THE MELANESIAN MISSION.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4961, 15 February 1877, Page 3

THE MELANESIAN MISSION.

The following extract from the report for 1876 will doubtless be read with interest : A report has to be again given of a year of no special interest, but of continual, and it may be hoped successful progress in the work of the mission, in accordance with the plan on which it is conducted. It is desirable that this plan should be again briefly explained, since to the newer friends, of the Mission it is not so well known as it should be.

The plan of the Melanesian Mission work is based on the assumption that it is impossible, under the circumstances, for the missionaries to settle among the islands to work directly upon the natives at home. If a sufficient number of missionaries could be hoped for to occupy selected points, and if the climate of the islands should allow of the residence of Europeans, another plan of operations might no doubt have been adopted, but the founders of the Mission believed that no other was practicable than that which they set 1 on foot, and which, after experience, has "commended itself as being at least practicable.. 'jWith.a view of at : once bringing the . influence of a few missionaries to bear on, the natives of. many islands, scholars from almost all the islands visited , have been brought to New Zealand and. Norfolk Island, into a climate in which ' both' Europeans and Melan'esians" find it no trial to /live... With a view to provide teaching in the islands themselves, which must in the end depend upon a* native ministry,, it is the object of theinstitution in Norfolk Island to prepare the most approved scholars to become gradually, as they. are .better fitted for it, teachers and ministers at home. . .•_ . ■•. . .'■'.. '■■■ Those, scholars who, have made some considerable progress in Norfolk Island, when 'they go home are , expected to begin to teach something to their countrymen,-and so inmost cases they do. Those who have passed through a sufficient course of preparation are returned to their islands for good, and placed iri charge of school-', which the natives in'most islands are very willing to have, established among them. The most advanced and approved are considered as fit and worthy to be Ordained. ..' The Mission vessel; spends five or. six. months every'year in voyages among the islands, and the missionaries spend as much time as they can in residence among the people. No native teacher can remain, at the most, more' than six months unvisited, though the number of the islands and the fewness of the European clergy make visits too brief and ineffective.' To reside r as much as possible among the people has always been considered raostdesirable, and the plan of the Mission has always combined the stay of the European clergy with their scholars at home, with the stay of the .Melanesian scholars with them at Norfolk Island.^

Ib is obvious that, whether any other system may be expected to produce a rapid effect or not, the effects of such a system as this cannot be immediate. .The effects already produced will be indicated in the account which follows of the work in the islands ; it is not in its nature such as can be estimated and set down in this report. The Rev. John Palmer, with Mrs. Palmer, has returned from his visit to England. The Rev. Richard Blundell Comins, lately curate of Grantham, in the Diocese of Lincoln, has engaged to join the Mission. Mr. Kenny, without severing his connection with the Mission, and with some assistance from its funds, has gone to England to study medicine. On the return of the Mission vessel from her island voyage, she took a party of Melanesian scholars to New Zealand to bo confirmed by the Bishop of. Auckland. The great kindness with which the Mission party was received is thankfully acknowledged. It. can, hardly fail to be useful if the more advanced scholars

from Norfolk Island.'should'fromtiime to time be taken to the colonies to-have a-larger view of civilised and Christian life.' : -■ li:i< / ■ The great liberality of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge has presented the Mission with 500 copies of the Gospels of St. Matthew, St. Luke, and St. John, with St. John's First Epißtle, in the Mota l -language.' The Gospel of St. Mark and'the Acts of the Apostles are to follow. ' - ' ; The Mission press in Norfolk Island has now completed a book of selections from the • Old Testament, and has begun a book of selections from the Epistles, in Mota. It has printed an elementary catechism in .Florida, I and parts of the prayer book in the Leper's Island language. The Gospel of St. Luke, in Florida, will also soon be undertaken. I

The committee which has the management of the concerns of the Mission in England, has rendered most valuable service in collecting funds, conveying information, and maintaining interest. Thanks are particularly due to the Rev. William Selwyn, who acts as secretary and treasurer. The English committee puts out its own report. Norfolh Island. —The number of scholars now at St. Bamabas's is very large, amounting altogether to 186 persons from nineteen islands —132 males, 47 females, and 7 children. From one cause and another the proportion of the elder and advanced scholars is very large, and a considerable number are employed as teachers in the school. Of these, however, many are only delayed in Norfolk Island till they are married, and will return to settle as teachers in their own islands, in the ensuing year. The general conduct of the scholars is certainly good, and the general progress can be regarded as satisfactory; but with so large a party, with so many among them who are fit to receive the best teaching that can be given them, the want of a sufficient number of European teachers is a areat hindrance in the way of regular and sufficient '"" \' The number of baptisms since the last report was sent out has been large. Including those baptised at Christmas, 1875, the number has been thirty-four. Nine others are at present in preparation. This number of baptisms does not take in those of infants.

The progress of the Memorial Chapel has been sadly delayed, and the prospect of its completion is still remote. Obstacles which "could not be foreseen have been added to those which any considerable undertaking in Norfolk Island must encounter, but there is now every hope that the work will advance. Very handsome aad magnificent gifts have been forwarded, or: are promised, from. England. It is expected that with these, and with the sum originally given for the purpose, the architect's designs can be earned out in all important particulars, if not in their entirety.