NEW ZEALAND.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XVII, Issue 1435, 13 September 1861, Page 4

NEW ZEALAND.

New Zealand was discovored by Tasman, the Dutch navigator, in the year 1642. It does not appear to have been again visited — at least no record of such visit exists — until our intrepid countryman, Captain Cook, first in 1769, and subsequently in 1774, and again m 1777 surveyed it. Neither Tasman's nor Captain Cook's first interview with tho natives was calculated to prepossess either party with favourable sentiments of the other. Blood was spilt on both sides, and the New Zoalandeis weio reputed to bp, what subsequent infoimation proved them, a bold, athletic, and ciuelrace , addicted, amongst other barbarous rites, to the horrid practice of devouring the bodies of their enemies slain in battle. Still, theie were features in their character which evinced an intellectual vigour far beyond most savage tribes. Subsequent intercouise with the Biitish and othor Europeans has greatly improved them, whilst the instruction afforded by the missionaries has induced a considerable amount of civilisation, and led, it is believed, to the entire abolition of Cannibalism. A glance at the map will show that New Zealand comprises three distinct islands . the noithem aud middle, of some extent; the southern, much smaller than either. The noithern has always been the most populous, both by the natives, when visited by Tasman and Cook, and subsequently by British settleis The middle is much moie mountainous, and is subject to earthquakes, more or less violent. The salubnty of the climate, and the natui al fertility of the soil, cannot be sui - passed, if equalled, by any countiy in the world The Rev. B. Quaife, who resided in the Bay of Islands to the north east, says in a letter addressed to the late Rev. A. Wells, "The climate is delicious in a very high degree. It is almost meat, drink, and medicine " Bishop Selwyn bears a similar testimony "No one knows what the climate is," he remaiks, "till he hat basked in the almost peipetual sunshine of Tasman's Gulf, with a frame braced and vigorated to the full enjoyment of heat by the wholesome fiost, or cool bieeze of the previous night " It cannot be thought surpnsing, that with such advantages, New Zealand should attiact the attention of the Butish people, and induce myriads of our emigrating countrymen to select it as a home for themselves and families. But long before it was constihited a British colony, it was bi ought under tho notice of the friends of missions to the heathen The history of the Chuich Missionaiy Society's ef forts in New Zealand is exceedingly interesting The Mission owes its existence to the late Rev. T. Marsden, senior chaplain in the colony of New South Wales A variety of providential incidents had awakened in hib mind an intense interest on behalf of the Maori, oi native tribes of those islands It seemed to bo the one object for which he lived Without at all neglecting the oneious duties that devolved upon him in his own sphere, the mission to New Zealand was the ruling pas sion of his mind, which no difficulties, howevei formidable, and no disappointments, however great, could subdue. It was tho great enterprise of his life, which justifies the title which has been given him as " The Aiiosth of New Zealand " It was during a visit to this country in the years 1808-9, that Mr. Marsden succeeded in inducing the Church Missionary Society to send two agents, Messrs William Hall and John King, laymen, who accompanied Mr. Marsden on his return to Australia in the month of August of the latter year. To these single-hearted men the distinguished honour was committed of fiist making known the Gospel in New Zealand. "Ever bear in mmd," they were told, "that the only object of the Society, in sending you to New Zealand, is, to introduce the knowledge of Christ among the natives, and, in order to this, the arts of civilized life." Mr. Thomas Kendall, a third layman, followed, and it was not till Dec 1815, that the Rev. John Butler, the fhst clei leal missionary, was sent. " While you rejoice m communicating every other good," it was said to him, " think little or nothing done, till you see those who are dead in tresspasses and bins quickened together with Christ " The first Sabbath on which the one true God was worshipped m New Zealand since the Cieation will be for ever memorable in her annals It was on the 25th of December, 1815 It was to be expected that Mr. Marsden, who had manifested so lively an inteiest in the mission, would be present on so joyous an occasion He had journeyed from Sydney for the purpobe, and pieached from the words, " Behold, I bring you glad tidings of great joy. " Many natives were piesent, who behaved with gieat decorum, though with a veiy limited undei standing of the natuie of the service "In thib manner," said Mr. Marsden, " the Gospel has been introduced to New Zealand ; and I fervently pray that the glory of it maj never depart from its inhabitants till time shall be no more." Though the Episcopalians weie the first, they were not the only section of the one Chinch of Chust whose compassion was excited for the inhabitants of these beautiful islands The Wesleyan Methodists were eaily in the field Their first missionary was the Rev. Samuel Leigh, between whom and Mr. Marbden the closest friendship subsisted They were kindred spirits, sm cerely rejoicing in each other's success, and sympathising in each other's trials. For many yeais these devoted men laboured with little piospect of success It was a severe trial of their faith and patience, dwelling as they did in the midst of savages and cannibals, whose menaces and aggiessions weie often used to extort property from them. In the year 1821 New Zealand was visited by the Rev D. Tyennan, and Georgo Bennett, Esq , who had been deputed by the London Missionaiy Society on a tour of inspection oi the various mission stations thioughout the woild They enteied the Bay of Wangaioa, at the noithem cv tremity of the island, for supplies of provision. Whil-il there, hundreds of the natives crowded the ship An accident occurred to one of the chiefs, who fell ovei bond into the water, which the savages immediately made a pretext for commencing hostilities They took possession of the vessel, and seized the peisons of Messrs Tyerman and Bennett and the captain, and having pinioned their arms behind them, stood witli uplifted axes ready when then chief gave the signal to cut their down With savage fury, and helhsh-hke yellings, thej felt all down the arms and legs of then intended victims as if longing for the moment when they would be able to gratify their homble appetite by feeding on theflesl of their trembling prisoners At that awful crisis, a boat was seen appioaching, on board which was George, the principal chief of the district. Immediately the m furiated savages let go their victims, and by the chiel were ordered to clear the vessel and leturn on shore. Thus, meicifully, by so singular an inteiference oi Divine Providence, were the lives of the deputation and ship's crew preserved. But the Gospel, as in other ages and other countries, so in New Zealand, has proved "thepoaei' of God.' Before it dispositions the most savage, rites the most abominable and cruel, and usages the most disgusting and repulsive, have yielded This fair land is no longei darkened by cannibalism, infanticide, and other black crimes which were once rampant throughout its lengtl: and breadth In the last Report to the Chuich Missionary Society, it is stated that, prior to the bieaking out of the war, there were twenty-twc missionary stations, 505 native lay agents, and 6,282 communicants The Wesleyan Methodist Missionary Report states that they also had at that time 21 missionaries, 6 native assistant missionaries, and23C local preachers ; 114 Sabbath schools, with 276 teachers, and 4,058 children ; and that 9,286 attended public worship, both children and adults But whikt the lecord of efforts for the conversion ol the natives is replete with interest, the object of this paper is to direct attention to New Zealand as a BntisL colony. It wai established as such in 1811, when it received a charter of incorpoiation Its government was administered by a Govemor-in chief, residing in Auckland ; a Lieutenant Governor, residing at Wellington : and a Legislative Council of six. members, chosen by the Governor, who had power to inciease then number. On the sth of April, 1853, piovincial assemblies, with a superintendent over each, and a general assembly, were established. The latter consists of a House of Representatives elected by the people, and a Legislative Council appointed by the Crown. From the time the Government assumed this settled form, the British population has rapidly increased. By the offer of free grants of land to intending emigrants, thousands of our countiymen were induced to sepaiate themselves fiom their native country, and proceed to take possession of what to them was a "land of promise." Besides the general class of emigrants, special appeals weie addiessed to Episcopalians by the Ebtablishment of the Province of Canterbury, and to Presbyterians by that of Otago, both in the middle island. The British population is now considerable, and gieat progress has been made in providing the means of spiritual mstiuction. The Episcopalians have five bishops, and moie than sixty clergymen Bishop Selwyn, the Metiopolitan, is indefatigable in the discharge of his duties Undaunted by difficul ties, and almost insensible to fatigue, he visits every pait of his diocese, even the most distant. By sea or by land, on hoiseback or on foot, he repairs to any region where by his presence he can .stimulate otheis, or by his own exertions piomote the cause to which his life is devoted. It is stated that the Church Missionary Society wishes now giadually to withdraw its mission Since the country has become a British colony, and a regular church system is being established, it coiißideis that the moie pioper sphere for its labours is in those countries which are still in a state of heathenism In puismncp of this intention, while they do not pioposc to withdiaw any of their missionaries who are in active employment, they decline to fill un any vacancies which may occur tlnough sickness or death. The Presbyterians of the J)ree Chinch of Scotland liave eighteen station? ; in Auckland fhe, with six

ministers ;in Ofcago seven, with nine ministers ; Wellington three, with three ministers ; in Nelson two, with two ministers ; and in Canterbury one, with one minister. The whole constitute " the Synod of New Zealand." Neither the Established Church of Scotland, lor the United Presbyterian Church, appear to have any station in the colony. The efforts of the Wesleyan Methodists are duected alike to the natives and to the British settlers. Hence the statement given above of their ministers, local preacheis, and other agencies, is a fair representation of their strength. In the year 1851 the Colonial Missionary Society having been requested to send a Congregational minister to Auckland, where some families of that demonination weie settled, selected the Rev. Thos. I lamer, of Middleton, near Manchester, who left this country m the month of June of that year. Before he reached his destination, the Rev. J. Macdonald, who had been labommg for some years on one of the islands of the "^outh Sea, under the auspices of the London Missionary Society, found his way thither. Both these brethren are labouimg successfully, and are sustained by the congregations they have gathered around them. About the same time the Rev. Horatio Groube pioceeded on his own resources to the colony, an ' fixed his residence in New Plymouth, in the provino > o{ Taranaki, wheie he elected a chapel, and continued t > labour until driven away by the war which is at present unhappily raging in that province He is now with his family in Sydney, where he 11 leceivmg the sympathy and hospitality of fi lends in that city. In the year 1857 the Rev. J. F. Mandeno emigrated with his family to New Zealand, and having fixed his residence at Remuera, a few miles from Auckland, commenced preaching, with encouraging piospects, and continues faithfully labounng in woid and doctrine. At Wellington, Mi J. Woodward, an eaily settler in that town, with laudable zeal opened a place for public woislnp. His disinterested labours were crowned with success. A chapel was elected, which was soon filled. Finding his secular duties multiplying on his hands, he generously united with other friends in requesting the Committee of the Colonial Missionary Society to send them a minibtei who might be wholly devoted to the work. Accordingly the Rev 11. W. Scott, formeily of Kelvedon, in the county of Esse\, was sent, in the year 1859, and is labouring with great success 111 that impoitant town. By the hbeiahty of one friend m Auckland, John Rout, Esq , a chapel has been erected at Onehunga, a considerable village, about five miles off the city, to which the Rev. R. Laishley was sent in the month of May last year. He has enteied on his labours under the most auspicious circumstances, with a prospect of great comfoit and extended usefulness Peihaps few of oui colonial dependencies are more abundantly supplied than New Zealand with the means of evangelical instruction ; that is, in proportion to the number of British settlers. There can, however, be no doubt that when the piesent wai shall be terminated, which it may be hoped it soon will be, and when an amicable arrangement can be made for the sale of their lands by the Maori tribes, the tide of emmigration will again flow in that direction. It is impossible that so fine a country, with so fertile a soil and so genial a climate, should fail to attract the superabundant population of the British isles. The skilful artizan, the honest labourer, men*of every class, might secure, by sobriety and mdustiy, the comfoits of life, and, in the due couise of events, rise even to affluence itself. In the mean time it should be the duty, or rather, be regarded the privilege, of every section of the Church of Chiist, to strive to the utmost to furnish the gathering multitudes with the privileges and blessings of the Gospel of salvation. The native lace, from natural ca\ises, apart from the effect of the war, is rapidly diminishing. It is supposed there are not more than 60,000 or 70,000 souls remaining, not half the number less than a centuiy ago. As they are reduced, it cannot be doubted the Anglo-Saxon race will occupy their place Let, then, the great principles of our evangelical Protestant faich be broadcast over the entire land, and New Zealand in a few ages will become like Zion of old, " beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth." — Evangelical Mayazinc.