THE REV. w. RONALDSON.

Hawke's Bay Herald, Volume 12, Issue 937, 25 April 1868, Page 2

THE REV. w. RONALDSON.

(From tlio "-Wairarapa Mercury," April 4.) The following letter from His Lordship the Bishop of Wellington has been transmitted to us for publication, that those who signed the memorial therein mentioned may become acquainted with the reply. We also insert a native letter and translation, alluding to the Rev. Mr. Ronaldson's removal. Mr. Ronaldson preached his farewell sermons on Sunday last to large congregations, and left the district on Thursday with his family in Mr. . Hastwell's express, to take up his residence at Clyde, Wairoa. He left amidst the universal regret of both Europeans and Natives, who in losing him have lost a good friend, a faithful pastor, and one who has by his painstaking labours, his zeal and piety, rendered himself beloved and respected by all who had the pleasure of knowing him. Bishop's House, Wellington, March 25, 1868. Gentlemen, — I , hare- : duly received your memorial of the 17th. instant, expressing your regrets at the removal ot the Rev. W. Ronaldson to the Province of Hawke's Bay, and of. course it .must be gratifying to him to know that you so kindly appreciate Ms ..services; at the same time when you reflect that Mr. Ronaldson is sent here/and mainly supported, by the Church Missionary Society, for services to the natives, you will understand that the Bishop of Waiapu, as representing that Society, may fairly consider that Mr. Ronaldson may; have better opportunities of carrying out their objects in some other district than the Wairttrapa. — I am, &c, . ; ... C. J. Wellington. P.S. — I need hardly add that, l must decline corresponding with, the Bishop of Waiapu on the subject, as I feel the reasonableness of the course he has pursued. Eereitaone, Aperira 2, 1868. (Xi te Kai Ta o te Nuipepa i Kereitaone.) E Hoa, — Tenakoe. Tenei ta matou kupu kia koe. Ea nui to inatou pouri mo Te Ronotana to matou minita c toia nei ki te tahi whenua matara, mehemea na Te Hahi o nga minita na nga Pihopa ranei te tikanga. Ko te he, no te mea na matou tenei minita o mua iho, kahore he minita mo matou. He ahakoa kua marara ke te nuinga o nga tangata Maori o Wairarapa ki te Hau Hau, c hara tena ite take tika hei kawenga ketanga i to matou kaiwhaka* ako. He he tenei no nga Pihopa ranei no te Hahi minita ranei ki te Atua, no te mea c whakarere ana ratou i te hunga pouri kia pouri tonu. Ea kawei te minita o te Atua ki tetahi atu wahi kahore nei he ritenga mo tona haere, he minita ano hoki kei reira. Ma te kaha o te Ronatana c kite ai nga tangata o Wairarapa i to ratou mararatanga ke, a ka hoki mai pea ki to ratou karakia tawhito. Eva kapi a Nui Tireni i te Eotimana, otia kua whakanohongia era atu wahi ki te Kaimahi mo nga Kotimana. Eo wai ra te Eaimahi i nga Eotimana o Wairarapa, inahoki kua tangohia te minita;.: Engari ko te Pihopa Aperahama pea. Heoi, c hoa, me ta c koe tenei reta ki te nuipepa me whakaatu mai c koe c nga Pihopa ranei ka waiho ranei nga tangata o Wairarapa hei tinihangatanga mo te Rewera inahoki kahore nei ratou c tukua kia whiwhi i te Eaiwhakaako. Heoi te kupu, na o hoa, Na Matiaha Mokai, Na Te Eemara, Ihaia, Piripi Tuapa, Ihaka Te Moe, Aperahama, Hamiora. Me etahi-atu ote Hahi.[teanslation.] Feiend,— Salutations to you. This is our word to you. We are in great sorrow about Mr. Ronaldson, our minister, who is dragged to a distant land. If the " Church of Ministers " (i.e., the Church Missionary Society) or the Bishops are the cause of it, it is very wrong, for he has been our minister during past years. Now there is no minister for us, though the majority of the Maori people in the Wairarapa have strayed to the Hau Hau. That is not a just cause why our teacher should be taken away. This is a crime either of the Bishops or of the " Church of Ministers " against God, for they leave the people who are in darkness to continue therein, and take away the Minister of God to another place where he is not required, as there is already a minister there. By Mr. Ronaldson's exertions the people of Wairarapa would see their error, and would perhaps return to their former faith — evil people repent. New Zealand is covered with Scotchmen (Scotch thistles), but in other parts laborers for the Scotchmen have him stationed. Who is the laborer for Scotchmen (thistles) in Wairarapa, inasmuch as the minister has been removed? But perhaps it maybe the Bishop Abraham. Enough, Oh friend ! Print this letter in the newspaper, and you or the Bishops inform us whether the people of the Wairarapa are to be left and trifled with by the devil, inasmuch as they are not allowed to have a teacher or adviser. Enough of the word. From your friends, Matiaha Mokai, Eemuru, Ihaia, Piripi Tuapa, Hamuera Pakaiahi, and others of the Church.