MELANESIAN MISSION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4338, 13 February 1875, Page 3

MELANESIAN MISSION.

A numerous auditory assembled in the Odd Fellows’ Hall on January 27, to receive from the Rev. C. Bice an account of mission life in the islands of the Western Pacific. The Bishop of Wellington occupied the chair, and on the platform were Archdeacon Stock, the Rev. Mr. Harvey, the Rev. Mr. Grainger, the Rev. Mr. St. Hill, and the Rev. Mr. Ballachie. The meeting was opened by prayer, at the conclusion of which a choir, composed of members of St. Paul’s and St. Peter’s choirs, sang Hymn 68. The Chairman then explained to the meeting that the Melanesian Mission was originated by Bishop Selwyn, a man animated by a faith and courage which were not usual in these days, and who introduced the Gospel to the natives of the islands without neglecting ilia duty to this country. The work which hehad opened up had undoubtedly been a great success, and was ably followed up by Bishop Patteson, with the circumstances of whose melancholy end they were all familiar. These remarks were only interesting as showing the connection between the Mission and the Church of this country, and at the present time they should take a peculiar interest in the subject under that aspect. They should feel a further interest in the mission from the fact that the bishopric of the mission was at the present time vacant, and would have to be filled up by the Synod of New Zealand, which would probably hold a meeting in Wellington for that special purpose. The object of the visit of Mr. Bice was explained in a letter from Mr. Codrington to Um Bishop, which stated that the desire of the missionaries was not so much to collect money as to arouse an interest in the progress of the mission. To do that, it was essential that they should have more than an abstract idea before them as to the working of the mission, and Mr. Bice was present that evening to afford information upon the subject which could not fail to be interesting. The Rev. Mr. Bice, after a few preliminary remarks appropriate to such an occasion, proceeded to give his hearers an insight into_ the plan of the mission, which may be briefly sketched as follows Norfolk Island, aptly described as “ the centre of the world,” is the base of operations. It is about 600 miles to the north of Auckland, 800 miles from Sydney, and 800 south of the nearest island of the Hebrides Group. At Norfolk Isl®fl there are now about 180 boys, under the supervision of six clergymen and several native lay teachers, who, in certain seasons, are distributed amongst the islands, the most important of which is Leper’s Island, in the Hebrides Group. Here, a school attended by 15 boys is established. Comparatively speaking, the number was small, but it had to be remembered that the difficulties with which the missionary had to contend were very great. These difficulties were chiefly created by the baneful labor traffic, for those natives who were returned to their homes were greater savages than' when they went away. It was, however, a great consolation to know that the work of evangelisation had not been without fruit ; for since he had been away seven of the boys of Leper’s Island had become Christians, and had written to him to say that they intended to remain at Norfolk Island next winter, to qualify as deacons. The difference in the languages spoken in the islands was singular in the extreme; as an instance of which Mr. Bice mentioned that in some cases boys, who came from districts only two miles apart, could not understand a word spoken by the other, the explanation being, that many of the natives never throughout their lives travelled more than 300 yards from their homes. The description of life at Norfolk Island, as given by Mr. Bioe, was most amusing. The boys were divided into twelve sets, who performed them allotted duties under the supervision cf a head cook. There were others set apart to look after the cows, pigs, horses, &c., who all took their titles from thenoccupations. The one who looked after the pigs was called the “head pig.” He got Is. fid. a week. The “ head horse ” got Is. fid. also, and so did the “head cow,” They were all noticeable for their liberality. The “head pig" would consider it infra dig to put a Id. into the collection bag. He gave fid., because he considered it noble to do so. And then they were very systematic in their arrangements. They all rose in the morning to the sound of a bell, and breakfasted at six. Thera was every facility, and no excuse for not washing, the maxim being “ Cleanliness next to Godliness.” Before breakfast prayers were held, the sincere devotion of the natives being a remarkable trait in their character. At the breakfast table the boys were ranged along one side, the girls on the other, and the clergy and natives at “the high table” at the end. With characteristic volubility, the greatest noise came from the girls’ table, of course, but that mattered little so long as they enjoyed a hearty meal. Following upon this came the lesson in arithmetic, which was the hardest task the natives undertook. As a matter of fact they were very bad arithmeticians. _ They had no idea of counting beyond their ten fingers. After three-quarters of an hour at this exercise, they engaged in religious teaching, and after the drudgery of the arithmetic lesson it was a pleasure to instruct them in Christianity, in which they took a wonderful interest. /They made the prayer-book their vade mecum. Wherever one went he would find the natives sitting down trying to puzzle out the words of the prayer-book. At a quarter to ten the whole school shouldered the hoes and began field operations, which were continued till a quarter to one. Then the whole party returned to dinner, which usually consisted of beef and mutton, three times a week, kumeras, bananas, &c. At two o’clock the writing lesson began, and after that the singing lesson. To give an idea of the aptitude of the native mind for singing, Mr. Bice mentioned that he wrote on a board the notes of a chant one day, and the next the natives sang the chant in parts, treble, alto, tenor, and bass. They were also very confiding and trusted to all they were told, but they never originated anything themselves. Once put into any particular groove they would never deviate from it all their lives unless told to do so. Another peculiarity is, that they never have toothache or decayed teeth, which is rather fortunate, as they can grind up ship biscuit as if it were in a mill, and if one were to give them twenty blankets, they would sleep under the whole lot. They would never think of putting one beneath them. As to memory and acuteness they were very well endowed ; these faculties enabling them to give a very fair condensation of a sermon, which many of them frequently did. The girls, too, wore not much behind the boys. They were taught sewing, and one of them had made him a pair of trousers. Mr. Bice answered many que ;- tions, and exhibited a number of curiosities, but the chief exhibits of interest, as showing the results of missionary labor, wore a number of letters written by native boys and girls to Mr. Bice since his arrival in New Zealand. At the conclusion of Mr. Bice’s address, a vote of thanks was, upon the motion of Mi. G. Hunter, accorded to him.