THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, June 19, 1851.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume 4, Issue 65, 19 June 1851, Page 2

THE MAORI MESSENGER. Auckland, June 19, 1851.

Those of our native friends, who have experienced the blessed influence of the gospel of peace and salvation, and who have evinced an anxiety to spread its glad tidings amongst the licnthnn of the surrounding islands, will, no doubt, leani wiili pleasm c that a Branch of the Australasian Hoard of Missions was tormed, ii: Auckland, on Monday last; and that collet tions, in money, amounting lo £53 were made in the various Churches on Sunday and the two following days. Tlie object of the Australasian Board of Missions, which was established at Sydney, in October 1850, is to create a Society to watch over and provide for the spiiitual di sti'ntion of the barbarous islands of the Pacific, and by enlightening and training the niimls of their inhabitants, a-i those ol' the New Zealanders have been enlightened and trained, to lead them to the worship of the true ae.d only God, and to elevate the moral character of these people Iroin the lowest depths of barbarity to a condition in which they may beenine a blessing to themselves and a benefit to their fellow men. To do this, you will readily perceive, that there are many and expensive requisites Zealous and fearless teachers, —the melius of carrying those teachers from island to island, —and opportunities of rearing native instructors,—and by familiarizing and training those instructors in the manners and customs of social life, (li'-'senaliling them to drawsuch a contrast between savagery and civilization, us eliall not only be calculated to wean the affections of their countrymen from pagan abominations, but lead them to be instrumental in Inking all honourable part in the iirst and busy duties of life.

Several preliminary investigntions of several of the Southern lslandshnve a ready been made l>v his I.oidsbip the Bishop of New Zealand- In 1819, three youths from the islav.d of Mare, ono from I.ifu, and one Ironi New Caledonia, were brought to St. John's College, where they remained for some time receiving instruction, unt.l illness induced the Bishop to return with them to their native country, wheie they and tlieir good frkr.d the Bishop were most cordially welcomed. •At tl.e present moment, there are nine youths, fr. m six dift'erent islands, at St John's College, who are not only making progress in the English language, but are also imparting a knowledge of their own tongue to the English students amongst whom they reside. This is the foundation of the good work; and in order to cany its ) nrposcs into full effect, Ft. John's las been constituted a Missionary College, ami tilt Bishops of New Zealand and of Newcastle luue been requested to ad us {Missionary Bishops; and, to enable tlieui to prosecute their Missions, n schooner of 91 tons has keen purchased for them, and this bchooncr lias been conveyed to the Bishop of New Zealand and his successors. In this schooner, called the '"Border Msiiil,'"* the Bi s hop of Newcastle arrived in Auckland on the 7th inst.; and, since then, the two Bishops, and the friends of the Mission, have been actively engaged in fuilheriiig the good cause. Oil Tnesiiay the 2-ltli June Divine Service with the Holy G'ommurion is to lie held in St. John's Church ; alter which the Bishops are to embark in prosecution of their sacred cause. Tlieir efforts are. in the liist instance to lie directed to the islands lying nearest to Australia, namely New Caledonia and the l.oyaity Islef. Can we, who look with anxiety to the noble object they have at hea-.tdo better than adopt the language of tl e S\i!ney Diocesan Board —" praying that alter having maile successful erli' lis to bring many Heathen to the fold of Christ, they may be safely restored to their respective Dioceses ami Stations "