ward increased to twelve and fifteen. Mr. Clarke states

All who wish may come, so that old and young have the means of instruction afforded them; and it is pleasing to see what pains some of them take. These meetings are always attended with religious instruction. We begin by singing a hymn and praying in the Native Language, and afterward catechize and speak to them as well as we can, on the great love of our God to sinners; and endeavour to lead their minds to that Saviour, whose blood cleanseth from all sin. We find it very difficult, at times, to call their attention to what is said; but we must wait with patience, and look for the fulfilment of that promise-We shall reap if we faint not.

Cultivation has been carried on with success, and the cattle continue to increase. Mr. Kemp writes, in July

We have about 30 head of cattle, which we keep together in one herd: several head have left the herd, and are running wild. The Natives have not hitherto molested the herd; but many Chiefs have requested to have a male and female, which I think we should do well to let them have, in order that they might soon stock the Island, which would be a great blessing to the country.

In December, be writes

We have great cause to be thankful to our Heavenly Father for His mercies in this Heathen Land. Mrs. Kemp and our three little children all enjoy very good health. May you be enabled to persevere in the work which God has given you to do! Though you have many trials and difficulties to contend with, yet the work is the Lord's, and must prosper; and I hope that you will have to hear, ere long, glad tidings from this country.

Pyhea.

The formation of this Settlement was stated in the last Report. It is situated in a valley which the Missionaries have named, out of respect to the great friend of the Mission, MARSDEN VALE. The Rev. Henry Williams and Mrs. Williams, with Mr. and Mrs, Fairburn, have here continued their assiduous efforts, amidst many difficulties, to benefit the Heathen around them.

Divine Service is held, morning and evening, in English; and, in other parts of the day, there are three Native Services, that is, singing, prayer, and

conversation. The Natives connected with the Settlement, and resident in the families, were, at the last dates, twelve or thirteen-men, boys, and girls they conduct themselves well, and attend Family Worship twice daily: they repeat prayers, and sing very well.

Of their labours among the Natives, and the effect of them, Mr. Williams thus speaks

We frequently hold conversations with them on the natural depravity of man, and the only way of Salvation. They sometimes appear to pay great attention, and will ask very pertinent questions; but frequently will suddenly change to some absurd subject.

Their observance of the Sabbath is, for them, very great: they know when it arrives as well as we do; and distinguish the day by wearing their European clothes, and abstaining from work our Settlement, on that day, is perfectly quiet: the Head Chief, with his wife and many others, generally attends our Services, and frequently Family-Prayer.

Some of their superstitious notions are, I hope, giving way; such as their taboos on a sick person, as we will not attend them while in that state: in two or three instances, also, they have been defeated in their supposed power of witchcraft, which they universally believe some to be possessed of. I have not however, yet seen, during illness, or at any other time, any apparent concern for their eternal state: they assent, generally, to what we say; but resort to their old superstitious ideas.

Though, at times, we feel much tried by their insolent conduct and thefts, we are enabled to look forward to better days, even to that period when this people shall know the Lord and praise Him, from the least even to the greatest. At present it is truly the case, that darkness covers the land, and gross darkness the people. Appearances are, however, far more promising than they were; and though there is not, as yet, any spiritual concern among the Natives, yet their reception of us and our message is as pleasing as we could expect under such circumstances.

I stand greatly in need of assistance; for I cannot move at present off the Settlement without fear of something going wrong, and when we shall be able to collect children it will be still more difficult: yet I would rather be subject to every inconvenience than that any one should join me who does not possess a meek and quiet spirit. A trivial matter may check the progress of the best constructed machine, and it must be acknowledged that the works of this machine are formed of

most brittle metal. We make some progress in the language: the children will speak it as Natives.

Of a Sunday in July Mr. Williams writes

Our visit to the Natives was much as usual-a total deadness and unconcern to their state, and to the offers held out to them. They believe that there is a great difference between our God and the God of the New Zealanders; but they content themselves with considering it very well for us to observe the orders of our God, and for themselves to re

main under the jurisdiction of their own. While viewing some of the Chiefs wrapped in their mats, reclining with the utmost indifference on the ground, I could not but feel how little control one man has over the heart of another. It is the Spirit that quickeneth. I hope that we may all feel the great need of this quickening influence, both here and in England.

At the last dates, in December, he adds

Our intercourse with the Natives is generally pleasing. At one Settlement which we visit on Sundays, we are welcomed in a most gracious manner; and the Old Chief has always a red flag flying on that day, to give notice to all around that it is a day of rest. At this place, from thirty to seventy Natives generally attend.

A regular School had not been begun. Several Chiefs wished to send their sons; and some girls, daughters of Chiefs, were anxious to be taught, and the Settlement is surrounded with children: but further assistance was requisite. Mrs. Williams, with her own family of little children, and troubled by the want of steadiness and cleanliness in the Native Girls who assist her, is still active and happy: Mr. Williams says of her

She is perfectly well, and has much to occupy her attention; and, though she is frequently tired in her work, she is not weary of her labour.

Speaking, in July, of the few preceding months, Mr. Williams says

We have been in perfect health, tolerably in peace, and with alternate ebb and flow of spirits: there has been much to weary and perplex both mind and body, and to call forth our utmost faith and self-examination.

Your Letters of May 1823, with others from relatives and friends, arrived opportunely. On the assembling of the Brethren at this Station to the Monthly Prayer-Meeting on the First Monday in March, we stood much in need of a word

of exhortation; for, in this barren wilderness, where all is desolation, though we feel it our duty to stand our ground, the remembrance of England will involuntarily pass through the mind: the idea, under these circumstances, that you are not unmindful of us, is exceedingly animating. You will perhaps say, "If this indeed be true, how much more so ought the belief in the sacred promise of the Great Head of the Church, that He will not only think of us, but be present with us, even to the end of time!" This thought, I trust, dwells with us: nevertheless, if it were but a few words, I would intreat you to be very frequent in your communications with us. The spirit indeed may be willing, but the flesh is weak.

On a general view of the Mission,* it may be remarked, in reference to the Natives, that, with the exception of those at Rangheehoo, and of some others elsewhere, their behaviour has been generally less peaceable and friendly than in former years. The conduct of a few near the Settlements, and particularly of parties who have come from a distance, has been turbulent and offensive. It ought, however, to be considered, that their violent conduct has usually been connected with their notions of retaliation for some imagined injury or insult. This law of retaliation perpetually harrasses the Natives. Mr. Clarke stated at Michaelmas, in reference to four of his Scholars

They were regular in their attendance till their parents became apprehensive of their safety at Kiddeekiddee: having committed depredations on the property of a neighbouring tribe, they feared that the injured tribe would fall on their children as a satisfaction, and therefore took them home.

The constant resort of shipping to the Bay leads to consequences not a little injurious. At the close of the year, there were perhaps twenty men, who had left their ships, and were living on plunder : and, within the year, not less, it is supposed, than a hundred men had thus fixed themselves among

Further details relative to the New-Zealand Mission will appear in one of the remaining Numbers of the Missionary Register for the present year.

the Natives; the Captains of other vessels not hesitating to employ them, when they want men.

In the present state of the Natives, great firmness is required on the part of the Missionaries. After Mr. Marsden left New Zealand on his Fourth Visit, a scheme was formed among the Natives to put Mr. Kendall into possession of the house which had been occupied by Mr. Butler, and in which Mr. Shepherd had succeeded him: the Missionaries behaved with decision on this trying occasion; and gave the Natives to understand, that, if the Society's property were wrested from them by violence, such a step would probably lead to the withdrawing of the Mission: this seems to have had the desired effect on their minds. It has been already stated that Mr. Shepherd's visit to New South-Wales was, in part, intended to express the displeasure of the Settlers at the violence which had been manifested toward him. At Pyhea, also, on a very recent occasion, such serious depredations were violently committed on the Society's property, in retaliation of an improper expression used to a Chief by a workman then employed at the Station, that the Settlers, who met on the subject, thought it requisite to refuse to accommodate the matter till restitution and satisfaction had been made by the Natives.

The warlike spirit is still cherished, to the great injury of the people and of the attempts to benefit them. Their eagerness for muskets and powder, which they cannot obtain of the Settlers while they can procure them from other quarters, leads them to undervalue their best friends, and increasingly to depreciate those articles of exchange which are not available for the purposes of war. And this spirit is injurious to themselves; for, wherever the Missionaries go among them, it is observable that those who abstain from war live in comparative comfort, while those who make a practice of accompanying the war-expeditions live in penury and wretchedness. Mr. Kemp wrote, in July