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Clutha Leader, Volume III, Issue 138, 2 March 1877, Page 6

Bishop Neyill to Dk, Stuart. Dunedin, Feb. 23, 1877. My dear Dr Stuart, — I arrived at home last evening after an absence of some weeks, and have since seen in some of the Dunedin papers copies of a letter of yours addressed to Mr Lucas,, of the Maori Kaik, at the Taiaroa Heads. In the letter referred to 1 understand you to give as your reason for declining- to attend a service on the re-opening of the church (which has recently been restored by the natives) that you considered yourself to have been treated discourteously by me, in that I had introduced a native clergyman to the natives of this part of the country without previous communication with you upon the subject. You wiil excuse my saying that your letter has caused me some surprise. I know, of course, that you do not accuse me of disrespect towards yourself personally, but in your capacity as a recognised leader of the important religious community to which you belong. This consideration, however, renders it the more necessary for me *o correct the erroneous impressions which your letter is likely to produce. To do this, I will recount something of the history of this matter. On' the 26th January, 1873, shortly after taking up my residence in this Colony. I paid a visit to the Maoris at Taiaroa Kaik, and held divine service, in the course of which I baptized an adult and four children. This was in pursuance of a promise made on the occasion of a former visit in company with the Rev. Mr Stanley, when I had, at the request of that gentleman, examined the adult candidate and made inquiries as to his character. In the course of these visits I found — (1.) That there was no resident minister of any denomination. (2.) That many of the natives had been baptized as members of the English Church — some by Bishop Selwyn himself. (3.) That they were still using the liturgy of the Church of England, having been instructed in its use, I believe, by Mr RiemenschneUer, and that they desired to obtain new books in order to continue its use. In consequence of these things, I expressed to G. G. Taiaroa and others my intention of seeking for a native clergyman, with a view to his residingamong them, a matter which at that time I thought would take no long correspondence. Some time afterwards I received a visit from Bartholomew (Paratomu), in which he informed me that the Presbyterian's were about to employ him, and that they would give him £10 a year. Until the present time I have been unable to obtain the services of a. Maori clergyman for thispost, but during the interval I have never made the slightest secret of my endeavours on this behalf ; on the contrary I have publicly and privately spoken of my anxiety to establish this mission. Somewhat suddenly, andjusr, on the eve of my departure from home, the Rev. Mr Ngara arrived. I gave, him a letter, of introduction and sent him to the . Kaik. Subsequently . I went thither myself,

accompanied by the Rev, Mr Moore, of Port Chalmers ... . The chief, with the consent of his people after full discussion, made m certain offers which, I accepted, and in the course of my remarks to the people assembled, J distinctly; informed all that it was my. desire that a, friendly relation should be maintained with Paratomu, and that he should have full -opportunity afforded to hold such services as might be desired by the body to which he was attached. I gathered that this was quite understood, and took my departure. ,1 will not plead the necessary haste of my action as accounting- for my not having 1 communicated with you, since I cannot feel sure that I should have done so had time allowed, unless I had happened to meet with you. I certainly knew that Mr. Blake had lived at the Kaik, but 1 understood that his mission was not successful, and I must remind you that no communication was made with the authorities of the Church of "England when Mr Blake was appointed, when Paratomu was engaged, or when the Presbyterian Synod proposed to grant money towards the restoration of the Maori church— an offer which I doubt not was properly meant, but which was, I think, properly declined by the naiives, in order to show that they intended to manage their own afiairs themselves. As your letter has been published some days, you will excuse my having sent copies, of this to the Press on the same date as that on which I address you. — Believe me to be, yours very sincerely, S. T. Nevill, Bishop of Dunedin.