Survey of missionary stations.
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New Zealand.
The B F Bible Society has completed for New Zealand the printing of the Pentateuch, with the Book of Joshua and the Book of Psalms. Mr. Telford, who edited the Pentateuch, returned immedi-
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ately on finishing the work to New Zealand, taking with him 300 copies. There have been since placed at the disposal of the Church Missionary Society 5000 Pentateuchs. The Wesleyan Missionary Society have been supplied with the entire edition of 20,000 copies of the New Zealand Psalms, the cost of which will be reimbursed to the Society.
The bounty of your Society has, under God, been the means of benefit to the New Zealanders which we cannot estimate. It was a merciful dispensation that when, in the natural course of events, this country was likely to be colonized, God should direct that the Gospel should be brought to prepare them against the manifold temptations which civilized man carries with him; and that the facility should be afforded for placing that Gospel in their hands, which had been preached to them. There are many persons in this country who venture to deny that any good has been done by Missionaries in the country, because they see the Natives only in those localities where they have been debased by themselves. As reasonable would it be to look for the Christianity of London in Billingsgate. One fact may suffice to shew the actual state of things. My immediate parish contains about 2400 Natives of all ages. Of this number more than 600 are Communicants, and a much larger number are able to read.
[Archd. H. Williams.
An Auxiliary has been formed at Wellington. This infant Society has remitted 14l. 2s., and has received supplies of the Scriptures to the value of 30l. From the same quarter an application has been received, which your Committee could not but meet with a grant of 50 Bibles and 300 Testaments. Two grants have been made to the Wesleyan Missionary Society, one of 1900 copies of the English Scriptures; and the second grant is 400 copies, placed in charge of Mr. Reed, going out to superintend the Normal Training Schools, in connection with the Wesleyan Missionary Society --P. 219.
CHURCH MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
STATIONS AND LABOURERS --The Stations are taken in their order from north to south. Kaitaia lies in the north-west of the Northern Island; the five which follow are connected with the Bay of Islands. At a considerable distance to the southward lie Waikato, at the mouth of the river of that name, on the west coast, and Manukau, 25 miles inland: east of Manukau lies Hauraki: and further eastward, on the coast, Tauranga. Rotorua is in the centre of the Island--Poverty Bay, or Turanga, nearly in the same latitude, on the east coast--and Entry Island, or Kapati, off the southwest coast, and is the head-quarters of a district extending along the coast, from Port Nicholson on the south to the River Wanganui on the north. One Missionary till lately resided at Nelson, in the Middle Island.
NORTHERN DISTRICT--Kaitaia: 1834: Joseph Matthews: W. G. Puckey, Cat. --Tepuna: 1815: John King, Cat. --Kerikeri, with an Out-Station at Wangaroa: 1839: James Kemp, Cat. --Paihia: 1823: and Waikare: Henry Williams -- Waimate: 1831: Robert Burrows: G. Clarke, Sec. of Mission --Kaikohe: Richard Davis. 2 European Teachers; Nat. As. 99--Communicants, 996 --Schools, 68: Scholars, 2689. There are 10 Churches built with boards, and between 30 and 40 native-built rush Chapels.
MIDDLE DISTRICT--Bishop's Auckland: George Adam Kissling-- Waikato: Robert Maunsell: Kaitotehe: 1843: Benj. Yate Ashwell -- Otawao: 1843: John Morgan -- Hauraki: James Preece, Cat. -- Tauranga: 1835: Alfred N. Brown, Christopher P. Davis --Rotorua: Thomas Chapman: 1 European Teacher, 74 Nat. As. --Communicants, 849 -- Last year's returns give Schools, 93: Scholars, 5418. There
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Church Missionary Society--
are nearly 100 native-built Chapels, and about 10,000 attendants at Public Worship.
EASTERN DISTRICT--Hicks' Bay: Poverty Bay or Turanga: Wm. Williams --Uawa: Charles Baker -- Opotiki: John A. Wilson, Cat. --Wairoa: James Hamlin --Waitangi: Wm. Colenso. 110 Nat. As. This District contains five Stations, viz. Turanga, in Poverty Bay, at which Archdeacon Williams resides--Uawa, 36 miles north of Turanga, where Mr. C. Baker commenced a new Station--Rangitukia, near Waiapu, where another new Station was commenced by Mr. J. Stack -- Kauakaua, in Hicks' Bay, where the Rev. G. A. Kissling was stationed--and Opotiki, under the care of Mr. J. A. Wilson, which has been transferred from the Middle District, in consequence of its more immediate connection with this District -- Communicants, 1960 -- Schools, 73: Scholars, 2747.
WESTERN DISTRICT -- Entry Island: Wanganui: Richard Taylor: 1 European Teacher --Waikanae: Octavius Hadfield --Otaki: Samuel Williams-- Nat. As. 75-- Communicants, 1207--Last year's returns give Schools, 74: Scholars, 3820. Mr. John Telford reached Auckland on the 14th of January. Mr. B. Y. Ashwell was admitted to Deacons' Orders on the 24th of December at Auckland. Rev. W. C. Dudley arrived in England on the 24th of November. On the 24th of June Mr. John Morgan was ordained Deacon, by the Bishop of New Zealand. The Rev. T. S. Grace and Mrs. Grace sailed for New Zealand on the 11th of February --Pp. 219-221, 368, 408, and 63, 112, 160 of our present Volume; and see, at pp. 59-62, 361-366, 405, 406, 437-442, 482-486, 519, 520, and 104-109 of our present Volume, many Reports and details of the Proceedings of the Missionaries.
Summary
(As given in the Report for the Fiftieth Tear. )
Labourers in 23 Stations, 388; being 17 Missionaries, 10 European Catechists, 3 European Female Teachers, 311 Male and 47 Female Native Assistants -- Communicants, 5012 -- The number of Attendants on Public Worship and Scholars is not reported.
A Central Committee has been organized in New Zealand consisting of the Bishop, as President, and five of the Missionaries. Various important measures have been discussed with a view to the increased efficiency of the Mission, and to an improved system of education for the Natives. It has been proposed to establish, at the Waimate, a Training Institution for Native Teachers. Such an Institution the Committee regard with deep interest, and trust that it may be speedily brought into effective operation, and that the Divine Blessing may abundantly rest upon it. A Training Institution for Native Teachers is the crowning work of a prosperous Mission.
In judging of the state of the New-Zealand Mission, it is important to bear in mind that the Missionaries have not been able, for several past years, to occupy any new ground: they have been only able to maintain the old Stations. Our Annual Reports cannot, therefore, present the record of the conversion of heathen tribes, but only the history of the progress of Christianity among a half-civilized people, who, a few years ago, received the Word with joy.
[Report.
In the Report presented in 1847 the Committee explained their views with respect to the large land purchases of some of the Missionaries of the Society, which they had obtained for the support of their families, who were growing up as settlers in New Zealand. The Committee had hoped that the measures which they had adopted would ere this time have closed all questions upon this subject, as far as the Society is concerned. They regret to say that three or four members of the Missionary Body have felt it necessary to keep open these questions by an appeal to the Courts of Law, on the plea of vindicating their own character, and the just
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claims, as they regard them, of their families.
[Committee.
RELIGIOUS-TRACT SOCIETY'
The Committee have sent 50l. in books for sale, and a grant of 7400 Tracts for gratuitous circulation, to the Wellington Tract Society. The books formerly placed with the Rev. G. A. Kissling, as a Lending Library for the Natives and their children, were consumed by fire during the time the people were attending Divine Worship. Under such circumstances, the Committee have forwarded a further assortment of books, to the value of 4l. The Rev. G. A. Panton, on his departure for Auckland, received a grant of 2900 Tracts, and 10l. in books, at half price, for the formation of a Public Library, at his future scene of labour. The Rev. Robert Ward, Primitive Methodist Minister at New Plymouth, has also been furnished with 2600 Tracts for the people of his District --P. 221.
WESLEYAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
STATIONS AND LABOURERS -- Auckland: Walter Lawry, General Superintendant of the Society's Missions in New Zealand, and Visitor of those in the Friendly Islands and Feejee; Joseph H. Fletcher, in charge of the School for the education of the children of the Missionaries in New Zealand, the Friendly Islands, and Feejee; Alexander Reid, Master of the Native Training Institution: Thomas Buddle: George Stannard, As. --Pehiakura: Henry H. Lawry --Mangungu and Wangaroa: John Hobbs -- Waima and Newark: John Warren, William Kirk -- Wairoa and Kaipara: James Buller --Waingaroa and Waipa: James Wallis, George Buttle -- Aotea (Beechamdale), Kawia, and Mokau: John Whiteley, Gideon Smales --Taranaki, North {New Plymouth): Henry H. Turton -- Taranaki, South (Waimate): William Woon --Port Nicholson, Kapiti, and Cloudy Bay: Samuel Ironsides, James Watkin --Middle Island: Nelson: John Aldred -- Waikowaiti, near Otago Charles Creed -- Gratuitous Sunday-School Teachers, 440; Local Preachers, 309 -- Communicants, 4076 -- Schools, 115: Boys, 3722; Girls, 3082. Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher arrived at Auckland in April, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Reid --Pp. 221, and 63 of our present Volume.
The review of the past year's Missionary operations in New Zealand furnishes matter for grateful acknowledgments to the great Head of the Church, and affords encouragement to continued effort. The process of colonization in that country has proved a severe ordeal to the Society's Mission, in common with that of a kindred Institution. But it is manifest that Christianity has taken a firm hold on the native mind, and is steadily working out its beneficial results. These are seen in the elevation of character, the improved state of society, the spread of education, and increased attention to agriculture and the useful arts. Encouraged by the cheering prospect which now presents itself, the Committee have sent out Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher, to take charge of the Institution for the education of the Missionaries' children; and Mr. and Mrs. Reid to conduct the establishment for training Native Teachers. These appointments are calculated to promote very extensively the efficiency of the Mission.
[Report,
While in many respects our recent intelligence from this important Colony has justly called for lively gratitude, and authorised our hope of future triumphs for the Gospel still more cheering and extensive, it has pleased God to visit us with afflictions, and to permit a severe trial of our Christian Faith and patience. We refer to the earthquake which has occurred in the southern portion of the Colony, and has been the occasion of a heavy loss of Mission Property, as well as of great pecuniary suffering and distressing alarm to some of our people, in common with others.
[committee.
One thousand pounds would hardly replace us in the circumstances in which we were before the catastrophe. The ruin is
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Wesleyan Missionary Society--
complete. It will take a considerable sum to build a Chapel of sufficient dimensions at the present time, materials and labour being very high. But we are compelled to build, from the inconvenience of the place in which we now conduct our Services, and the crowded Congregations which assemble.
The late convulsions have been rendered a blessing to some. They have been led to serious thought, and I hope to repentance. Believers have been quickened in their religious course, and I think the moral tone of society in general is improved.
[Mr Ironside.
GOSNER'S MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
NEW ZEALAND--Chatham Island: Schirmeister, Muller, Beyer, Engst, Bankes --P. 222.
NORTH-GERMAN MISSIONARY SOCIETY IN HAMBURGH.
Ruapuki: J. F. H. Wohlers -- Nelson: J. W. Ch. Heine, Lay As. --Tarakihi--1846: J. F. Riemenschneider: T. H. Trost, As. --P. 222.
