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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 9

Provincial and Colonial Intelligence

Provincial and Colonial Intelligence.

Presbytery of Dunedin.—This Presbytery met on the 10th January for conference respecting the state of religion. Reports were given in by most of the brethren present, some of which showed good results from the special evangelistic meetings which had been held in their congregations. The desirableness of making special evangelistic efforts in parts of the country in which there are no regular or only occasional public ordinances, was expressed by some. It was suggested that this might be best accomplished by two or three ministers being released from their own charges for a short time to overtake such work. There was also suggested the necessity of employing a larger number of agents than at present, embracing probationers, students, colporteurs, students, or other Christian men to press the truth on the attention of all.

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North-East Harbor.—About five or six miles beyond Anderson's Bay, on the main road through the Peninsula, there stands in a solitary position on the side of the road a neat little church. For whose accommodation it was intended a stranger might be at a less to conjecture. The country is so uneven and so thickly covered with wood that the number of inhabitants which it contains cannot be readily seen. These are, however, numerous enough to yield a fair congregation which meets here under the pastorate of the Rev. Mr. Greig, whose charge includes also Portobello, about five miles farther down the Peninsula. The first soiree in connection with this congregation took place on the 24th January. The church was tastefully decorated with ferns, and was crowded by a large audience. From the report read, it appeared that the Church cost £225, and the debt now remaining is £54. The manse has a debt of £200 resting on it. It is a large and elegant building, in a most romantic situation, less than half-way down the declivity that stretches from the church to the township on the side of the bay. Addresses by Rev. Messrs. Stobo and Copland, by Messrs. Paul Ah Chun and E. B. Cargill, were interspersed with recitations and songs, and altogether a most enjoyable evening was spent.

Inchclutha.—The Rev. James Kirkland was presented, last month, with the sum of fifty pounds from some of his parishioners, as a mark of their esteem. The presentation was made by Mr. Anderson.

Taranaki.—The efforts made to discharge our church debts have been abundantly successful. The proceeds of a bazaar held on 28th and 29th of November amounted to nearly £200. The church at Wanganui very kindly sent us £12, and after services conducted by Rev. J. Elmslie, M.A., who with apostolic zeal rode up from Wanganui to visit us, we collected £10. These sums have enabled us to pay all our debts, and have left a small balance in our favor.

Waikouaiti.—A soiree was held on the evening of the 26th Deer., in the Presbyterian Church, Waikouaiti, in connection with the Sabbath school, the Rev. D. Christie in the chair. Suitable and interesting addresses were delivered by the Rev. J. Clark, Palmerston, the Rev. James Baird, Hampden, and the Rev. F. Reeves, Waikouaiti. There was a goodly gathering of the children, parents, and others. The missionary box was opened and the sum of £14 6s. 6d. was found to have been collected by the Sabbath scholars during the year on behalf of the missions of the Synod. The sum of £10, the proceeds of the soiree, will be devoted to the Sabbath school library. The evening being a pleasant one a good many friends of other denominations were present, and a very profitable and enjoyable evening was spent. In the intervals of the addresses the children sung several of Bateman's hymns with good effect. A very pleasant variety was given to the evening's proceedings, by a mutual interchange of gifts between the teachers and scholars, showing that the right kind of sympathy and feeling exists amongst them as a school of Christ.

The Native School at Ruapuke, under the Management of the Rev. J. F. H. Wohlers.—When, in 1864, the General Government bought Stewart's Island from the southern natives, the sum of page 62 two thousand pounds was set apart as an endowment for educational purposes for the benefit of the natives of Southland. In 1867, the natives on the island of Ruapuke set apart ten acres of land as a site for the school and master's house, and suitable buildings were subsequently erected thereon out of the interest of the education fund. In 1868 the school was opened, and has been in full operation since. The average number of scholars on the book is about 35, and the average daily attendance about 27. The instructions are in English, and the chief parts are: English language, reading, writing, arithmetic, a little geography and singing. The lesson books are those of the national schools in Ireland, which are very good school books. Besides these, we also read the Bible. A friend in England, Mr. A. A. W. Lea, who formerly travelled in New Zealand as a naturalist, has kindly supplied our school with English Bibles. Several of the scholars, among them those who did not know any English when they first came to school, are now able to read and understand the Bible in English, and other books of easy and simple language. Of course, they will now and then come upon words, of which they cannot make out the meaning, and which must be explained to them. The difficulties a native has to overcome in learning English are far greater than those of a European to learn another language. The native children are unaccustomed to restraint and mental work; they think it an unheard of infringement on their liberty to be made to learn and to behave in school, if it does not suit their inclination. Then the spelling, pronouncing, and above all the richness of the words and expressions in English are so widely different from those in Moari. The latter language belongs to a time when European things and ideas were unknown in New Zealand, consequently it has no words and expressions for them, and many European ideas; cannot be explained to a native in his own language. The native schools are, next to salvation, of the greatest importance to the native race. They clear away a great deal of their ignorance and prejudices, which stand so sadly in the way of their social improvement, and introduce some wholesome discipline. The parents have grown up themselves without restraint, so they let their children have their own way, even in the most reckless ways of injuring their health, which frequently ends in consumption. The parents see it, but do not interfere beyond empty words, for which the children care nothing. Besides, such irregular habits, when they grow up, unfit them for standing on equal footing with the Europeans around them. In the school they get used to some discipline, their minds expand by European ideas, and, though a few only may get so far as to appreciate the general English literature, many learn to read and to understand the Bible, which is able to make men wise unto salvation.

We take the following notes from the 'Watchtower' of January: —We have great pleasure in being able to announce the appointment of several additional labourers for the Presbyterian Church in this Colony. The Rev. James Lawrie has already arrived and has gone to Wairarapa, where we hope he and the people of that most important district may soon have gone through the necessary preliminaries to a happy settlement. The Rev. Wm. Stewart of Warkworth near Aln- page 63 wick, Northumberland, has been appointed to Rangitikei, and was expected to sail from London in the Celeno about the first of November. Mr. Stewart has laboured with much success in one of the Presbyterian churches in England and is highly spoken of as a preacher. He is married to a daughter of the late Rev. James Mitchell, upwards of 40 years missionary at Poonah. He brings to New Zealand a large family, and in Rangitikei we doubt not they will meet with a large-hearted reception. —The Rev. Mr. Bruce, of Auckland, is expected to return in the Caduceus; be brings with him the Rev. David Hamilton who comes from the Presbyterian Church in Ireland, and is appointed to occupy Kaipara. The Rev. D Sidey of West Calder U.P. Church, goes to Napier to succeed the Rev. Mr. Morice. We are exceedingly grateful to the Home churches for this addition to our staff of labourers, and we should like them to know that the Colonial harvest is so plenteous that we are still in want. Let those who are specially interested in this department of the great work, "pray the Lord of' the harvest" that he may thrust forth more and more labourers.—The new church (Presbyterian) at Marton was opened for divine worship on the 31st December; and a new Wesleyan church in Upper Rangitikei on the 17th. The erection of a parsonage at Wanganui is now being proceeded with, preparatory to the arrival of the Rev. Mr. Neville.