinion is, that the actual calls for your services are such as must necessarily exhaust the strength and powers of the youngest and most active; and that, if it be held desirable fully to carry out the operations of the Society, a very large reinforcement, at an early date, should be sent out and placed within the range of country which now claims your unaided labours. That the people are willing to hear is beyond dispute; but, to illustrate the zeal which we not unfrequently find manifested among them, it may be mentioned that I met with a large body of Natives travelling up to a Religious Service whereat they expected their European Teacher to minister, some of whom must have walked a distance of perhaps fifty miles in order to be present on that occasion. Upon our Missionary Tours such events are not uncommon.