LETTER FROM THE REV. T. CHAPMAN.

Maori Messenger : Te Karere Maori, Volume V, Issue 6, 15 March 1858, Page 3

LETTER FROM THE REV. T. CHAPMAN.

In my last letter to you. I pointed out the possibility of some improvement generally In the appearance of the Native communicants at the time of their attending the Lord's Supper. Cleanliness of person, and tidiness and simplicity of dress, with humility of heart, is at all times by far tbe best manner of appearing in the House of God. And wbat shall I next say? I could say a great many things, that I am sure would be for your benefit; but among these, there are thiose to which you would not pay any atten-

lion, if I were to enter separately into particulars connected with them. But I may name some of them* If ten years ago the various tribes on the coast, and on the banks of large rivers, had calleJ intbe aid of the Governor, justly to have divided their land, as Joshua divided the land of Canaan, and every family knew his lot by setting up boundaries, so that each could quietly have began- farming—and Instead of wasting money upon vessels, bad killed the greater number of dogs, and purchased sheep and cows and farming Implements— what a different position l>y this time would Rangatira Maori have been in I I know a tribe who have spent more than £3,000 in vessels, nearly all of .which have been wrecked, or atlowed to lie by and rot, for want of money after they were injured to repair them—while some were wrecked from ignorance of the captain; or from going to sea with rotten . ropes and sails. Think if the above 3,<i00/. had been spent in raising farms and building small, convenient, warm cottages, purchasing sheep and cows, and hiring Eugfish labourers, who could give instruction in farming—think, in what quiet and comfort, hundreds of families might now be living in, at home, instead of wandering about, digging gum, seeking work, and letting their own places become desolate. Leave vessels to the pakebas. Clear and cultivate your land, buy sheep and cows, and sow grass seed and clover after your first or second crop. Your spare sheep, your wool, your oxen and pigs, with potatoes, corn, wheat, &c», raised year by year, would provide you with every comfort, and that comfort atyour ownbome I Look at the coontry round Auckland. I remember it utterly desolate and without inhabitant. Now 100,0017. would not, perhaps, purchase the cattle or all kinds feeding on its lands* Let not the greatness of what you see done by the English, discourage you, Every man. even Caesar, was a child once* It is the law of small bodies, if energetic, to work up. What a mighty people the Jews became. Their greatness and their wealth were mainly derived from their agricultural pursuits. And so vast were their riches in gold, that it is said, silver was not accounted of in the days of

Solomon. I have visited many portions of the world, and read of nearly every country in it; yet I never saw or read of a people who might, by care and industry, live so comfortably and securely as the New Zealanders. You have no common enemy to fear. You are governed—so far as you will allow yourselves la be governed—by laws* more righteous than those of any other country. You plant your food, never doubting but yoir will reap the* reward of your labour- Your lands are your own, and by proper culture would generally be fruitful—not Irke New South Wales, subject to destructive floods and drought— and your cattle are seldom injured by any disease" I How is it then, that with ail these advantages you continue poor? Simply, among many other reasons, because your sheep are dogs, your cows are horses, your farms are wild culiivaiiops—a bit here and a bit there —your home is everybodys* now here and everywhere I But I may now conclude, as I have perhaps said enough for ona number; yet say what ever I may, always believe me thai 1 desire only your good. Your faithful friend, T. Cuapxak,