New Zealand.
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New Zealand.
CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
EASTERN DISTRICT.
THIS District contains the whole of the easterly projection of the North Island, from the middle of the Bay of Plenty on the north coast, to beyond the south extremity of Hawkes' Bay on the south-east coast. It contains seven minor districts, one of which, East Cape (Waiapu), is vacant, in consequence of the illness of Mr. J. Stack, and his return to England.
OPOTIKI.
This is the first Station on the coast proceeding westward from Tauranga, and lies at the eastern end of the Bay of Plenty. It is in charge of Mr. J. A. Wilson.
General Report for the Year.
At the Waimana a principal man, with two more who were active some time since in erecting a Chapel for the Roman-Catholic Priest, have renounced their former errors and joined our Services. They lately sent their Native Teacher to Opotiki for copies of the Scriptures: I gave him 11 Testaments, and promised some smaller books as soon as they should be received. At Maraenui, also, I am pleased to see that a number who had lapsed into heathenism are gradually returning, which change has been effected by the example of their old Chief Wakatane, a man probably upward of 90, and who has of late become a regular attendant on the Lord's Day Services. At Te Kaha, at least for a season, the Papists have met with greater encouragement than in any other part of this district: their numbers amount to about 50; but as the system is chiefly supported by small presents, the sincerity and continuance of their adherents may justly be suspected. Our Chapel, which is now finished, is an exceedingly good specimen of native workmanship, and is sufficiently capacious to contain 900 or 1000 people. The Natives of Tonupahore are also building one of durable frame-work, which will very easily contain the whole population. My visits through the district, during the past year, have occupied ninety days.
HICKS' BAY (KAUAKAUA).
Need of more Labourers--Plans for the Future.
The Station in this Bay lies at the extreme north-east point of the promontory. It was vacant for several months in consequence of the Rev. G. A. Kissling's removal to Auckland, during which time Mr. C. Baker, of Uwawa, paid it several visits, as he did also to the neighbouring Station of East Cape: but where the Missionary forms almost the only Means of Grace possessed by the people his absence is sure to be the occasion of much spiritual declension among his people, and so it has been found to be in these cases. However, at the
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commencement of 1847 the late Rev. C. L. Reay was removed from Nelson, to supply the vacancy. His account of the want of yet more help is thus stated in a Letter dated Kauakaua, May 21, 1847, after he had been to a Committee Meeting at Uwawa--
Upon my homeward route I was enabled to take a superficial glance at the character and extent of the field in which my labours are now cast. That glance, however, was sufficient to lead me earnestly to hope that assistance may ere long be rendered to me. There is in this part a numerous population, and especially an abundant supply of children. The population extends over more than forty miles in a right line, and when Mr. Stack, who had long resided in the country, was employing himself among this people, it was considered to need the superintendence and additional exertions of the Rev. G. A. Kissling also. That field of labour now devolves upon one only, which heretofore had the services of two.
His future plans are stated as follows, in the same Letter--
My present idea is to have seven central points at which to assemble the inhabitants from the adjoining villages. Mr. Kissling had left with the Teacher of this place a list of persons who had received books for which they were to make payment; but none of them have offered to do so. Several have applied to me for books; to whom it was observed that the practice in these parts is that a certain payment should be given for the books: thereupon they have gone away quite unconcerned. Applications have also proceeded from some of those at a distance, who would readily carry heavy loads for miles to purchase any article they particularly fancied: in these instances the reply has been, "We will give payment in this--when you come to our village, and have native attendants with you, we will supply their wants." I said to them, "St. Paul has written, 'Be not forgetful to entertain strangers; for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.'"
UWAWA.
This Station is situated about 100 miles down the east coast from Hicks' Bay. It is in charge of Mr. C. Baker, who, during the year 1846-47, was frequently absent in consequence (Dec. 1848.) of visits to the northward Stations, and a visit to Auckland for Mrs. Baker's health: for the same reason, while at home his time was much occupied in domestic duties. Mr. Baker mentions that the number of baptized persons in the immediate neighbourhood of his Station is 304, unbaptized Inquirers 200, and Communicants 257. He laments the occurrence of many instances of gross immorality, even among professedly Christian Natives.
Sphere of Labour--Journeys.
Of the extent of his sphere of work Mr. Baker says--
You will perceive that I am the sole Teacher of more than 1300 Natives, scattered over a considerable portion of ground, and contained in a good number of villages. I am every thing to this people--their public and private Teacher; their parish doctor and arbitrator; the Superintendant of the Native Teachers, and their instructor. I have to travel from village to village, not confining my labours to the Stations of Uwawa and Tokomaru, but, as occasion requires, visiting Turanga in some of the Archdeacon's long absences. On account of the distressing events that have occurred at Waiapu 1 and Hicks' Bay, 2 I have, within the last three months, made two journeys thither also. It should be observed, that, while the Natives concentrate on Saturdays for the purpose of attending Divine Worship on the Lord's Day, during a considerable portion of the year they are widely scattered, in attending to their plantations, on week-days.
Honesty of the Natives.
Mr. Baker gives, in his Journal, an interesting notice of the abstinence from their old habits of robbery exhibited by the Natives on occasion of a wreck. He writes--
Aug. 25 -- I hear that the schooner "Robert Burns" is a wreck at Anaura.
Aug. 26--I sent my son William to Anaura, to inquire into the case of the wreck of the schooner.
Aug. 27--My son returned, and reported the "Robert Burns" a total
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wreck: the Natives had conducted themselves well, in abstaining from taking undue liberty in the case of the wreck.
