NEW CALEDONIA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume V, Issue 1519, 7 October 1868, Page 5

NEW CALEDONIA.

(From the Chroniclc of the London Missionary Society for June.) The island of New Caledonia, which lies at the extreme western limit of Western Polynesia, is, with the exception of New Zealand, the largest island in the South Pacific' Ocean.' It is about 200 miles long and 25 broad, and from its extent, its harbour, climate and forests, and above all, its proximity to Australia, is an island of considerable importance. It was discovierod by Captain Cook in 1774, who was received by the nativeß in a;friendly manner. In 1840 an unsuccessful attempt to introduce Native Christian. teacheiß was made.by the Bev. T. Heath, of the London Missionary Society. In 1841 the Bev. A. W. Murray succeeded in landing two teachers who were left aa Christian pioneers with hopeful prospects. In 1843 the Mission was reinforced. In 1845 the island was again visited by missionaries from Samoa, when it was found that during tho interval since the fonnor visit, the native teachers had been exposed to.'tbe niost imminent peril from the violent hostility of the chief of the Isle of Pines, but had been preserved by a most marked providential interference. As one of the three teachers had died, and one of the survivors wished to return to Samoa, it was deemed advisable' to withdraw from the island for a time. In 1852 the French Government took possession of New Caledonia, and the re : occupation of that field by the London Missionary Society has been prohibited from that time to the present. The memorial from the .Svaugelieal Alliance to the Emperor of the French, inserted below, had for its object the obtaining permission from the French Government for the London Missionary Society to re-enter the island, with a view to renewed Christian efforts among the natives. (From the Evangelical- Intelligence)', June, 1868.) Opposition ist Fe bnch , A uthobities to Peomstant Missions in'Nbw Caiedonia. A communication was received in April last, from a missionary labouring in the Loyalty Islands, complaining that the French authorities in New Caledonia refused to : allow the agents of the London Missionary Society to resume missionary operations ! in that island—commenoed in 1841, and relinquished in 1845, in oonsequence of the lack of labourers. The following memorial from the Council of the I Evangelical Alliance was prepared for presentation to ! the Emperor of the French:— "To His Imperial Majesty Napoleon 111., Emperor of the French. 0< j " We, the committee of the British Branch of the Evangelical Alliance, composed of Christians of various denominations, and ofdifferent countries, desire, with sentiments of profound respect, to. present the following memorial to your Majesty :—• "By a communication received from : the ttev. Stephen IL Creagh, missionary in connection with the London Missionary Society; labouring at Mar£, one of the Loyalty Islands, the following facts have been brought under our notice, with the earnest request for our aid in laying the case before your Majesty's Government "It appears that in 1841 missionaries from the London Missionary Society were sent to the Island of New Caledonia, to instruct tho natives in the divine truths of Christianity in! accordance with the rules of that society , (applicable; to all their stations), that | Christian doctrines alone be taught,; without advocacy of, or opposition to, anyLecclesiastical system. _ I " The teachers, we are informed, continued their Christian work in-New Caledonia nntil the year 1845, when, in consequence of the lack of labourers, the stations had to be abandoned; not, however, without the hope that more favourable opportunities would be found for again preaching the Gospel of-our Lord Jesus Christ to the natives of this important island. " Since the year 1852, when New Caledonia and Loyalty Islands-became subject to your Majesty|s dominion, the London -Missionary Society, by their agents in the Ldyalty Islands, have endeavoured to re-enter and recommence their work in Hew Caledonia; but this; we regret to learn, haß been frustrated by the refusal on the part of the' representatives of your Majesty's -Government to • grant the required permission. ' "The claim'urged by theso Christian missionaries is made on the following grounds : :— • '

" First. The assurance graciously given by your Majesty, in a letter which the sdcietyhad' th# honor of receiving, dated the 21th January, 1865, in reply to a' memorial 'transmitted by Earl Russell to the British Ambassador at Paris,' atid:by hini laid before your Majesty. We beg to be allowed to give the following extract':— ! ... "Je fais ecrireau CommandantGuillainpour blamer toute mesure qui meUrait uno entrave au libre exercise de votre ministfire dans cos contrees lointaines Je suis assured que loin de susciter des difficult6s aux representaris de I'autorite Frantjaise, la Mission Protesetante comme la Mission Catholique 1' aideront a lepandre chez les indigenes de l'Archipel le* bienfaits d'u Christianisme, et dela civilisation."

[TBANBLATION. —I will direct Commandant Guillian to be written to, condemn every measure which may put an obstacle to the free exercise of your ministry in these distant countries. lam assured that far from raising difficulties against the representatives of the French; authority, the Protestant mission, as well aB the Catholic mission, will aid to spread among the natives of the Archipelago the benefits of Christianity and of civiliiation.]

" Second.-. The faat that the London Missionary Society had previously a mission in New Caledcnia, which ceased only from a lack of labourers, an obstacle which now, happily, no longer exiita.

" Third. The desire expressed by the people themselves in different parts of the island, to have a missionary sent to them from the London' Missionary Society to teach them "the Qospel of our Lord Jesns Christ. 1 -

"Fourth. We are assured that thero are many and populous districts in New Caleaonia where no Christian"missions exists, and that it is to these districts to which the London Missionary Society desireß to direct-its benevolent efforts.

" Deeply sympathising with the object and prayer of our co-t eligionists, and assured that their efforts tend to tho loyalty, elevation and prosperity of your Majesty's subjects, as well as to their spiritual and eternal interests, we earnsfetly intreat— "That your-Majesty will give such directions that in New Caledonia and neighbouring islands, there may: be freedom of entrance or departure

granted to the Protestant missionaries'for Christian instruction, in the same way aB free liberty is given by the British Government and nation to the Cathoiio priests and missionaries of France throughout her Britannic Majesty's dominions, and that the natives may be allowed to be employed as evangelists whereever it is found desirable to send them for the purpose of spreading the benefits of Christianity ani of civilisation. "We beg to express our sincere gratitude for the consideration most graciously shown on several occasions to the Evangelical; Alliance, when our efforts to obtain for Christians of different nations the exercise of the. rights of conscience and the enjoyment of religious liberty have, been brought under your Majesty's notice. We offer up eavnest prayer that the Divine bleßßing may largely rest upon your Majesty, and that the enlightened and . benevolent policy which has distinguished your imperial rule may secure increasing prosperity to France, and strengthen more and more the cordiality and friendship existing between-that nation and our own. " Signed on behalf of-tho Committee of Council, Chichester, T. K. BIHKS, M.A., • \ William Akthur, M. A.., { Honorary Edwabd Stbane, D.D., f Secretaries. Datid King, Ij.L.D., ) s&ssr I s —■ Hermann Schmkttau, Ph. D„ For. Seo."

His Majesty received the Rev. James Davis, one of the secretaries, to an audience at the Tuileries, on Monday, 18th. The secretary having read the memorial, his Majesty expressed bis regret that any

opposition should have been made to the Christian teaching by Protestant missionaries in New Caledonia'.' Such opposition was contrary to his express directions sent out to the Governor "of tie libyalty Islands'in 1885. . His Majesty 'aaaured the secretary that the same 'religion's liberty' whiclrprevailed in Franc* would.be extended throughout the French dependencies, and added that he jwould at once'insttuofc' the Minister of Marine to carry this purpose out in, .New Caledonia.