affording them protection. Since the commencement of the Mission, other Stations, in addition to that at Rangheehoo, have been formed, at Kiddeekiddee and Pyhea; a fourth was contemplated some time ago; but the intention was, on fuller consideration, abandoned; and it has subsequently been deemed advisable to give up Rangheehoo, in order to strengthen the other Stations. The original Settlers have been followed, at various times, by other persons, who, in various capacities, have gone out to engage in the instruction of the Natives; and the total number of Missionaries, Catechists, and Settlers, thus sent forth, is 32; and there are at present connected with the Mission, 4 Missionaries, 3 of whom are married; 10 Male Lay-Instructors, and 13 Female.

The means of regularly conveying stores from New South Wales, for the support of those who were engaged in the Mission, the want of which had been much felt at the commencement of the Settlement-the obtaining provisions from various parts of the Islands, for the maintenance of the Native Scholars and the facility of access to the inhabitants along the coast, strongly suggested the im portance of a Vessel which might be thus employed in the service of the Mission. Under the direction of one of the Missionaries, whose professional skill enabled him to superintend the undertaking with considerable advantage, a Vessel of about 100 tons, the "Herald," was commenced: it was completed and launched in 1826, and, soon after, made a voyage to the Colony; but, in the following year, was driven on the rocks on the coast of New Zea land, and became a wreck. It has since been replaced by another Ves sel, the "Active;" which, it is hoped, has ere this reached its destination.

The erection of Buildings for the purposes of the Mission, and other secular matters, have necessarily occupied a large portion of the time

of the Society's Labourers, which, under other circumstances, would have been appropriated to the instruction of their ignorant neighbours: this circumstance, however, has afforded them daily opportunities of intercourse with the Natives in their employ, and many facilities of becoming acquainted with their character and language. The chief objects to which their labours have been directed, are, the instruction of the Natives collected at the various Stations-visits to the Neighbouring Tribes the fixing the Language; and the preparation of a Grammar and Vocabulary, with Elementary Books for Schools-and the Translation of the Scriptures and Liturgy into the Native Tongue. In the Schools which have been established, there are about 200 persons, Adults and Children, under Christian Instruction; the generality of whom have made a satisfactory proficiency. Portions of the Books of Genesis and Exodus, and of the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. John; the Lord's Prayer; a part of the Liturgy; and some Hymns, have been translated and printed for the use of the Natives: the Missionaries are proceeding in the work of Translation. The beneficial influence of the Gospel of Christ is visible, in the general declension of the native superstitions, in the ascendancy which the Missionaries have obtained over the minds of the people, and in the readiness with which their instructions are listened to; and, though they have had to wait in faith for a full blessing on their labours, some seals to their Ministry have been given them in this land of darkness and blood; and the recent spirit of inquiry, which is noticed in some of the subjoined accounts, encourages them to hope that God will shortly fulfil His promises in a more abundant measure, and glorify His Name in the conversion of many more of these savage people to the Faith of Christ.

f

While, in every part of the Society's extensive operations, new opportunities for Missionary Labours arise, and new demands are made on the faith and zeal of the Church, the state of the Society's Finances has for some time forbade it to engage in any undertaking which involves additional expense; and it is the peremptory, though painful duty of the Committee, to continue this restriction. But the Secretary of State for the Colonies having made known to the Committee the desire of His Majesty's Government to take measures for the Religious Instruction and Social Improvement of the Aborigines of New Holland-and having proposed that the Society should furnish two Religious Teachers to labour among them for the prosecution of this object, for whose support 500l. per annum would be set apart out of the Colonial Funds-the Committee gladly availed themselves of this opening, and two individuals are under preparation for this scene of labour.

NEW ZEALAND.

The Rev. Alfred N. Brown, with Mrs. Brown, left New South Wales on the 10th of November, and arrived in New Zealand on the 29th. It is intended that Mr. Brown should take charge of the education of the European Children connected with the Mission; and, with that view, it has, after much deliberation, been decided by the Missionaries that his residence, for the present, should be at Pyhea. Serious apprehensions are entertained for the safety of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Davis and Mrs. Hart: they left Port Jackson, in the Haweis," on the 18th of October, since which time no tidings have been received. In reference to this, the Rev. Henry Williams writes on the 23d of March:

66

It is now nearly five months since the "Haweis" sailed, and has not yet been heard of: many are our conjectures. She might have been dismasted or upset,

or, what is still worse, have been taken by the prisoners who may have secreted themselves in her. We received Letters two days since from Port Jackson: no

thing had been heard. Our only hope

appears in news from Tahiti.

The Rev. S. Marsden arrived in New Zealand on the 8th of March: the Rev. W. Yate, who had gone to the Colony for the purpose of carrying through the Press some of the Translations which had been completed, and on other matters connected with the Mission, supplied his place during his absence. From the various communications before us we collect the following accounts of the state and prospects of the Mission:

RANGHEEHOO.

During the last three months I have, with Mr. Shepherd, attended to the School. Natives with the Hooping Cough, and of On account of the indisposition of our our own Families, the School has not been so regularly attended as usual.

The Sundays have been spent in Divine Service, and in visiting the Natives at their own dwellings; and they have, in general, behaved orderly, and paid attention to what has been said. We have met together occasionally, to improve in the Language. The numbers in our Schools are, 16 Men and Boys, and 12

Girls.

Makohia, a Chief's Son, who was the forwardest Youth in the School, and had lived with us about five years, died in October last: he was a truly promising young man, and was evidently seeking salvation through Jesus Christ. Previously to his illness, he joined in prayer and singing; and listened, with apparent satisfaction, to the Truths of God, to the end of his life. [T. King, Jan. 6, 18:9.

Through the kind Providence of God, we enjoy tolerably good health, and have, till the last month, been enabled to go on in our work with some satisfaction.

The number of our School is, however, greatly diminished; owing, perhaps, partly

to the unsettled state of the various Tribes

in the Bay of Islands, and partly to the Ships which have lain opposite our Settlement for a week or two past. We buried a Young Man last week who had been with me ever since I came to Rangheehoo : the last words which I heard him utter were in prayer to God that he might be

prepared to dwell happy with Jesus Christ in heaven. [J.Shepherd, March 1829.

The Natives have regularly attended the Means of Grace: those at Matauri and the neighbouring Villages have not been visited as often as in the last Quarter, on account of our other engagements. We have had in the Settlement 29 Men and Boys, and 12 Girls. [J. King, July 1829,

KIDDEEKIDDEE.

During the last Quarter I was employed as usual, excepting that I sometimes visited the Natives down the river. The Translation of St. Paul's Epistles to the Corinthians has continued to engage our attention, in the hours usually devoted to the study of the Native Language. The number of Natives living in our Families and attending School are, Boys 38, Girls 24. [Rev. W. Yate, Jan. 1829.

My time, for the last three months, has been chiefly occupied in attending to the general instruction of the Natives, to the Language Meetings, and the instruction of the European Children belonging to the Settlement: I have also visited the Natives on the banks of the Kiddeekiddee River on Sundays, and at Waimate and other places occasionally. [J. Kemp, Jan. 1822.

My occupations during the Quarter have been little different from those of the preceding: the Native and European Schools have occupied a part of every day; visiting the Natives, and the study of the Language, have, as opportunity offered, been attended to; the remaining part has been devoted to the Natives in the secular employ of the Settlement. The Girls' School has been attended by Mrs. Kemp, Mrs. Clarke, Mrs. Hamlin, and Mrs. Baker. [G. Clarke, Jan. 1829,

A horse having been purchased for my use, I have been able, in the last Quarter, to spend 18 days amongst the Natives, and have generally found them attentive at the moment of speaking to them. There have been in the Schools, 36 Boys, and 24 Girls. [Rev. W. Yate, April 1829.

I have, with the Brethren, attended to the instruction of the Native and European Children in the Settlement, and in visiting the Natives at Waimate and Ahuahu, to instruct them in the Truths of the Gospel. At present, I do not observe any of the Natives at all anxious or desirous of being instructed in those truths which we endeavour to disseminate amongst them. [J. Kemp, April 1829.

My time during the Quarter has been occupied in the European and Native Schools, with the Brethren in the Trans

lation of the Scriptures, and in occasionally visiting the Natives in the interior. With the assistance of Messrs. Kemp and Hamlin and the Natives, I have erected a commodious School Room 38 feet by 18, which I hope we shall be able to use in about a month. [G. Clarke, April 1829.

We have had, during the Quarter, 50 Men and Boys, and 29 Girls, under instruction: most of them seem desirous of improving. I have spent 15 days amongst the Natives the weather prevented me from being out more. [Rev. W. Yate, July 1829.

I am happy to say that our School Room, and another small Room, 12 feet by 11, for the convenience of a fire, are so far complete as to enable us to use them. We feel thankful that we have now a convenient place where we can assemble our Natives, to instruct them in Reading, Writing, &c., and for the still more important part of our work-the instructing them in the Gospel of Christ. [G.Clarke, July 1829.

The Natives that live with us are, I hope, on the whole, gaining knowledge in temporal and spiritual things. Several of our Lads have made considerable improvement in Carpentry and other useful branches of trade; but we find, that, in order to bring them on in the knowledge of those useful Arts, we must devote most of our time to them: this we find we cannot do, and visit the Natives at their residences also, which appears to us to be of the first and greatest importance. We find, that, for want of a better principle than their natural one, whatever they have learned of the Arts, we are never sure of them; for on occasions which we have lately been called to witness, when any disturbance takes place, many of them will join the Natives, and return to their former habits. We would hope that there are some few who have felt something of a principle of Grace formed in their souls, and who, we trust, will be living witnesses of the power and efficacy of that Grace in restraining and keeping under the Native Habits and Customs.

[J. Hamlin, March 1830.

The Schools go on pretty well: the Boys are getting on in Reading, Writing, and the First Rules of Arithmetic: the Girls are also making progress, though but slowly they are attended to by our Females alternately; and are instructed in Reading, Writing, and Needle-Work, and some can sew very neatly. The greatest difficulty is in keeping them in our houses; the shipping is such a temp

tation to draw them from us; and their parents encourage them in all that is wicked: many of the Girls from our Settlements are taken by their parents on ship-board, so great is their thirst for powder. This is one of the greatest trials which we have to encounter; and nothing less than the Grace of God can subdue this evil. Mrs. Kemp has now living under her care 7 Girls: two others are married and settled with us, both of whom have families. [J. Kemp, March 1830. Our Schools, under the care of Mr. Baker and myself, go on much the same as usual: our Partners attend daily to the instruction of the Native Females, and are not without encouragement in their work.

The Natives living in the Settlement

under our more immediate instruction are especially the objects of our anxious solicitude. Many of them know the great and fundamental Principles of Christianity; and some, I trust, feel themselves condemned by that Law which is holy, just, and good: after addressing them, they sometimes seriously inquire how they may escape the impending danger, and how-to use their own words-they may please the Father of Heaven, Many seem to go from day to day with a burdened conscience, yet not sufficiently humbled to apply to the only Remedy. May the Lord, in His own good pleasure, soon complete what, I trust, he has begun! [G. Clarke, March 1830. Itinerating among the Natives has been especially attended to during the last two months, the weather having been so fine as to enable us to get out among them; but we feel that we labour under great disadvantages, from the unsettled state of the people, who are continually wandering from place to place: we sometimes travel forty miles to see 200 Natives, they being so much scattered up and down the country. We hope the time is not far distant when they will assemble themselves to hear the Word of God: at present we are obliged to visit from family to family to deliver our message, but are endeavouring to persuade them to meet together at convenient places for Religious Instruction, which some seem to approve. When we can accomplish this object we shall be able to do a vast deal more work with far less labour: our prospects are however, on the whole, cheering, amongst the Natives whom we visit; and that day will, I trust, soon dawn, for which we labour and pray.

[The Same, March 1830.

PYHEA.

My attention during the Quarter has been devoted to the Native and English Schools, Translation, and visiting the Natives at their Settlements, in conjunction with the rest of the Brethren. The Natives in the School at Pyhea have amounted to nearly the same number as last Quarter, and their behaviour and progress have been satisfactory. The number at present, in the Boys' School, is 66; in the Girls' 38; total 104. The English Female School has been attended to as usual, by Mrs. H. and W. Williams. [Rev. W. Williams, Jan. 1829.

During the past Quarter, the conduct of the Natives round us was good. My time was occupied in attention to the Schools European and Native, to the Language, &c. I have visited the Natives at the distant Settlements, eleven days, at various opportunities.

[Rev. H.Williams, April 1829. Nothing particular has occurred among the Natives. The number of Natives in the School is, 76 Men and Boys, 37 Women and Girls; total 113. The keel of a boat was laid down a fortnight since, for the general purpose of transporting stores from the Shipping to Kiddeekiddee.

[The Same, July 1829.

Thus far the Lord has helped us, His most unworthy creatures, in this land of darkness and death. Our work is going on; our prospects are bright; but our trials are not few. We are on the field of battle, and we have a powerful enemy to contend with. Pray for us: pray that we may live personally in communion with God. While all is right within, all will go well without, [R. Davis, Dec. 28, 1820.

Our Schools continue to go on with increasing numbers, and, I trust I may add, with increasing improvement. Many there arewhose minds are stored with much Scriptural Knowledge, and who are occasionally employed to teach others: the whole of them are more or less employed each day. There are a few set apart for the Carpentring Department, some of whom have made great improvement: on the whole, I believe the New-Zealand Mission was never under more encouraging circumstances than at this time.

[W.Fairburn, March 1830.

General Examination of the Schools. An Examination of the Schools took place at Kiddeekiddee in the month of December, the particulars of which cannot fail of interesting our readers. The Rev. W. Williams writes:

The 8th of December was the day appointed for our Annual Examination, which was to be held at Kiddeekiddee. At an early hour, the whole Settlement was in motion;, and a little after 7 o'clock the European Families and Natives embarked in four boats and one large canoe: Mr. Davis, and a small party of Natives, remaining in charge of the Settlement. In our passage, we fell in with Mr. King's boat, and one canoe; and then proceeding together, we arrived at Kiddeekiddee about 11 o'clock. The native mode of salutation, at such times, is with a rush on both sides, and a sham-fight; but this was exchanged for the more sober welcome of three British cheers. The numbers met together were about 290; viz. 12 European Families, amounting to 72Native Girls 63-Men and Boys 150. As soon as we had dined, the Europeans met in the Chapel; when, after the Evening Prayers, I addressed the Brethren, and Mr. Yate administered the Lord's Supper.

The following morning at 9 o'clock, after Prayers, the Examination commenced; first in the two Catechisms which we have prepared, then in Writing and Accounts. The First Class was exercised in Sums, in Addition, Subtraction, Division, and Compound Addition. In the afternoon, the Natives dined off temporary tables: the food, which consisted of pork, beef, potatoes, and bread, was served up in little baskets, after the native fashion. They had not been eating more than five minutes, when all, with one consent, left their seats, and scampered off with the remainder of the food; it being the native custom never to leave any thing which is set before them, but to carry off what they cannot consume at the time. The Sewing of the Native Girls was afterwards examined, when some highly satisfactory specimens were shewn and the next day we met in the Chapel, to award a few Prizes to the most deserving. Work by the Native Carpenters was brought forward which would have done credit in a civilised country. The principal things were, a pannelled door-a pannelled gate-a sash-a table-and a stool. During the morning I spoke to the Natives from Matthew iii. 2.

On this occasion, Mr. Clarke

writes

During the Examination, I could not but contrast, in my own mind, the present appearance of these Natives with their past situation. Here, thought I, are

a number of poor Cannibals collected from the different Tribes around us, whose fathers were so rude, so savage, that for ten years, with much pain and vexation and exposure, the first Missionaries lived among them often exA pecting to be devoured by them. few years ago they were ignorant of every Principle of Religion: many of them, like their fathers, had glutted in human blood, and gloried in it: but, now, there is not an individual among them who is not, in some degree, acquainted with the Truths of the Christian Religion, which, with the blessing of God, may be the means of his conversion. Not six years ago they commenced on the very rudiments of learning: now, many of them can read and write their own language with propriety, and are completely masters of the First Rules of Arithmetic. But very few years ago, a chisel made out of stone, of which many specimens have been sent home, was the only tool: now, they have not only got our tools, but are learning to use them. It is true, that this is but the day of small things: still, greater and more permanent blessings await New Zealand. The Gospel is preached; the Bible is translating; Scriptural Precepts are taught with Scriptural Doctrines, and will, I hope, soon be practised; and then the whole train of blessings following the Preached Gospel must be theirs also. I do appeal to our friends in England, and ask them, whether (taking into consideration all circumstances, in the course of so few years) the Lord has not done wonders, yea, marvellous things, in this dark land.

He adds

It may be asked, Where are the Converts to Christianity? How many have received the Truth, in the love of it? How many have been turned from darkness to light? &c. To which I would answer: Some few have left the world witnesses of the power of the Gospel, confessing that they were sinners, and resting all their hopes for eternity on Christ the Rock: others are statedly attending a Preached Gospel; and, in the Lord's good time, will, we may hope, become living epistles, known and read of all men With such prospects, and such promises, we may well lift up the hands that hang down, having ocular demonstration that our labour cannot be in vain in the Lord.