Stations, labourers and notitia of missionary societies.
[Image of page 42]
Australasia
Archd. Scott is on his return: his successor, Archd. Broughton, sailed in the Spring.
BIBLE AND TRACT SOCIETIES.
NEW SOUTH WALES.
The sum of 220l. has been remitted by the Bible Auxiliary, and 500 Bibles and 100 Testaments have been received --The Christian-Knowledge Society has distributed, by the Archdeacon, a very considerable stock of books; but regrets that the accounts from this quarter are not encouraging -- To the Religious-Tract Society, the sum of 26l. 3s. 4d. has been remitted, and 20l. from Van Diemen's Land: 66,700 Tracts and Handbills have been granted.
STATIONS, LABOURERS, & NOTITIA OF MISSIONARY SOCIETIES.
CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
NEW SOUTH WALES.
Mr. Lisk, having improved in health, was about to proceed, with his wife and two children, to New Zealand; all attempts among the Aborigines of New South Wales appearing hopeless, under present circumstances. Mr. Norman was labouring at Port Dalrymple, with advantage both to the exiles and the emigrants, and satisfaction to the Government; but, if Mrs. Norman's health would allow of his removal, it was probable that he would proceed to New Zealand, in furtherance of the direct objects of the Society.
NEW ZEALAND.
Rangheehoo: on the north side of the Bay of Islands: 1815 -- John King, James Shepherd, As. -- Two Services on Sundays and one on Wednesday Evening: visits to Natives on Sundays, and occasionally in the week: great indifference to spiritual concerns--Scholars; 23 men and boys, 10 females: most of them diligent: principal Chiefs learn: good progress -- The removal of the Mission to Tepuna (p. 126) not yet effected, as the relinquishing of the Station in order to strengthen the others was under consideration--P. 126.
Kiddeekiddee: on a river which falls into the Bay of Islands, on the west side: 1819 -- W. Yate; James Kemp, G. Clarke, James Hamlin, C. Baker, As.
--A Chapel is wanted: when all assemble, the number exceeds 100: regular visits to Natives, as far as Waimate, 10 miles distant: more or less opposed to the Gospel, and glad of an opportunity of turning the subject to ordinary topics ---Scholars; 50 men and boys, 23 girls: general conduct very satisfactory. At a public distribution of rewards for good behaviour, great interest was excited: 68 boys and girls were present: the highest prize was a knife, or a pair of scissors, or a Jew's harp, or a comb: they were highly delighted with their prizes, as the Missionaries were with the good temper which prevailed. Of the progress of the scholars, in connection with religious knowledge, a pleasing indication is given in the following notice by Mr. Yate, on the 6th of November-- "I had, this morning, all the boys of the first class, seven in number, in the barn, writing out, each one for himself, a copy of the Litany as it is translated into the native language. I was much pleased with their performance" --Pp. 126, 127.
Pyhea: on the south side of the Bay of Islands: 16 miles SE of Kiddeekiddee, and the same distance across the Bay southward from Rangheehoo: 1823-- H. Williams, W. Williams; Richard Davis, W. Fairburn, W. Puckey, As. --- A Chapel, 40 feet by 20 with a room attached 40 feet by 12, was opened in
[Image of page 43]
September 1828: "For this part of the world," Mr. H. Williams says, "it is a noble building, and calls forth the praise and admiration of the Natives"--Scholars; 61 men and boys, 32 females--Mr. W. Williams is compiling a Dictionary: the Litany has been translated --P. 127.
Of the Twelve Labourers at these Stations, all are married except Mr. Yate and Mr. Puckey: all the married have children, amounting together to 28 male and 14 female. Mr. C. Davis, on his return to his labours, embarked, with his wife, the Rev. A. N. Brown, Mrs. Brown, and Mrs. Hart, in April, for New Zealand: see pp. 158, 193. The "Active" has been purchased and sent out (p. 579) to supply the loss of the "Herald." At p. 201 will be found a short Obituary of Rure, a young native; at p. 284, a view of the Good Prospects of the Mission; and, at pp. 458--466, many details relative to the Natives.
We keep as many School Children in our families as we can: which appears of the greatest importance; as the young are much benefitted by being trained up in our ways and manners, the advantage of which we have already seen in some that came to us when young, and are now living with us: they, in general, look upon their native customs with disgust, and will not pay any regard to them whatever (Missionaries)--Very much of the rubbish is clearing away, and the prospect of usefulness every day more evident; and though we will not say, that those living with us, and around us, are any of them really new creatures in Christ Jesus, yet we see in some a change for the better. In many, there is a strict attention to the means of grace, and a pleasing deportment in our families (Mr. Clarke)--In one place which we visited on Sunday, the Chiefs were mending their nets: the ground about them was therefore "tapu," or sacred; and they forbad us to come within the fence: as we could not go to them, we called them; when they immediately left their nets and followed us. They said that they were not aware that it was Sunday, or they would not have worked. It is very encouraging to us to contrast the conduct and character of the Natives now, with what it was two years ago; at least, to what I conceive it must have been, from all that I can collect from the Natives themselves and from the Missionaries (Rev. W. Yate)--The state of the Mission is peace. All are advancing. The knowledge of the language is breaking in upon us day by day, and our voices are continually lifted up: much attention is paid by the Natives, and we trust that the Lord has given us grace in their sight. The Translation goes on; and we have lately introduced part of the liturgy into our Morning and Evening Service, and shall probably continue until the whole be accomplished (Rev. W. Williams).
WESLEY AN MISSIONARY SOCIETY. Mangunga: on the Shukeangha: 1827 Mrs. White are on their return to their --John Hobbs, James Stack. Mr. and labours --Pp. 127, 284, 285, 526.
