NATIVE MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 2, Issue 49, 7 November 1850, Page 3

NATIVE MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.

Petene, 2nd October, 1850. My Friend, Mr. Kissling, —You will receive the sum of six pounds twelve shillings (£6 125.). collected at a missionary Meeting held at Tukupoto, on the 30lli September, 1.9.50, which you will please hand over to I\]r. , lite Society's treasurer i" Auckland, for the piomulg.Uion of the Gospel. Ileaikrn also to the speeches made by ilie ehiels and native teachers in this nss'inbly. Perhaps it will be well to huve them printed in the " Maori Messenger," so that the go >d cxmaple of these persons may he fo'lowcil l.y other.--, that all the chiefs anil (ril cs In ih s Island may be induced to engage in this great and good woik. The object of the meeting held at Tu!.-u- ; pnlo, on the 30th ol So, Umber, was to make a collection in aid of the Gospel. The mcelin" was but thinly attended, in cons-quciicc of°the people being engaged at their plantations at some distance ; the number present amounted to one bundled and twenty. Now hearken to the resolutions ai d the speeches made at this me' ting. Firstly—That we- form ourselves into a Society, to be a branch ol the Auckland Missionary Society. Secondly—That the Chiefs and Na'ive Teachers residing at Wuikalo and Wiapa N lo invited to assist in this good work, k fn..: to collect money in aid thereof. Thirdly—l liat these icgulations lie adopted by the Church of Pelcuo, and that they be he d binding to her members, year after year. _ ' (A-'rct'd to, or enrried unanimously.) Kcwr te Mokornu, chi. f of the Ng tiiru, now rose and addressed the assembly us 10l o.vs —One thing only is great, namely, th« Go.spcl; it calls upon us lo repent as eoniiminded by .John the Jiaptist. What h;is caused can-i;ilm!i.-.:ii to disappear? The Gospel. \\'li;.i 1,, i-, caused evil to be on the decrease ? 'I he tio-pel. What has put an cud-to uat and

bloodshed » Tlic Gospel. The Gospel is good for tlm soul, nmi also for the body ; tlicrcforc, I say, let tlic (inspcl bo sent lo tliu people who cat their fellow men, of whom we have heard through our Minister. Tarnpuhia, principal chief of the Ngaungau, rose and s:iid, —Kvil is /lot of to-day ; it existed in pan nges, evcn rt)l " l ' ie '' ,nc Adam, and it has come down to us j we now (eel its < fleets. When we were living in great wickedness, and devouring one another, this new tiling,.the Gospel, came hither, that the evil be destroyed. Let us highly value this thing, the Gospel, let us embrace •ts truths ourselves, and send it to others. William Kumetr, a chief of Ngatiiuru, rose and said—The Gospel is our salvation; it is the gcalest good. Wc were living in sin and ignorance formerly, but the gospel came to cut through sin, or cut sin in two. God in his l«ve gave it to us, therefore let us bo urgent in sending it to those who are ignorant. WcteiiTc I'uki, chief of the Nganngau, rose and said as follows—God says in his wold, th.it He made the light, and that ' (he earth was without form and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep, and the spirit of G.id moved upoa the face of the waters j and Goil s.itv the light that it was good !' _ This is applicable lo ourselves. We were living in darkness, and God sent us the gospel. Then .ho light broke in,—llicn we discovered llie extent or aggravation of sin. We then (locked •o the houses of prayer, Now let us cease from sin, and let us continue [to lov%-] the gospel. Let us have [ever feel the influence of] thai Spirit. Wc cannot comprehend Him, but He knows | what is in] us. Let us persevere in sending forth the Gospel. Ahiincivka Chief of Ngatiwhauioi faid —Do not bo in darkness j evil will never cease. Man may say that he is the good mm, | perhaps the poor boaster may bo good. Let us he urgent however with reference to the good work, and assist in sending the Gospel lo all people. Nfiapaka the Chief of Ngalirangi rose and sa : d—The hook says, " and they were all filled will) the Holy Ghost and began to speak with 'oilier tongues !" This is another tongue or voi e. It is not a tongue commanding us to go to war. This is not a tongue telling us to commit murder, or n tongue to fij-ht, but it is another tongue a tongue of gladness, a tongue of peace. This Gospel tongue is tidings of great joy ! I,ct us strive lo hear this tongue, and let ns send it to all Nations that they may hear it also. The Gospel which we are taught and which is preached ft us by our ministers is the great itilc of life, let us strive [together] in this great work, Paora Htiukia rose and said—The name of Christ and the Gospel should be our only speech. In going to battle formerly it ineil to he said, be 'courageous to fight.' Now let us he courageous in speaking of the Gospel and sending it to others. [Let us] strive, stiivr, strive.

Knrnp.i Ngaiwi the Chief of (lie Wlnnau pani, now rose and said—The Apostle l'aul in writing to till people of Uoaie, says, " Oh .vrcichcd man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this de.ith ?" We must believe on the Lord Jmu9 Christ. Let us also send llio Gospel to oilier people in order tlißt they may bes.tved from this dead body." Iloliaiu Turapati, teaclier at Wharc-turcrc, sa id—Tlio plan we are adopting i 3 not a new one, it is of old, and designed by God It is right for ns to send the Gospel to the New Caledonians. We cume hither this day iu order to olVecl this—namely, to send them the Gospel, that they may know the name of Christ. Let ns remember 'hut we were men-i-att-rs formerly. What has caused this evil to cease ? The Gospel. Let us strive therefore to send the Gosp'-l to other people that tliey may learn the name of Christ. Tipene Tahntikn, trachcr at Maurca, roso and said—This is a good speech, to send the gns-.-ul to others. Let us not be liko tin Pip'iwhuinurni. When it cries "kui, kui, kui !" it is a rign I hat the year or season will be bud ; but lei us hi liku'tliis bVd when it dies " whiiiora, vvliitiora!' then it is n sign of a line, or eo«d year. Let this be a good year with us ; let in send the gospel to our bret - ren.so t'latlhcy with ourselves may feel the icve of G.id. Iluc-tn Kuktimomr, teacher at Kirii.i iroa, said—This is n word of caution to us, so that our woik may be j'ist, or straight. This is no new work. Pail told the church to collcci money for the poor. This was to be observed I by the righteous only, the wicked did not eu■jngo in it. This day wo sh ill know wh.it manner of persons some of you are. II any one (lings his money with violence into the plate thnt it mnj cause a jingling, this will show pride, and such doing-.- are not to be known amongst the people uf God. Uiuher let your uioin.-s bo Riven in o proper manner, ijivi-n in prayer and in love to the Saviour-ivj.ili.-i Weiakino, teacher at Wh.iiawli'"a, aid- -It h i■ jj"t th it till the clii.-ls should

engage in this work; it is a'grenl work, and a good work. lluni Kingi, teacher Dt Horctiu, said—lt is just to scud the Gospel to that Island, where men are eating one another. The only medicine for all our diseases is the Gospel. Hami Whaknpu, one of the teachers at Tukupoto rose and said—This is it —to let the New Caledonians hear the name of Christ j let our work however be just, or correct. Let us bestow our offerings Willi thoughtful hearts

Kaniera Ngaiwi said—The man who consents to this rule or observance, let his heart rejoice; he who will not consent, his heart will not rejoice. This is the best thing, to tend the Gospel to all men. linoka, teacher at To I'uiateia Whatawhala, eaid—Li-i sour speeches be strong. This is the best thing,— to speak of this grace, rule or law, and this salvation to all men. There is no other salvation, this is the one. He courarageous, ho strong, and ever strive to send forth the Gospel. Wirenm Iwa, teacher at Hepa Kupakupa, s(id—l saw one of the early missionaries engaged in teaching [our people] the letters fof the alphabet], litis person was Mr. Hamlin. At tint time lit lie was understood, but soon after their knowledge increased, and they were able to read books. We have been taught the precepts of the Gospel by our Miuistcrs, and we for the first lime engage iu this work, this great duty of sending the gospel to other people. This is not a new thing. What induced our Ministers lo come hither'? The pospel. And now some of them will go to New Culedonia, and those teachers will not fear death. To die in preaching [(he gospel] is a good death ; to die in war is a bad death ; wherefore I say to you, send forth the gospel. Wircmu Olapo, teacher of the Pet cue school, said—Let us all listen to this, —the evils that destroyed our people formerly, were these—sacred places, combing the hair, bods, cooking utensils, sacred houses, sacred swine, and wais. What has been the means of doing away with these works of confusion ? The Gospel; for the salvation of man is by the gospel. This is the straight or desirable thing, that all the chiefs and tribes of New Zealand assist in sending forth the gospel to other islands as well as to New Caledonia. Hcta Te Tarn wit i, teacher in Pelene school, said —My heart rijoices in hearing the speeches of the chiefs; let us all rejoice together on this account. In founer limes, Rewi Te Mokorou used to get up to make a speech about fighting. Tarapuhia, Wetere, and other chiefs used to do the same. The theme in those days was fighting, and the assembly, another description of persons. What has given nn-ollu-r turn lo the speeches of these chiels 7 And why does this assembly dill'or from the former ones ? The gospel—the gospel has done this. Therefore let us strive—the whole of ns strive—to send the gospel to other places, and let this be an example to the churches of New Zealand.

Mr. Ashwell spoke at the conclusion of the meeting, he said—My heart is rejoiced by these speeches. It is right that wo should without fail fulfil the Inst command of Christ, —' Go ye into all the world, anil preach the Rospel to every creature.' He told the Church to send forth the gospel; but let us not be pulled up, [remembering | that evil attaches itself to all our good deeds. In order to go on aright, all our works must he w.ished in the sacred blood of Christ, and we must look to the Holy Spirit to succeed our ell'orts. God has heard our declaration, or agreement, namely, that this rule or regulation is to be binding upon us year after year. Ho will strengthen us even unto the end. Let the glory bo H:s alone. Amen. The meeting was concluded by singing and prayer. These chiefs did net go to the late quarrel at Whaingaioi. After dinner, the chiefs visited the si-hoo]. They expressed great pleasure in listening to our sintiug, and some of them and the parents of the children elicl tears [of joy] and spoke highly of the school. In the evening, we were invited to a Tea meeting, and after regaling ourselves with lea, all the people joined in public worship, following the example of the elderly men who live on the other side [P.ugl.indJ. Do not let men imagine that we write this in n spirit of boasting. No; II is wiitten because the cause is a great one, mid because we wish all the tribes of this island to be guidid in I ke manner. Enough, oh, Mr. Kissling, Your loving I'rieiid, (Signed) Tu Aiiiiveka.