New Zealand--Church Missionary Society.
[Image of page 101]
NEW ZEALAND.
CHURCH MISSIONARY SOClETY.
We have been hitherto prevented, by the press of matter, from giving, as we proposed to do in the Number for December, the recent communications received by the Church Missionary Society from this quarter. Other dispatches have, in the mean time, arrived. We shall proceed to give the substance of them. Our readers will see, with pleasure, that the Society's designs in favour of that interesting race of men are rapidly advancing.
Voyage of Mt. Kendall to New South Wales.
Mr. Thomas Kendall, who left this country with his family, May 31,. 1813, on hoard the Earl Spencer, to assist in the formation of the Settlement projected by the Society in New Zealand, arrived in safety at Port Jackson on the 10th of October following. The passage was, on the whole, very pleasant. Captain Mitchell treated them with great kindness. Divine Service was performed on Sunday whenever the weather would permit; and Mr. Kendall exerted himself for the benefit of the convicts and their children, with whom he sailed.
On Sunday, Oct. 10th, (he says,) about one o'clock in the afternoon, we came in sight of Sydney; and, at the same moment, the Female Orphans were returning, by two and two, from the House of the Lord. This was to my feelings a most interesting object, after I had been five months absent from a place of Public Worship, and sequestered in a great measure from the world. Blessed be God, He is present every where: yet the sight of a few children, whom I considered my friends, and the expectation of meeting with pious men with whom I could associate in the Colonly, were very consolatory to my mind.
[Image of page 102]
Voyage of Messrs. Kendall and Hall to New Zealand.
The Society had engaged with Government that Mr. Kendall should act as a Schoolmaster, for a time, in the Colony, before he proceeded to his ultimate destination. But circumstances allowing of his paying a visit to New Zealand, Mr. Marsden purchased the brig Active, on board of which Mr. Kendall and Mr. Hall embarked, and proceeded on their voyage March 14th of last year. Mr. Hall and Mr. King, with their wives, had been long waiting for the opening of an intercourse with New Zealand, in order to the accomplishment of the Society's objects.
The following letter of Mr. Marsden to the Secretary, dated Parramatta, March 15, 1814, will fully explain the object of this voyage.
I was very much gratified with the arrival of Mr. Kendall and his family, as it determined me, at once, to attempt the Mission. I waited upon the Governor; and informed his Excellency what was the ultimate object, which the Society had in view in sending out Mr. Kendall. When they arrived we were building two school-houses: neither of which was ready, or Mr. Kendall would have had one of them. It will be some time before they are completed. In consequence of this, Mr. Kendall has an opportunity of visiting New Zealand before he enters on any work in this Colony.
When I sent the Active, I did not think it prudent for any of the families to go, but only Messrs. Kendall and Hall. Mr. King remains at Parramatta, as his going would not have been attended with any advantage, till they all go, should Providence open a way for them.
I have directed Mr. Kendall to bring over with him a Chief, in order that we may make some arrangement with him for the future establishment of the Settlers, and that the Government here may explain to him what are our views.
I applied to the Governor for his permission to accompany Messrs. Kendall and Hall. He promised I should go with the Missionaries, should it be finally determined
[Image of page 103]
for them to settle at New Zealand, and see them properly fixed. I should have been glad to go now, as I could then have been better qualified to furnish the Society with every necessary information.
Messrs. Kendall and Hall were in very good spirits. They have very good accommodations, and I trust will do well. I think Mr. Kendall will soon acquire a knowledge of their language. A very fine young man, about seventeen years old, the son of a Chief, has been living for some time with Mr. Kendall. They were very much attached to each other. He is gone along with him.
I wrote to Duaterra, and informed him for what purpose Mr. Kendall and Mr. Hall were coming to New-Zealand; and requested him to come to Port Jackson, or to send some person of consequence to treat with me, respecting their future settlement at New Zealand. Before Duaterra left Parramatta he was very urgent with me to send him a man to teach his boys and girls to read and write. I told him then, I would send for Mr. Kendall, and he should come.
I have sent a variety of presents to the Chiefs, and hope that the Missionaries will be treated with kindness and attention by the chiefs and natives. The young Chief, who is Mr. Kendall's companion, will be able to explain to his countrymen the object of the voyage. He assured me that he would return with Mr. Kendall.
I think Mr. Kendall will prove himself a valuable man for the work. His heart is engaged in the cause. He is very mild in his manners, kind, tender, and affectionate, and well qualified to treat with an ignorant Heathen. He applied to learn the language from Toohe, the young Chief, and made some progress. On board he will have nothing else to attend to. From a combination of circumstances, I trust that Divine Providence has opened the way very clearly now, so as to warrant our attempt.
No Missionaries could go out under more favourable circumstances than Messrs Kendall and Hall do at present; and, I trust, they will give a good account when they return. Mrs. Kendall and Mrs. Hall, with their children, are living near me at Parramatta. I shall study to make them as comfortable as I can. They are all well. Both the master and the mate of the Active have been at the Bay of Islands, and are acquainted with the natives of New Zealand, which will prove of great advantage to them.
[Image of page 104]
It is singular, that the ship's company should consist of the following nations. Two natives of Otaheite, one of Owhyhee, one of New Zealand, one European native of New Holland, one American, one from Sweden, one from Norway, one from Prussia, and English and Irish!
I gave particular instructions to the Master for Mr. Kendall to read the Service of the Church every Sabbath Day; and, when at New Zealand, that the Sabbath should be observed with the greatest solemnity. I shall be very anxious for their return, and trust that the Divine Blessing will attend them, and preserve them from all evil. I have the honour to be, &c.
(Signed) SAMUEL MARSDEN.
We subjoin a copy of Mr. Marsden's Instructions to the Captain of the Active. They bear sufficient indications of his benevolent and enlightened mind.
Instructions to Capt. Dillon.
Sir-- Sydney, March 9, 1814.
You will proceed with all possible dispatch to the river Derwent with the Active Brig, and deliver the stores on board to the person authorized there to receive them. After you have discharged the present cargo, you will then, with as little delay as possible, sail to the Bay of Islands, on the coast of New Zealand. On your arrival, you will open a friendly intercourse with the Natives, particularly with Duaterra, Tarra, Cowheetu, Coro Coro, and any other Chief that may promote the object of the voyage.
The main object of this voyage is to promote a friendly intercourse with the Natives of New Zealand. You will do all you can to prevent any quarrel between the Natives and the Ship's Company. If Duaterra, or any other Chiefs, wish to come to Port Jackson, you will receive them on board when you finally leave the Island. Or if they wish to send any of their Children to be instructed, or a young Native or two, these you may bring. I wish the Natives to be treated with the greatest kindness while you remain there; and every thing to be done, that can be done with prudence, to gain their confidence. You will inform them, that it is my intention to visit them when the vessel returns; and that I wish a chief to come over to Port Jackson, in order that I may enter into some arrangements with him for their benefit.
With respect to the articles which you may bring back in the vessel, these must depend upon circumstances. I should wish you to bring as much hemp as you possibly can; and such spars and timber as you may, with Mr. Hall, judge valuable: pork, if it is to be obtained, and salt fish: rosin, or any other natural productions. I wish you to fill up with potatoes. They had better be
[Image of page 105]
kept in the baskets in which the Natives bring them, as I think they will keep better that way.
On the Sabbath-Day I wish Mr. Kendall to read on board, when the weather will permit, the Prayers of the Church. And, when you arrive at New Zealand, I desire that you will be very particular in the observance of the Sabbath-Day; not to buy nor sell any thing on that day, but all the sailors to be clean and do no work.
Messrs. Hall and Kendall will do all they can to procure a cargo for the vessel, toward defraying the expenses, along with you; and I hope you will shew every attention to them, and make their situation as comfortable as possible. Should Mr. Kendall and Mr. Hall wish to remain a few days longer when the vessel is ready, you will be good enough to allow them to do so: in order that they may form any plan for their future settlement at New Zealand, or gain any information respecting the island for the future guidance of the Church Missionary Society.
(Signed) SAMUEL MARSDEN.
P.S. I wish you not to allow any private trade with the Natives, nor any Natives to be brought on board by the ships' company without your particular permission. And, to prevent all quarrels as far as possible, you will not suffer any of the native women to come on board, as this voyage is for a particular object.
The Active being laden, when Mr. Marsden purchased her, with government stores for Hobart Town, Van Diemen's Land, she proceeded first for that Settlement. Messrs. Kendall and Hall were received there with great kindness, by Lieut. Governor Davey, and the other gentlemen of the Settlement.
Mr. Kendall exerted himself with success in favour of Moora, a young native of the Bay of Islands, he had formerly lived with Mr. Hall;, and hearing, at Port Dalrymple, of the arrival of the Active at the river Derwent, he quitted the ship on hoard of which he had entered himself. Mr. Kendall, with some difficulty, procured his liberty, and he accompanied them to his native island.
Dispatches have just reached the Committee, containing some account of the proceedings at New Zealand; and stating the return of the Active to Port Jackson, with several Chiefs and others on board. Mr. Marsden was about to go back with
[Image of page 106]
them, under the Governor's sanction, to New Zealand. We hope to be able to give these interesting documents in our next Number.
