The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1866. REPORT OF THE AUSTRALASIAN WESLEYAN METHODIST SOCIETY.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume I, Issue 240, 12 December 1866, Page 2

The Nelson Evening Mail. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1866. REPORT OF THE AUSTRALASIAN WESLEYAN METHODIST SOCIETY.

One of the principal events of the year affecting the working of the missions is the loss of the brig John Wesley. She was wrecked on a small island called Tau, near Tongatabu. While your committee deeply regret the loss of the vessel they cannot but recognise the providence of God in the remarkable escape of the captain, missionaries, and all on board from a watery grave. A subject of continued and deep interest with your committee is the entire financial support of our mission by the Australian Wesleyan Methodist Church. This subject has again been brought to their notice by a communication from the general secretaries of the parent society in England; and although we are not told in that communication that we must forthwith raise the whole funds necessary to the carrying on of our missions, yet the intimations are clear and full that we are expected to come nearer to this state of things every following. year, and that in a few years at most we shall be expected to relieve the parent society of all charge of our Polynesian missions. Nor can your committee regard such an expectation as extravagant or unreasonable; rather it is their conviction that by a general, systematic, and continuous effort in every circuit throughout the Australian colonies, supplemented by the large annual proceeds of oil and other contributions from the islands and New Zealand missions, in connection with a judicious and careful expenditure of the society's funds on mission stations, this reasonable and highly desirable object may soon be realised. The expenditure of the year has been £15523 2s 4d. The receipts from both colonial and mission districts I are as follows: —

Being a total of £9550 18s 7d ; thus leaving a balance of £5972 Us 9d to be granted by the parent society in London. This balance, though large, is less by £600 than was estimated for at the beginning of the year, and would have been £1000 less than it is had the Wesley brought away the oil from the Friendly Islands and Fiji districts. It is matter for thankfulness, and we trust of hope for the future, that there is a small increase in the amount of the contributions from each of the colonies. At the last Conference we returned a membership connected with the missions of 27,920 persons, with 5573 on trial for membership, being a net increase of the year of 2969 members. In this cheering fact the friends of this society will own the hand of God, and be stimulated to devout thanksgiving, and more earnest self-denying efforts for the extension of the Redeemer's kingdom among the islanders of the Pacific. The past year has been marked by a gracious work of God among the Chinese in Victoria. Six adult Chinese were publicly baptised in the Wesleyan chapel, Castlemaine. These are the fruit of the labors of the catechist, Mr Leong On Tong. Their religious experience and testimony on the occasion of their reception into membership with the church, given before a large congregation, was very satisfactory and encouraging. A grant of £170 has been made to this mission for the current year. NEW ZEALAND NORTHERN DISTRICT. The dark war-cloud which for six years has hung over these fair lands is not yet rolled away; uncertainty is still felt as to when or how the fearful strife will end. The influence of this state of things upon the moral and spiritual condition of the Maori population is painfully distressing. Still, all are not lost. 560 Maori church members and 112 on trial are the returns for this district. In some parts your missionaries report good congregations coining long distances to join in the service and worship of the house of God. Southern District. — Little that is cheering can be said of the work of God among the comparatively few Maoris of this district; 105 church members is the return from this district. FRIENDLY ISLANDS. The reports from this district tell of trials and disappointments, as well as of joys and successes during the year. The many and great changes iutroduced by the operation of the new code ot laws, and the state of unrestrained freedom now enjoyed by the people, have not in all cases been wisely used. Still thousands are walking in the fear of the Lord, and steadfast in faith and love. In the Vavau district a gracious revival has been going on; in the year about 20 new chapels have been erected in the district, and all free of expense to the society. The native training institution in Tonga is in operation and promises to be an incalculable good to the mission at large. SAMOA DISTRICT. The year has been one of trial to your missionaries. The demon of war has not left these beautiful islands of Samoa. A fearful hurricane swept over several islands in this group, leaving devastation, and ruin in its train. Many of our chapels were destroyed. The report tells of some of the old members of the church departing in the triumph of faith to be for. ever with the Lord. Notwithstanding the great trial of affliction and deep poverty of the people, they have contributed £233 13s. 6d. to the funds of this society for the year.

FIJI DISTRICT. Since our last report several thousands of heathen have renounced the worship of dumb idols, and now acknowledge the Lord to be God. Nearly 3000 persons have in the year been added to the church — yet the light shines amidst gross darkness. We are still told of wars and rumours of wars, of cannibalism the most revolting ; of trials and cruel mockeries endured patiently by our Christian natives from their heathen and persecuting neighbors. Amid such scenes and sounds none will wonder that your missionaries are still crying, " Pity, 0, pity poor Fiji ! " Many are the dark places in Fiji, which are full of the habitations of cruelty ; but ali are open and are opening to the light and grace of the gospel, and the request is often heard from those sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, " Come over and help us." Our time will only allow us to speak of one circuit out of eight — the Ban circuit, " It is true and worthy of remark that much forbearance has been shown by some Christian Chiefs, and fighting has not and will not, we thihk, be carried on in the barbarous mode of old. We note some improvement in this respect. Yet in these and other events we have fearful evidence that Fiji is not yet saved. There are many dark places in Fiji which are still full of the habitatations of cruelty. The picture we could now present is dark enough. We could write of a beautiful chapel burnt to the ground by the order of an heathen chief; of teachers who have been waylaid, on returning from their appointments, attacked and robbed of their clothes and books, of other whose houses have been pillaged and then set fire to ; on being asked to approve of war being declared on the robbers, have said, " Let us suffer a little longer, and perhaps we may overcome the opposition and hatred of our enemies." In this circuit there are 127 chapels, 53 other preaching places ; missionaries, 3 ; ' native missionaries, 9 ; catechists, 169 ; local preachers, 133; class leaders, 379; full members, 5091 ; on trial, 1440; attenders on public worship, 22,146. The following is a general summary of the stations occupied by this society: — Number of Chapels 704 Number of other preaching places 358 Misssionaries and Assistant Missionaries ... 97 Catechists 535 Day School Teachers 1,254 Sabbath School Teachers 2,171 Local Preachers 1,438 Class Leaders 2,763 Full and accredited Church Members ... 25.025 On trial for Membership 5,873 Sabbath Schools 827 Sabbath Scholars 41,623 Day Schools 1,238 Day Scholars 40,073 Attendants. on Public Worship 110,979 There are two printing establishments. In conclusion the committee congratulate themselves and friends on the past and present of this society. They look over its history and at its present state, and feel they are bound to give thanks to God alway, who has put the seal of his approval on its agency and efforts. Through this instrumentality thousands of precious souls have, during the past 40 years, found their way to heaven, and now join in the triumphant joy of the redeemed above. Thousands at the present time are returning to Zion with songs, while tens of thousands are being taught the things that belong to their peace. Every year finds the work increasing. " More and more it spreads and grows, Ever mighty to prevail; Sin's strongholds it now o'erthrows, Shakes the trembling gates of hell." We are not able to give any details of the parent society, as we have not received any report for the past year.

Australia and Tasmania ... £6067 15 1 New Zealand 661 15 6 Friendly Islands 532 17 6 Samoa 233 13 6 Fiji Islands 1918 1 5