REPORTS OF STATIONS.

Samoan Reporter, Issue 11, 1 July 1850, Page 3

REPORTS OF STATIONS.

SAVAII. MR. SCHMIDT’S DISTRICT. It is with feelings of gratitude to the Lord of the vineyard that I write the following report of the new field of labour allotted to me by Him, in the month of June, 1848. Those feelings are much deepened when I recall before my mind the dreary scene of my former sphere of labour, and when I reflect on my apparently fruitless toil and anxiety during nine long years among the poor degraded aborigines of New South Wales, in the district of Moreton Bay. indeed, as the difference between cheering light and gloomy darkness is that which exists between my present sphere of labour and that dreary wilderness. Many animating events I have already been privileged to witness, and many blessed labours I have had the happiness to perform here, which in Australia’s wilderness w r ere far beyond my most sanguine hope. My present sphere of labour was formerly cultivated by other brethren, since the commencement of the Samoan Mission. It is situated on the westerly part of Savaii. It lies south-west and north-west; and extends over a district of above fifty miles. There are scattered along the coast twenty-four villages, with a population of above 3,000 individuals. Not above 1,800, however, receive our instructions, the rest being kept away from us, some by Tongan teachers, and others by an attachment to a kind of half heathenism, called ° Siovili’s lotu.” In the district, we have fourteen preaching stations, and sixteen nativ • teachers. Two teachers have lately gone to the Institution at Malua, and another returned thence, after having attended the instructions of that valuable Institution for upwards of two years. There are now in the district 101 church-members and 139 inquirers; and. besides the church-members, there are 73 adults and 26 children baptized. 10 church-members have been excluded or suspended. There are in the schools 180 adults and 240 children. Since June, 1848, the deaths in the district have been 84 adults and 45 children, and the births 45. Three church-members at Falealupo diedin the faith of a glorious resurrection, exhorting their families, in their dying hours, to believe in and follow the Saviour.

This district is one of extraordinary difficulties as regards its extent and scattered population, as well as r egards the roughness of the roads and the dangerous e i trances along the dreary iron-bound coast. On one occasion, I had almost found a watery grave, my boat having been capsized by heavy breakers. We have commenced living and labouring at the three principal places of the district, viz.: Salailua, Samata, and Falealupo, for several months in succession, and have made occasional visits to the other villages, both by land and by water. By this arrangement, we humbly trust, under the Divine blessing, to benefit more the people of our charge than by residing statedly at one and the same place, and journeying now and then throughout the district.

Notwithstanding the very valuable services of the brethren who preceded me, there remains still a great amount of labour to be bestowed upon both adults and children in order to gain them for Christ or to confirm them in their faith. The means employed for this purpose are, adults and children’s day-schools, Sabbathschools, Bible-classes, classes for the inquirers, instructing a few young men who are anxious to become teachers, prayer-meetings, regular meetings with the churchmembers and the teachers, catechetical services with the whole congregation, and the usual Sabbath and week-day services. There is, also, a girls’ school, conducted by Mrs. Schmidt, when health permits. It is worthy of remark and of sincere gratitude, that, during Jhe most trying season of the disastrous war on Upolu, by which, at many stations, the work of faith was quite, or to a great extent, impeded, we were not even for a single day hindered from carrying on our labours at any of the villages; and hut o. e churchmember has been led astray, and taken part in the cm? 1 war. Several families from Upolu and Manono have taken refuge in this remote and quiet district. We have likewi e to record the great intere t which was takenin two May meeting - of la«tyear. O ewe we: *- obliged to hold in the open air, on account of the great concourse of people. The speeches of some teachers

and church-members on these occasions were animating, and gave gratifying evidence of the benign influence which the ever-blessed Gospel has exercised on their minds, True, the contributions were but of an inferior amount—154 gallons of oil; and likewise the donations for the teachers at the westward were small, compared with those at other stations: 375 articles in all. In concluding this report, I must not forget to state, that 1 have lately been privileged to open two chapels for Divine service, at which we enjoyed seasons of refreshment from the presence of the Lord. The party at Salailua, which had been kept back by the Tongans, have, along with their teacher, come over to us ; and, at another village under Tongan influence, we have obtained a hearing for several months past. May the great Head of the Church add His approval to our feeble efforts to promote His kingdom amongst the people of our charge, and answer our earnest supplications for the increase of His glory, lest we labour here also in vain, and spend our strength for nought!

Salailua, Feb. 1850.

C. W. E. SCHMIDT.