DISTRICT OF PAGOPAGO.

Samoan Reporter, Issue 9, 1 March 1849, Page 3

DISTRICT OF PAGOPAGO.

Some information relative to this station, during the year 1847, was forwarded for insertion in the Reporter early in 1848. Owing, however, to the lamented death of the brother to whom it was sent, it has not been available for the purpose for which it was intended ; so I will repeat the substance of it, that it may appear in co a brief notice about to be given of the year 1848. It consisted Chiefly of statistical information. The principal items were the following:— 39 persons were baptized and admitted to the church during the year; 8 were removed by death, 5 were excluded, 2 suspended, 4 transferred to other churches ; leaving an increase for the year of 20. The total number in church-membership at the close of the year was, 300. The number of deaths throughout the district was, 44 ; of births, 70. The number of children in the schools was not exactly ascertained. It was about 360; 200 of these being boys. The number of those remaining heathen in the district was, 83. The amount collected in aid of the funds of the Society was as follows:—Oil, 816 gallons; money, £5 Is. 7|d. The year 1848 has been less marked by onward progress than any that have preceded it for a long time past. No decidedly retrograde movement has taken place; but there has not been that evident progression which has often been witnessed at that station in former years. Things have remained, in a great measure, stationary. Symptoms of a more encouraging state have lately begun to appear. The number of admissions to the church during the past year is 8, and 6 have been added from the church at Leone; making the whole number of additions, 14. The number of deaths is, 14; exclusions, 5; suspensions, 5; dismissed to the church at Leone, 6: making a total of 30. So there is a diminution of 11—(17, if we include those suspended). The number of deaths in the church is nearly double what it was in 1847 ; and, probably, the number of admissions would have been considerably greater, had I been on the spot, and had the same opportunities of ascertaining the character of candidates for admission as I was wont to have in former years. The number of these, at present, is about fifty. The number of children under instruction is nearly the same as in 1847. The number of births and deaths I have not been able correctly to ascertain. The contributions to the Society were as follows:— Oil, 524 galls.; arrowroot, 975 lbs.; money, £l2 9s.