FROM WANGWNUI TO PIPIRIKL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 12120, 8 December 1894, Page 2

FROM WANGWNUI TO PIPIRIKL

[By Mrs Dufi' Hbwi'it.]

Tho weallior was lovoly, and this do.lightful trip from first to la?t was full of beauty and iuteiea f , some portions of the seeuory boiug simply magnificent. One is stmok first of all by the clearness of the water, which bo beautifully 1 ©fleets thft trees that skirt (ho rivor. As you glide along its smooth surface tho hills rise higher and steepur, with their wealth of gloriou3 vegetation down to (ho rivor's edge— groups of luxuriant fern trees, Caracas, lowi, and here and there a rata, with its flary rod blossoms. At some of tho stopping-places thero wrre Mnori villages, and rather pieturesqua groups of Mao-is." In crossing the rapids one experienced literally what in dreams one thought utterly foolish and impossible— viz , to eail along, gratinir oyer stones and bouldors. In some places we liadto bo haiiled along by a wire rope attached to something in the river, and wound round by a stoain winch. It is wonderful what clover navigation can accomplish, and the graceful, oasy \yaj iv whwh Iho steamer turned her bo«va or stern into the shore to receive a parcel or oven a, Eolitary letter was quite intorosting to belnld Only ononooccw'on tho parcol hail to bo reached by 4 strong, autivo young mm

climbing from tho steamer into the branches of a willow tree to receive from Iho hands of a Maori a sewing machine ! All difficulties seem to be ignored by the ciew of that wonderful little steamer, with its interesting, steady-looking young captain, who always steered [the steamer himself over the rapids. As we near Pipiriki the scenery becomes still grander, and one sooms to be sailing straight into the wooded hills, when in a sudden of the river you find yourself looking upon the picturesque village of Jerusalem, with its pretty church, and high-pointing Bpire, as if it would say "All things great and beautiful, the Lord Qod made them all." On our arrival at Pipiriki the proprietor of the hotel took chargo of our luggage, whilst we walked leisurely up the rise to the hotol.where we found accommodntion.clean and good fare, but no freßh milk, the want of which seemed such an unnecessary privation in a place like that. There was not a sipn of grog-selling thore or on board the steimer (although it could be had by passengers if wanted). At dinner all on board drank good filtered water. Theßteward waß most obliging.as indeed all the crew were. The meals were good and well served and moderate in price. The pleasure of our trip was brightened by the civility and kinduess of all on board, and tho facilities they gave to us of carrying out our object in distributing our temperance and other attractive books and paperß to the Maoris all along the route. At Fipirifci.after tea, we had. a nice gathering of Maoris, and spoke to thorn earnestly, distributing our books— papers which were received with evidently pleasure by them all and several signed the pledge. It was touching to see one old Maori clergyman os lie recognised Mrs Medley and talked of her father and Bishop Fattison and Biehop Selwyn and others. He said "ib has cheered my heart to see you and hear your word?," and on parting he said (whilst his countenance quite lighted up) " God's love, and the grace of Jesus Christ ba with you." It is beautiful to see even in the roughest of the Maoris th-j look of reverence that comes into their faces at tho mention of the name of JO3US, and it is enough to make one weep to thick of the indifference shown by so many of our own people to that precione Holy name. We left Pipiriki tho next morning at 7 o'clock Many of the Maori's came to see us off and say goodby. On this our return journey there was a gentleman from Melbourne on board who had como from Auckland visiting the hot lakes, &c. He said the luxuriance of the vegetation in New Zealand was an astonishment to him after the monotony of tlie blue gumß in Australia. There wore several Maoris on board, with whom we had some talk, and two signed the ploicje. Our visits to the pahs at Putiki, Aramoho, and the chief of Parekino, who was in Wanganui, were most delightful and satisfactory. No one can be much with tho Maoris without besoming deeply interested in them, and one begins to understand the deep affection all missionaries have for them. We feel their work has been a great and blessed work, and although they have borne the heat and burden of the day thsy will not grudge to others a little reaping of vhit they have sown. From the beginning of out temperance mission two months ago to the present titre 61) Maoris hive signed the pledge, and about 500 books, tracts, and papers distributed. Major Kemp and his daughter Victoria are helping the cau3o by their influence and example, and the- speech of TeHen Hen; tho Taupe chief, has been read with great inteioat by the Maoris everywhere.