1814-1853 - The Missionary Register [Sections relating to New Zealand.] - 1850 - Church Missionary Society, Eastern District, p 104-109

The religious feeling of the Natives in this District during the last twelvemonths seems to have remained nearly stationary: though civilization has made advances, it is to he regretted that the good seed of the kingdom, in too many instances, has been sown among briers and thorns, and brought no fruit unto perfection. The Natives of Wakatane and Pupuaruhe have been embroiled in continual quarrels, commenced originally by the Heathen and Papists, and drawing along with them some of our own people. In these frays the Missionary of the District has been frequently solicited, by various parties, to interpose; and though one of the Heathen has been killed, and a few wounded, he is happy to say that for the present their differences appear to have terminated. There is a pleasing circumstance connected with one of their Pas--the Natives of Piripai neither engaged in the struggle themselves, nor permitted any to remain among them who were disposed to do so.

At Opotiki the sole energy, of the in-

habitants seems directed toward acquiring property. They labour incessantly at their cultivations, the produce of which is sent in their vessels to Auckland, though their returns are far from compensating for the moral degradation which this kind of intercourse naturally conveys. The Children's School at this place, which was re-commenced in May last, has since been closed, partly on account of the parents moving to cultivate or fish at a distance, but more especially from the difficulty of procuring a suitable Teacher, the last having left in the spring for his plantations.

At Tunapahore a very good Chapel has been finished, and the Natives of Maraenui and Orete are about commencing similar buildings. But the only really cheering feature in this District, during the past year, is the decline of Popery in some of the Native Settlements. At Wakatane, Waimana, and the Awanui, Roman-Catholic Natives have joined our Congregations, and a few months since their Chapel at Te Kaha was closed. Indeed, with the exception of Opotiki, I trust Popery is on the wane, and so far it is well; though it must also be confessed, with sorrow, that indifference and lukewarmness prevail in many where we had reason to hope better things.

This event again places our District in much difficulty. Our little band of four individuals is in charge. of a line of coast of four degrees of latitude; but the actual distance from north to south is 480 miles. It is true, the population is small, and is confined almost exclusively to the coast; and, by comparison with other parts of the world, the importance of such a field may seem small. But there is this striking difference in our case, that more than three-fourths of our Natives profess Christianity; and that, out of 12,000 people, old and young, there are 1960 Communicants. I venture to hope that you will be prepared, under our very pressing difficulties, to send us two or three really substantial men to fill up some of the gaps which now exist; for on the efficiency of your Mission, under God's blessing, I believe will depend the existence of the Native-Christian Church.

It is a hard struggle for them, beset as they are oh every side by evil examples. If these Natives are to be left to themselves the consequence may be inferred from what has already taken place at the first onset of the Colony. Nearly all the young females were swept off by the White People, so that now there is a large number of young men, between the ages of twenty and thirty, with no prospect of marriage. The absorption of those tribes must soon follow. Attempts are frequently made, at the more distant villages, to draw off the females; but there we can generally prevent the mischief, although it is only by the utmost stretch of that influence which we possess, the exercise of which sometimes brings us into serious collision with those depraved

characters who are thus disappointed in their object.

In reporting of the Waiapu Stations it must be borne in mind that a heavy accumulation of work had arisen, in consequence of the afflictions wherewith they were visited who formerly occupied these Stations.

All the villages have been visited, or their inhabitants collected at the central villages; the classes of Candidates for Baptism duly examined; and the members of the Church collected for the purpose of reading the Scriptures and instruction. The children have been examined by me separately; but up to the present time I do not consider that any School for children exists within my Stations. It appears to me that proper School-Houses should be provided, in which some steps might be taken to wean the younger folks from their dirty, slovenly habits. There should be at least two Schoolmasters stationed in my district, as the young children baptized by me this year amount to 177, who will, ere long, require education. It is requisite for me to be frequently moving: hence the children are not, and cannot be, properly attended to; and yet, in my opinion, it is of the utmost consequence to the advancement and well-being of this people, that efforts of a very decided nature should be at once entered upon in behalf of the youth.

In England, the saying is often employed, "Cleanliness is next to godliness." If this be taken as a test here, it would be considered that godliness has not made much progress; and yet there is far less vice, and a much greater amount of scriptural knowledge--at least of the latter--to be found among the Natives than among our countrymen, in many districts. Generally, my people have been quiet; but unruly spirits must be expected among such a concourse, and those few every now and then throw the community into confusion.

The duties of the Station have been continued with regularity during the year. The Sunday Services have been morning and evening in native, and Schools twice during the day, together with one English Service. The Congregations have been very good, and the attendance at the Schools regular. Bible Classes have been statedly held: the good attendance, with the steady progress made, give me much encouragement. The number on the books is 236. The number of inquirers has been large, amounting to 120, who were divided into two classes six months back. The first class contained 70, who were regarded as Candidates for Baptism: the others are designated inquirers. From the former class 61 have been received into the Church by baptism.

The Lord's Supper has been twice administered at Uawa by the Venerable the Archdeacon. On the former occasion there were 117 Communicants and 15 infants were baptized; and on the latter 126 Communicants and 61 adults and 10 infants were baptized.

Upon a review of the past year I feel constrained to give God thanks, and to take courage. A spirit of inquiry has been strongly manifested, and the Means of Grace have been respected. Some few, too, have in their dying hours borne testimony to the power of saving grace, giving evidence that their entire dependence was fixed on Christ.

A large proportion of the past nine months has been spent away from Turanga--namely, thirty-eight days in visits to Wairoa, Uawa, and other places; and eighty-six days in a visit to Auckland, to attend the Meeting of the Central Committee, and to unite with the Rev. B. Maunsell in revising the translation of the Acts of the Apostles.

When at home, I have generally attended the short Morning School, which is held immediately after sunrise. The average attendance here is about eighteen. Though the number is small, this School serves as a rallying-point for the rest of the Natives, who are much indisposed to attend School. Schools are, however, kept up at most of the villages, and a large number of Natives are able to read Of this I had lately an illustration, in a

large Bible Class of 117 from one tribe, including young and old, several of them between 60 and 70 years of age, being the Christian part of the tribe: those who were not able to read, attending to hear and answer questions according to their ability. There were 71 of the number who could read with fluency.

The Bible Classes form our principal means of instruction, and it is one which gives much encouragement. Of the baptized adults at Turanga, there are some few who have altogether relapsed; but there are still on the books 975 who ought to attend these classes, and of this number 697 regularly attend, whenever the classes meet; and this they do, not on the Sabbath-day, or when they are assembled in their own villages, but most of them meet at the Mission Station, at a sacrifice of time, on the week-day, when their cultivation or other work is laid aside for the purpose. The attention to these classes, and to the general wants of the Natives, occupies the greater portion of every day, but the labour is well repaid.

During the nine months the Lord's Supper has been administered three times at Turanga, when the numbers have been 354, 337, and 314; but the number of persons who have received this ordinance during the year has been 558.

The adult baptisms at Turanga have been 78, and the Candidates for that sacrament are 289. This is a large increase upon the number of last year, and is an evidence of a more healthy state of the community at large.

We have had, during the year, a strong effort made by the great enemy to hinder our work. Two Heathen Chiefs have revived the practice of tattooing, which had been laid aside for six years, and they succeeded in drawing aside many young persons, both male and female, to submit to the operation. Some of these are baptized Natives, or the children of Christian parents. Out of this evil, however, much good has arisen; for the Christian party made a vigorous stand against the attempt, first in using every effort to prevent their relatives from falling into the snare, and subsequently by refusing to hold intercourse with them when those efforts were fruitless. After this state of things had gone on for more than six months, these people expressed a wish for reconciliation; and now again there are some, at least, who are in the way to receive good, and perhaps may be brought to true repentance.

Upon a review of the state of the whole population of this Station, I think we have much reason to take courage. We have peace and quietness in our borders, and order and regularity in the use of means; and while we see the endeavours of Satan manifestly foiled, we may hope that the work of God's Holy Spirit is proceeding.

My time during the past year has been fully occupied in attending to the duties of the District, and the Schools on weekdays and on Sundays. I have visited the Natives at all the out-posts as often as circumstances would permit--which has taken me from home full a hundred days during the year--catechizing and preaching the Word to them, endeavouring to avail myself of every opportunity of conveying instruction to the people of my charge.

Nearly the whole of the people of the District are now brought, in some measure, under the influence of the Gospel; that is, they attend the Church Services, though a great difference exists between different Congregations in the effects produced by the influence of the Gospel among them. At some places the people afford great encouragement; at others, but little; while others, though they attend the Church Services, appear to manifest but little concern for their never-dying souls. This observation applies to individuals of all the Congregations. "Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His."

At the Wairoa the Natives are very anxious for baptism; but are, I fear, far less solicitous to act up to the requirements of the Gospel. For this reason, though the number of Candidates on the books at the close of the present year exceeds 160, comparatively few will be admitted to that ordinance at the commencement of the ensuing one.

Oct. 23, 1847 --I reached Oraka about three o'clock in the afternoon; and was fully employed, the remaining part of the day, in answering the numerous questions put to me on the various passages of Scripture which each had selected as the subject for his inquiry. So eager did each one appear for instruction, and to have his questions answered, that there were sometimes as many as three persons asking at once. How it would have gladdened the hearts of the friends in England to have witnessed them! The state of their little Chapel was truly a pleasing sight. It was very clean, and neatly floored with good mats, and was beautifully lighted up with three double lamps, placed at equal distances from each other. The Chapel, and the behaviour of the worshippers, would have done credit to any English Congregation.

Oct. 24: Lord's Day --This morning the Natives assembled, some from a distance of six or seven miles. Their Chapel was crowded, and many sat outside, but they joined in the worship as though they had been inside. I never addressed a more orderly and attentive Congregation. After the Service was over, I attended their School, and took the reading class, which was very numerously attended, and explained to them the chapter read, and concluded the school by asking them questions on the Church Catechism. I held an Afternoon Service, and baptized three children. In the evening I conversed with the class of Catechumens, seventy-eight in number.

In July last she came to our Station, with many others, for the benefit of instruction, and was then in perfect health; but on her return, acting very imprudently in sleeping out in the open air, as Natives frequently do, she caught cold, from the effects of which, though she often got better, she never entirely recovered. I frequently saw her during her illness, and conversed with her on the love of Christ in coming down to die for us sinners, which she, in common with others, had slighted and rejected. She always listened with the greatest attention; but, being a person of few words, she never appeared forward to converse on any subject. One remarkable feature in her character was, the great patience with which she bore all her pains and sufferings: during the whole of her illness she was never known to utter one murmuring word. When she was no longer able to walk abroad, the Natives, at her request, used to read to her some portion of the New Testament, with which she expressed herself delighted, and seemed to desire the sincere milk of the Word: her inner man, no doubt, daily grew thereby. Neither myself, nor any of the Natives, nor does it appear that she herself, thought that she should be so soon removed from this earthly scene: the idea entertained was, that she would be baptized with others at the end of the year, when Archdeacon Williams should pay his annual visit. There was nothing in her appearance that indicated a speedy dissolution till the day before she died, when she began to talk very freely of heaven and heavenly things to her husband, and to those around her. The Holy Spirit had no doubt long been silently though effectually drawing her thoughts and affections thitherward, and had been preparing her for her great change. On the day previous to the one on which she died, her friends asked her if she were happy. Her reply was, "Yes." -- "Do you think," inquired they, "that you shall go to Jesus?" She answered, "Yes; I shall go to Jesus. I am going to Him," and begged that some one might be sent to fetch me to baptize her. Accordingly a messenger was sent, but he was a long time in coming. On the day on which she died she told them she was going. Her husband asked her whither she was going. She replied, "To heaven: they are come to fetch me." These were almost the last words she uttered; but her lips were frequently seen to move till about seven o'clock, when she yielded up her spirit into the hands of her Saviour, as one who had fallen asleep in Jesus. Thus she appeared to be delivered from all fear of death, which was to her as the messenger of peace, to release her from all her pains and sorrows, and to introduce her into the everlasting kingdom of her Lord and Saviour.

The state of the Natives throughout the District is on the whole cheering. Some few, on whom I would fain hope the Divine Spirit hath breathed, now begin to stand out in bold relief from the heterogeneous mass, and this little phalanx, the comfort of my heart, is increasing. They are still, however, but children, and need careful fostering. The public roads and works about Wellington, on which several hundreds of Natives have been employed during the past and present year, have been great means of abominable evils. There many have made shipwreck of their faith, more especially the poor Natives of Port Nicholson, Waikanae, Otaki, and the mouth of the Manawatu River. Few, however, of the Christian Natives of this District have hitherto sought employment upon those works, and of those few some have relinquished it with disgust.

The bulk of the Natives immediately about us are, I am sorry to say, much as they were -- dead in trespasses and sins. They are, however, tolerably quiet just now. I have at length succeeded in getting back the greater part of that portion of the property, plundered from the United States' brig "Falco," which had found its way over to this side of the Bay. My Native Teachers were of great service to me in this matter, some even bringing articles themselves, without fee or reward, from Otaki, Rangitikei, Manawatu, Taupo, &c.; and the Christian Natives, too, were generally very willing to deliver them up.

The Natives who have been fighting in and about Wanganui have made applications to the Heathen Chiefs about me for aid in men and ammunition: hitherto, however, they have listened to my advice, and have refused to assist.

On the 2d of August my Annual Teachers' School commenced, and continued daily until the 14th inclusive. Twenty one were present from all parts of the District, and all, I believe, wish to come again. Most of the few Papists who were scattered throughout the District have cast away their Mariolatry, and have joined us.

Perhaps I should briefly mention that there have been among the deaths a few --two in particular--which were attended with circumstances of a highly pleasing character. We want a few such testimonies from the dark valley: they speak home, and even when the speaker is for ever silent, they yet speak."

During the past winter, and on more than one occasion, we were in not a little peril through the rivers, by which we are surrounded, overflowing their banks, and laying the whole Station under water. The waters rose to eight inches over our highest floors, which are nearly two feet from the ground, and drove us to take refuge upon tables, &c. The mud which remained on the subsiding of the waters was frightful, being from four to thirty inches in depth, completely destroying all vegetation. This fearful visitation, happening as it did in the beginning of winter, put almost a complete stop to all Public Services and Schools in this neighbourhood for several weeks.

Leonard, my principal Native Teacher, with others of my Native Teachers, have been active in visiting several Out-Villages in the more distant parts of the District during the year; particularly Tarawera, Tangoio, Te Hawera, Manawatu, and the scattered villages of Wairarapa. I may also add, as a cheering sign, that 44 Natives--i. e. 11 Teachers and Monitors, 16 other men, and 17 women --have, during the last six months, given up the practice of continually smoking, all of whom were inveterate smokers. This is one of the fruits of my Annual Teachers' School.