1814-1853 - The Missionary Register [Sections relating to New Zealand.] - 1836 - Australasia--New Zealand, p 336-342

I have, from time to time, visited the Natives along the northern coast. The last time I was there, the Chief at Matauri, with his son, collected all their people together, to hear of Jesus Christ. There is good reason to believe that the work is begun among them, and that the Gospel will bear fruit, to the glory of God, and to the good of these Heathen: indeed, there is much attention and inquiry among the Natives in general, though there are many careless ones to be found among them. ----- [Mr. King.

Some of the Natives have appointed Saturday for their Sabbath, telling us that we are under a mistake; that Saturday is the ancient Sabbath; and that the Apostles turned Monday into a Sabbath for us. They hoist a flag on a pole; pay little or no respect to the day; but at night, a few assemble together, when their Priest performs his foolish ceremonies, and mixes portions of the Holy Scriptures, which they have learned, with their old superstitions, which causes much dispute and inquiry among themselves. He assures them that the spirits of the departed tell him all about Heaven and Hell, and many wonderful tales. However, I hope and pray that God may bring them, by His Spirit, to see the falsity and wickedness of their own hearts, and to believe in Jesus Christ for salvation. Pray for us--for here are many adversaries -- that the Word of the Lord may be glorified. ----- [The Same.

The good work is, I trust, going steadily on among the Natives: there is general seriousness and attention to instruction, wherever we visit; the Christian Natives remain stedfast in their profession, amidst the taunts of some of their fellow-countrymen; schools are on the increase, and there is a general cry for instruction from the Natives; the different Tribes seem to be dropping their feuds and jealousies; and some of them are turning their attention to the arts of civilization. So much security of property was never before felt by the Natives. A few years ago, at some seasons of the year, there seemed to be nothing but plunder, from one part of the island to the other: now, all enjoy the fruits of their labour, and are living in comparative affluence, carrying their overplus produce to market, and procuring many of the comforts of life for themselves and families. ----- [Mr. Clarke.

Our Missionary labours increase upon us. About three weeks ago I had upward of ninety people with me in one day, for the purpose of religious conversation, and but few days pass in which we have not visitors of the kind. It is encouraging to see so many souls inquiring the road to heaven; but, alas! the greater number are extremely ignorant, even of the first principles of Christianity, although the Gospel has been so long sounded in their ears. My soul is often distressed to witness their slow growth in grace: in many of them it is scarcely perceptible. The number of those who profess the Gospel may be almost said to be increasing daily; but there is not that increase in vital godliness which we

so much wish to see. The religious state to which they attain enables them to cast away their old superstitions: they attend pretty regularly on the Means of Grace, and pay considerable attention to the observance of the Sabbath; but here they seem to take their stand: the rock on which they split seems to be that of self-righteousness. Through mercy, we have a few who are growing in grace, and adorning their profession by the consistency of their lives. ----- [Mr. Davis.

April5, 1835: Lord's Day--Visited Taiamai: found the congregation but small. After Service, had some conversation with some of the people. One of them said, "You have now for a long time been endeavouring to cultivate our hearts, but you have had no increase: we are gone wrong. We have cultivated our land, and it has yielded its increase; but not so our hearts."

They told me that a stripping-party had been to Temorenga's place; and that a Chief, who goes by the name of Campbell, had been firing a number of muskets, in order, as he said, to drive away Jesus Christ. The fellow had also told them that Temorenga's soul was in Hell, at a place called Aotea. As this Chief is considered a great Priest, some of the thoughtful appeared much distressed on account of what he had said and done; but as they accompanied me part of the way home, I took the opportunity of endeavouring to build them up in the faith of Christ. Returned home very much distressed in spirits.

June 13 -- Conversing with religious visitants all day. I asked one of the Chiefs if he had forsaken his sins; and, on his answering in the negative, I said, "What is the use of your coming to me for instruction, if you are not willing to forsake your sins? Your coming to me will be of no avail: your talk will not save you." Upon this, he went away quite offended; but returned in about an hour, in great agitation; and, taking hold of my hand, and repeating part of the Lord's Prayer-- "Oh," said he, "do be strong with me"--he meant, in rebuking him for sin, and in patience with him.

Aug. 7 -- To-day there is a large party of Christian Natives from Kaikohi and Mawe, come for Christian instruction: the Communicants require particular attention. Papahurihia, their new god, or their old god in a new dress, is said to be making rapid strides, in procuring converts: there is certainly a very great stir among some of the Natives, in consequence. He seems to be the Antichrist of the country: in fact, it appears to me to be the same spirit which is now working over the face of nearly the whole earth. Here the spirit is patched up in the dress of the country, in order the more effectually to accomplish the object which he has in view, viz. the hindrance of the spread of the Gospel. But, thanks be to God! the Gospel is the power of God, and cannot be hindered in its glorious progress, either by men or devils: it does work; it does spread; and its saving power must be felt and rejoiced in from pole to pole.

Nov. 10, 1834--Spent the day at Toutoka and Mawe: found some of my patients, and others, taken down. Among those whom I have seen ill for the first time to-day, is a Chief who formerly belonged to the Thames, but united himself to the Ngapuhi, a few years ago, from fear. This man is evidently in a consumptive state. He has lately had a paralytic stroke, which has deprived him of the use of his left arm. Some years ago, in an attack that was made on the Thames people by the Natives of Hokianga, this Chief received a ball just below the outer edge of his left eye, which came out at the back part of the neck: from this apparently mortal wound the man recovered, but I have no doubt that he is now in a great measure brought down from its effects.

His conversation was gratifying; and he is, I hope, seeking in earnest the salvation of his soul. He said it was his wish to live in the presence of Christ;

that his prayer to God was, to spare him a little longer, in order that he might hear more of the good Word. He spoke also very strongly on the benefit of Religious Instruction, and of the peace it produced among those Tribes which had cordially received it. He also lamented that Hongi, in his day, did not pay attention to these things; and said, if he had done so, what bloodshed would have been hindered, and what peace and tranquillity might have been enjoyed by all parties.

Nov. 20, 1834--Rode to Kaikohi, to see Hill. Found the young man in rather a dangerous state: he is very weak, and his cough very violent; but his mind is placid and comfortable. On my return to Mawe, I found the Natives so anxious for conversation, that I could scarcely break from them, so as to pass a dangerous part of the road before dark.

Nov. 23 -- Held Divine Service at Toutoka, Mawe, and Kaikohi. Found Hill better. I asked him if he did not wish his whole heart to be given up to God. "Yes," he replied; "but let it be all three;" alluding to the passage in the Catechism, in which it is said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength.

Dec. 1 -- Visited the Natives at Mawe: found seven sick people; four of whom, I fear, will die. O Lord, may we be diligent and active!

Jan. 29, 1835--There is still a considerable mortality among the Natives. Temorenga, Chief of Taiamai, is dead: he had been ill for a long time, but, on account of a quarrel which the unbelieving part of his tribe had with him, and in which some of his pigs were killed, he was removed, about six or eight weeks ago, by his own people, to a place on the eastern coast, about fifty miles from Taiamai. Every means were used to keep the poor old Chief among us, but without effect. Finding him determined when I parted from him, I said, "Well, then, you are determined to go, and so it it must be: but who will find you with the bread of life at the place to which you are going?" He looked up very earnestly, and replied, "My Heavenly Father will find me: I must look to Him." I had lamented very much the prospect of losing this influential Chief; as the Gospel was but in its infancy among his people; and I feared, as did the Chief himself, that, after his death, they would fall away. But, blessed be God! whose thoughts are not as our thoughts, nor His ways as our ways, the very reverse of what I had anticipated has apparently taken place. His brother and his party, at the place where he died, have professedly received the Gospel; and last Sunday, my congregation at Taiamai was larger than I had ever seen it, and more attentive than usual: the people also manifested a greater desire for Religious Instruction than I had ever witnessed among them; and several of them accompanied me some distance on my way home, for religious conversation.

Since Temorenga's party returned, they say that the poor old Chiefs principal cause for removal was the anxiety which he felt, lest some of the other party should get hold of his dead body, and perform the native superstitious rites over it. This is a feeling which pretty generally exists in the minds of the dying Chiefs. Two Chiefs whom I have lately visited, and who are near death, have expressed the same utter abhorrence of having these superstitious rites performed over their dead bodies. Surely Satan's influence is being diminished here!

June 14: Lord's Day -- Went to Mawe; but, as I was late on account of the badness of the weather, the Service was nearly over when I arrived. Spent the whole of the morning in visiting the sick and administering medicine, and afterward held Afternoon Service with them. At this place, I fell in with one of the Great Priests. Not being sufficiently acquainted with him, but guessing what he was, I entered into close conversation with him before the Natives, and formally accused him of practising deception upon his countrymen; and told him, in the plainest language, what the end of such proceedings would be. The poor fellow most candidly acknowledged the truth of what I said: this acknowledgment I called all the people present to witness. Surely the work is the Lord's, and to His name be all the glory! Broughton is very ill; but his heart is, I trust, right with God.

A friend of a Chief who is very ill at Waimate told me that the sick man had sent a person to Mawe to shoot pigeons, for him to eat; and that the first bird that was shot at, fell dead, as did also the second; which circumstance, he said, was considered by them as an evident token of the man's death: had the first pigeon escaped, all, he said, would have

been right. I told him, however, that I thought his prognostications would not prove correct this time, as the man was in a fair way of recovery.

Among the sick, I found the old Mawe Priest. There is something pleasing about him: he has given over all pretensions to the priestly office; and has not, I believe, had any hling to do in that way, since he had a reproving lecture, about two years ago.

June 16, 1835--The whole of the day, and the whole of last night, have been very wet and cold: the stormy blasts have followed each other in such quick succession, that there has been no stirring out. Visited the sick. Alas! many of the poor Natives are ill, and a considerable mortality is still among them. Much of their sickness may be traced to their careless manner of life, and their want of common necessaries; many of which are really within their reach. For instance, many of them are without a house that will shelter them from the stormy blast; whereas materials for building are always at hand; and the process of building so very simple, that they all understand it; and their houses, when properly built, are really very warm and snug; so that the non-possession thereof can only be the effect of idleness and carelessness of disposition. Clothing, such as will keep them dry by day and warm by night, they can make themselves; while blankets, &c. are now procurable, if they wished to avail themselves of them; as they may be purchased with a few potatoes, the cultivation of which is easy and simple, or with pigs, which are reared without difficulty, as the country produces spontaneously much excellent food for swine: so that their not possessing clothing, to preserve them from the inclemency of the seasons, to make them comfortable, and respectable in their appearance, can also be traced to that fruitful source of misery, idleness, and careless indifference.

In times of sickness they have no necessary comforts to support them: this may also be traced to the same fruitful source of evil. Their land is capable of cultivation, and would, from the congeniality of the climate, produce crops of wheat; but although seed has from time to time been offered them, yet but few, even of the Christian Natives, have availed themselves of the opportunity: however, as there is now a mill to convert it into flour, I hope it may prove an inducement to them.

The treatment of the sick, by those who still adhere to their old superstitious customs, is also a great means of increasing their patients' sickness and depopulating the country. As soon as a person becomes ill, he is made sacred, and is not allowed to remain in a house; and being exposed to the open air, or merely protected by a temporary shed, his sickness increases, and death, in most cases, is the natural consequence, particularly if it happens to be the winter season of the year. Alas! how blind these votaries of Satan are to their own interest! and how slow to learn are even the most teachable among them!

Jan. 28, 1835--This morning, the people who were working at the mill, having undermined the land which they were picking down to finish the dam with, it fell in, and two men were buried under it. To one of them, a Chief of some respectability, it proved fatal in about two hours: the other person will, I hope, do well. Every thing was done for the dear sufferers that could be done; but, alas! upon one of them, all was without effect. The poor fellow seemed sensible of his approaching death, as soon as he was extricated from the earth under which he had been buried. As soon as he saw me, which was in a few minutes after the accident, he took a very affectionate leave of me. I did what I could, in the midst of the confusion, to direct his mind to Christ. His behaviour toward us had always been quiet and respectful, so that we cannot but sincerely lament his loss. As soon as the accident occurred, I sent a messenger for the Rev. W. Williams; and another for Mr. Clarke, who, being poorly, had gone to Kerikeri, to spend a day or two for change of air. There is a considerable consternation among the Natives who are working at the mill, as to the manner in which some of the relatives of the deceased Chief may take up the cause. A few years ago, the occurrence would have proved serious; as the mill and works would no doubt have been destroyed, and slaves killed, &c.

Feb. 3, 1835 --A second accident has this day occurred among the people working at the mill-dam. A woman took up a musket, not knowing that it was loaded, and fired it off. The ball passed through a woman's thigh, but without breaking the bone; and afterward through a company of people, without doing any further mischief. This is a mysterious providence; for had any person been killed, I know not what the result might have been. The person who was extricated from beneath the earth is likely to do well: as he is a Christian man, the melancholy accident has had a very pleasing effect on his mind.

Many reports are in circulation concerning the intentions of the Natives, as to what they shall do respecting the man who was killed: some are holding out threats, while others are endeavouring to pass over the matter in a quiet way. According to custom, it became the duty of Awa, one of the Kaikohi Chiefs, to take up the cause, as avenger of blood on the occasion. When this man heard how the accident happened, he said, "Had I possessed my former feelings, the mill would ere this have been destroyed; but as the case now stands, I shall not take up the affair. My views of these matters are changed; and further, the man destroyed himself foolishly: he was not destroyed by the White People."

After having consulted together, we gave the brother of the man who was killed a blanket and an iron pot, with which he seemed very well pleased. Some of the fearful people tell us, that the mill is in danger of being burnt on account of the accident; but we have no such apprehensions ourselves: however, to make as sure as we can, we have commenced keeping a nightly guard in the house. A few years ago, it would have been the cause of much trouble and distress; but I trust those times are in a great measure gone by. How thankful we ought to be, that no accident of a serious nature has occurred until now, since the foundation of the Mission!

The affairs of our little Station are still pleasing; and we sincerely trust that many of our Natives are indeed seeking in earnest the eternal salvation of their never-dying souls.

We have received several Letters from some of the native men residing with us, which were written in a very humble strain, and have encouraged us much in our labour: but there is a dark side to the question, for very many of the Natives are still living fast bound in misery and vice, obeying Satan as their lord and master, and apparently delighting in his ways: the words of Divine Inspiration are very applicable to them-- Eyes have they, but they see not, or appear not to see: they have ears, but they hear not. They listen to the glorious truths which are revealed to them; but in very many it is like the good seed sown in stony ground, which is soon scorched up by the sun of temptation, and withers away. But still, while we would wish not to write in a style calculated to raise your expectations too high respecting the advancement of our Heavenly Father's kingdom in this benighted part of the globe, yet it is our duty to inform you truly of the state of our affairs; for while we are often discouraged by some, yet we are much encouraged by others. Through the blessing of our Heavenly Father, we have gained much favour in the sight of the Rarawa tribe; and, as far as temporal things go, they behave very kindly to us, shew us much respect, and, I believe, do what they can to render our abode among them comfortable; and, by our entering into all their little difficulties and trials, and endeavouring to soothe and comfort them, they have, at least in appearance, become very much attached to us.

New Zealanders in general seem to have a great respect for the Bible; and, although they may not be able to read, yet they have often wished to purchase them: and we are invariably obliged to tell them, that a Bible can be of no use to them until they are able to read it; therefore, they must try to learn; and when they can read, they shall have what they desire. I am happy to add, that many of the Natives, who are living at a distance, manifest a great desire for instruction; and with a very little assistance from us, they are learning to read and write: and their efforts have so far been crowned with success, that they know some of the letters of the alphabet, and can write them.

The following circumstance will shew you that many of the Rarawa are, at least in appearance, manifesting an increasing desire for their spiritual welfare.

When we first came to Kaitaia, we had a small Chapel built, just 25 feet long by 18 wide, which was not half filled: but our numbers are now increasing weekly, our Chapel is much too small, and we have found it necessary to enlarge it. The Natives come from a great distance. ----- [Mr. W. G. Puckey.

With regard to the spiritual state of the Natives among whom we dwell, we hope we can say that they are advancing --though but slowly--in the knowledge of God and His most holy word. It appears to us here, that some of our friends in England are almost too sanguine; that they suppose the Heathen to make faster progress than they really do. Their progress, in all that is good, appears to us to be very slow. Although the Natives are outwardly civil, yet the savage heart lies hidden under the civilized face. The tribes of the Rarawa behave very well, and are altogether respectful toward us; which outward good conduct--so different from former times--we must attribute, in part, to the influence which Missionaries have cast around them: nevertheless, their moral character in the sight of God, their old and confirmed habits of polygamy, adultery, theft, lying, and suicide--to say nothing of malice, with its murderous effects--of their endless superstitions, which hold them in worse than Egyptian darkness, and with which we have continually to grapple--all remain in force, in as great a degree as though no Missionary had ever resided on the island. They all know, however, that our chief design is, to teach them to live as we live; and they are often constrained to acknowledge, though sometimes unwillingly, that all their good things come from us, and, also, that they never lived in a peaceable manner till we formed our Station here. ----- [Mr. Matthews.

Feb. 22--Fine. Natives around quiet. At nine o'clock, the bell summoned us to attend Service. The strangers appeared to be ignorant of its intent, and ran off to their encampment. I followed them; and, after some time, most of them returned, and we were enabled to hold an agreeable Service; but they were nearly all strangers to our proceedings, and I was obliged occasionally to stop during my address, until order was restored. Upon the whole, they behaved well, though impatient for the end. We afterward assembled at Mr. Wilson's house, for English Service; where we mustered twelve adults, besides children. In the afternoon, I attended Mr. Fairburn's Infant School: twenty-eight were present. It was exceedingly interesting, as being early in this quarter. Most of the children were boys from seven years downwards. Each put on a blue frock upon entering the house, which gave a clean, uniform, and pleasing appearance. The children manifested much pleasure, and desire to learn, and went through their various evolutions with considerable precision. At the conclusion, some of the old ladies, among the visitors, made a special request that the children might be marched round the flag-staff, in order that they might see them. Their wishes were complied with, to their great admiration. But one of the most important characters of this School was Tini, a lady of considerable note, and the wife of one of the principal Chiefs here. She came in a clean blue gown; and took the lead, under Mrs. Fairburn, in pointing to the letters, and keeping order. She appeared very quick and intelligent, and is, I understand, a very well-behaved person. This is a highly important feature in this early Mission. Surely this moral wilderness shall soon rejoice and blossom as the rose, and this desert break forth into singing. To hear these children repeat their Catechism, and answer questions put to them, was very animating; and we could not but feel the assurance, that our labour was not in vain. We closed the day by a Prayer Meeting, as there was no other English Service. The strangers from Wakatiwai had conducted themselves very quietly all day; but were now growing impatient, and desirous to break forth from that restraint under which they had evidently been held, and therefore began gradually to commence their Haka (dance). I sent to Herua, to request him to keep his people in order, and to remember that the Lord's Day had not yet closed. The noise immediately ceased.