1814-1853 - The Missionary Register [Sections relating to New Zealand.] - 1838 - Australasia, p 186-188

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WE entered, somewhat at large, at pp. 5-9, into the question now agitated, of colonizing New Zealand. The subject has been referred to a Committee of the House of Lords; who will, no doubt, sift it to the bottom. In addition to Mr. Coates's able pamphlet against the designs and plans of the proposed Company, we strongly recommend another to our Readers, by the Rev. John Beecham, one of the Secretaries of the Wesleyan Missionary Society; whose testimony, with that of Mr. Coates, the Rev. W. Ellis, and others, was given with such effect before the Aborigines' Committee of the House of Commons. Mr. Beecham's pamphlet is entitled "Colonization." It is a humane and forcible appeal in behalf of the Aborigines of the earth, and a stringent investigation of the proposals of the New-Zealand Association.

Australia.

From the Auxiliaries of the B. & F. Bible Society, the sum of 1000l. has been remitted: 2280 copies of the Scriptures have been sent out, besides five grants to individuals, amounting to 300 Bibles and 950 Testaments -- Besides the School Grants of 2000l., for the years 1836, 1837, and 1838, mentioned in the last Survey, as made by the Christian-Knowledge Society, the sum of 3000l. had been previously placed at the disposal of the Bishop: an impulse was thus given to the erection of no fewer than Fourteen Churches in New South-Wales. The Board have granted 300l., toward the erection of three Churches in Western Australia. Books and Tracts have been issued to the number of 1767--The Gospel-Propagation Society now co-operates with the Christian-Knowledge Society, by a Joint Diocesan Committee. Local Contributions are placed at the disposal of this Committee, amounting to 3078l. 10s., of which the sum of 862l. 5s. is in Annual Subscriptions. The Bishop urgently requesting the appointment of more Clergymen, the Board have offered, in addition to the public allowances for passage-money and salary, a gratuity of 150l. and 50l. per annum to each of Ten Clergymen or Candidates for Ordination who would proceed to the Colony: seven of these were on their voyage, at the date of the last Report--Upward of 88,800 Publications have been forwarded to Australia by the Religious-Tract Society. The Sydney Auxiliary distributed, in its Twelfth Year, 57,317; making its total number 308,711: the Books sold realized 86l., and the Contributions amounted to 44l.: upward of 27,000 of the Publications were sent to this quarter, with consignments for sale to the amount of 150l. To Hobart Town were sent 13,350 Tracts, and consignments of the value of 130l.; to Launceston, 8400 Tracts, and a consignment of 30l.; and to Port Arthur, 3720 Tracts. The remainder of the 88,800 Publications above stated were granted to various bodies and individuals. "The Committee," it is reported, "by their Grants, have assisted in the formation of Libraries in places where the inhabitants are far removed from the Public Means of Grace; and which, in many cases, may be their only means of spiritual instruction. It is a work of supreme importance to take possession of the mind of the new settlers, lest the enemy should first sow his tares in the midst of them."

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The "Australian School Society," in connection with the B. F. School Society, has opened, in Sydney, Schools on the Mutual System: one for boys contains 120; and one for girls, 27 -- Pp. 161, 162.

Church Missionary Society.

The Rev. W. Watson continues at Wellington Valley, 240 miles N W of Sydney: the Rev. James Gunther and his Wife joined him there on the 8th of August. The Rev. J. C. S. Handt has removed to Moreton Bay. He and Mr. Watson had made further progress in fixing the Native Language, and in the Translation of some portions of Scripture and the Liturgy. Their labours among the Natives, though carried on under circumstances of peculiar discouragement, are not altogether without spiritual fruit: the Word of God begins to fix itself on the memory and feelings of the School-Children. The Missionaries are assisted by George Langhorne as a Catechist; and an Agricultural Assistant has been engaged, for the purpose of cultivating an additional Grant of land made by Government: Mr. William Porter sailed, with this view, on the 13th of February last-- Pp. 162, 384 of the last Volume, and pp. 119, 120, 175 of the present.

Wesleyan Missionary Society.

The Society endeavoured, some years since, to establish a Mission to the Aborigines; but suspended its efforts, in 1828, chiefly through the want of adequate means and facilities for prosecuting its plans with vigour and efficiency. A liberal offer of pecuniary assistance has led the Committee to resume the work. Two Stations have been fixed upon--Perth, in Western Australia; and Port Philip, At the extremity of the Colony of New South-Wales.

New Zealand.

Church Missionary Society.

Stations and Labourers.

Tepuna: 1815: John King, Cat. -- Kerikeri, with an Out-Station at Wangaroa: 1819: James Kemp, James Shepherd, John Edmonds, Cat.; 6 Nat. As. -- Paihia: 1823: Henry Williams; Charles Baker, B. Y. Ashwell, Cat.; Marianne Williams, Teacher; 11 Nat. As. -- Waimate: 1831: W. Williams, Henry H. Bobart; G. Clarke, Richard Davis, Cat.; W. Richard Wade, Superint. of Press; W. Colenso, Printer; W. King, Serena Davis, John Bedggood, James Davis, As.; 17 Nat. As. --Kaitaia: 1834: W. Puckey, Joseph Matthews, Rich. Matthews, Cat. --Puriri: 1834; W. Fairburn, James Preece, Cat. --Mangapouri: 1835: Rob. Maunsell; James Hamlin, John Morgan, Cat. --Matamata: 1835: Alfred N. Brown; John Wilson, Cat. -- Rotorua: 1835: Thomas Chapman, Henry M. Pilley, Sam. Knight, Cat. --Tauranga: 1835; James Stack, Philip King, Cat. -- A Station had not been assigned to Rev. Richard Taylor. Mr. and Mrs. Ford reached Sydney in the latter part of June, on their way to New Zealand. Mr. Octavius Hadfield sailed for this Mission on the 13th of April. Mrs. Davis, wife of Mr. Richard Davis, died on the 1st of February, of last year. Mr. Yate is no longer connected with the Society--Pp. 162, 303, 472, 520; and pp. 119, 175 of the present Volume: see, also, at pp. 104, 105 of the last. Volume, Obituary of a New-Zealand Youth; at p. 431, Obituary Notice of Mrs. Davis; and at pp. 557, 558, a Night Scene, with an Engraving.

Summary of the Mission.

Stations, 10--Labourers, in the field or on their way, 94; being 6 Missionaries, 1 Medical Practitioner, 21 Catechists, 2 Printers, 4 European and 34 Native Assistants, and 24 Married and 2 Unmarried Females--Attendants on Public Worship, 2300--Communicants, 160-- Schools, 51--Scholars: boys, 496; girls, 395; youths and adults, 94; sex not specified, 570: Total, 1555.

Our last Volume contains but little intelligence from the Missionaries: communications have, however, been lately received, and will be found in a subsequent part of the present Number. Our Volume for 1836 gave very ample details. At p. 487 of that Volume, the wanton murder at Rotorua of a Chief belonging to Matamata was stated: a savage war broke out, in consequence, among the Southern Tribes, marked by acts of treachery and atrocity never exceeded. "One diabolical murder committed," says Mr. Chapman, "not fewer than two hundred and fifty have followed; beside 200 men and children carried into slavery, and property belonging to the flax-traders to the amount of 1500l. destroyed; and, with this, the proceedings of Three Missionary Stations almost entirely brought to a stand." At these Southern Stations, the Missionaries had just established themselves, with the

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Full concurrence of the Natives, and were entering on their work of mercy, when it pleased God thus to suspend their labours. It was stated at pp. 472, 520 of our last Volume, that this war had been brought to a close; but that hostilities had broken out among the Tribes in the Bay of Islands: as the Rev. Samuel Marsden was then on his seventh visit to New Zealand, his powerful influence was employed, as it often has been, to allay the fury of the Natives, and peace was restored. Mr. Marsden left Parramatta early in February, and returned in August.

The miserable ignorance and improvidence of the Natives in times of sickness have led to the appointment of Mr. Ford to this Mission, and to the design of establishing a Hospital on an economical scale at one of the Stations.

Wesleyan Missionary Society.

Mangungu: on the Hokianga-- 1826 --Nathaniel Turner, W. Woon; many Nat. As. --"The Cause of the Redeemer," Mr. Turner writes, "is prospering. We have more than 100 Candidates for Baptism, and number 500 on our Class Books"--Scholars, 500--2000 copies of a Harmony of the Gospels, with Prayers and Hymns, have been printed--The Mission has been troubled by some of the neighbours: two Native Teachers were shot by a small tribe, whose death was avenged by others--Pp. 162, 161.

Head of the Hokianga: 1837: John Whitely--Mangakahia: 1837: James Wallis--These Stations have been just formed. At each, the Missionary will have at least 1000 Natives within his reach.