THE LATE BISHOP PATTESON.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 45, 2 December 1871, Page 6

THE LATE BISHOP PATTESON.

The following is a brief account of Bishop Patteson's death, written by the Eev. B. H. Codrington, the senior surviving Clergyman of the Melanesian Mission. This sad event took place at an islet called Nukapu, about 30 miles N.E. of Santa Cruz. lb was the Bishop's plan to call here first, becausa he could make himself understood by the natives of this place, which he was unable to do at Santa Cruz. It is at the latter island that we were accustomed to be on our guard, and there were special reasons for taking every precaution on this occasion, for the captain of a " labor" vessel, which had called at Contrariete, Solomon Islands, where the Eev. J. Atkin was stationed, had announced to the latter his intention to visit Santa Cruz, which visit must have taken place (if at all) shortly before we arrived there. We reached the islet on the 20th September, and were surprised to see four canoes hovering to windward, and not coming out to us, as usual. The Bishop accounted for this by saying they were puzzled by the movements of the vessel, owing to the northerly wind, which rarely blows here. As they still refused to come to us, the boat was lowered, and the Bishop, with the Eev J. Atkin, Stephen Taroniard, of San Ohristoval, and James and John, of Mota, pulled towards them. The tide being low the boat could not cross the reef, the Bishop, therefore, got into one of the canoes manned by two chiefs (Taula and Motu), with whom he was tolerably well acquainted, and was taken ashore. The boat was kept on and off, and one or two canoes remained by her. When the Bishop had been absent about about three-quarters of an hour, a man suddenly stood up in one of the canoes, saying

"have you got anything like this?" and immediately a flight of arrows was sent at the boat. The Rev. J. Atkin, Stephen and John were wounded j James threw himself backwards and so escaped unhurt. The boat sailed off to the vessel, and having sent on board Stephen and John, the Rev. J. Atkin returned with the mate and others in quest of the Bishop. The tide having risen, the boat pulled into the lagoon where they found a canoe cast adrift, with the Bishop's body in it, stripped of clothes, but carefully wrapped in Bative matting, tied at the neck and ankles. The right side of the skull was completely shattered, and there was a deep wound on the back of the head, besides several arrow marks about the body. Into the foids of the matting, on the breast, a palm frond was thrust, with five knots tied in it. The Bishop's countenance was perfectly calm, the eyes being closed, as though in prayer. A shout of triumph rose from the shore as the body was lifted into the boat. It was committed to the deep on the following day. Seven days after, the Rev. J. Atkin was taken from us, and on the morning of the Bth Stephens followed ; they were buried at the same time. John's wound was slight, and he was left at his own island, with a fair prospect of recovering.