To the Editor of the maori messenger.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume V, Issue 118, 30 June 1853, Page 3

To the Editor of the maori messenger.

Sir.—As I trust the following account of the last hours of Wesley To Paki would he henelicial to the natives, may I beg its insertion in the columns of your paper. "Wesley To I'.-iki. Chid' of llie .\ganngaii, was formerly a great .Native Priest, anil one of the most eloquent speakers in Waikalo. He died a sincere Christian, on the Dili insl. Ho was taken ill whilst ou his way home from Auckland. On his arrival at Motutarala, he thus addressed his Tribe, ".My friends, my children, hold fast the gospel, be ol'ono mind. 'Jin- merits of Christ alone

can save us." On Sunday, Slay 2!) di, I visited bint, lie said to me, thai Christ alone was liis hope for acceptance before God, and liis only hope for pardon was the death and passion of Christ. He also wished lo be removed to Takupolo, to be near his Minister: accordingly lie was brought hero on June Olh. On the 7th, Btli, and SHIi, I visited him, he said, " I am indeed glad lo see you; I am very ill; but 'Christ is my Salvation, ' —my heart is light." " On Thursday, Dili inst., a change took place for the worse. In the evening he addressed the Native teacher, William Otnpo and his son John King, who with othcrfiiends were standing near his bed side, his words were, —"He decided for Christ;" "Pray without ceasing *," " Hold fast the truths of the Gospel." Hear the words of St. Paul, Kom. viii, 51.—"1f God be for us, who can be against us." lit; was then silent for a short time, but soon exclaimed, "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path," Psalms oxix, 10,' i. "All things were created by Him; in Him was life, and the life was the light of men," St. John, i, 5, -i. " Kill men love darkness rather than light," St. John, cxi, 10. After a short silence, lie again spoke,—" God is our refuge and .strength, a very present help in trouble," "Therefore, we will not fear," Psulni, xlvi, I, 2. He now fell for his prayer book (for his sight was <piile gone) and said, J'God be merciful iinlo us, and cause His face to shine upon us." "That Thy way may be known upon earth, Thy saving health among all nations," Psalms, lvii. He then fainted; some time elapsed before he recovered. The whole tribe now assembled, and after a few parting words contained in the accompanying paper, he began to pray:—"Oh Christ, take care of me, strengthen me by Thy Holy Spirit, for Thou only art my ." And thus died this good old Chief in the act of prayer. He bad been baptized about 10 years since, by Hcv. It. Maunscll, and was confirmed by the llishop of New Zealand, 1813. His consistent conduct and earnest desire to spread the gospel, was a can c e of much joy: he was always present at our Missionary Meetings, and I do not think his addresses will be forgotten by his own tribe or ihc tribes of Waikato. am, Sir, Yours sincerely, 11. Y. Asuwki.i,. Taupiri, June IBlh, 1853.

"Witerc Tc Paki's farewell to his friends Levi, Mokorou, StephenTahatika, ami Sliem Tarawliiti. O this ngitntion ! it renjs me like The tumult of a robber's heart when Captured with bis spoils. My sentiments were uttered and rc-cehocd Jly the waving trees at Tnrua. The elottd will linger in the quiet sky Whilst I am by the currant borne along Passing in quirk succession tidal streams At Kapcnga where the blessed one dwells. Why preys the malady so slowly on his frame. When death is coveted ? Uui lo ! this death draws nigh, and closer still it comes.