FIJI AND OTHER SOUTH PACIFIC ISLANDS.

Southland Times, Issue 901, 17 February 1868, Page 3

FIJI AND OTHER SOUTH PACIFIC ISLANDS.

.We (AHfelson AEvening Mail), contains the following information relating to the Eiji aud other South Pacific Islands is extracted from a letter by the Eev J. P. Smythe, Chaplain to H. M. S. Brisk, in the Wesleyan Missionary Notices, No. 4, for January. The interest felt by many in the constitution and prospects, religious and social, of these islands, has induced ns to reproduce it :— To the Eev Stephen Eabone, Secretary of the Mission in. Eiji. H. M. S. Brisk, Sydney Harbor, Nov. 25,1867. Bey Sib, — You are doubtless anxious to know the result of H. M. S. Brisk to Eiji, in so far as it relates to the murder of the late Mr Baker and his seven native teachers. Information touching this wil) be best derived from the official report ; therefore, I need only state, that, owing to the influence brought to bear . upon- - Thakombau, — the acknowledged chief (or king, as he is styled) of Bau, and of that part of the group where the cruel deed was perpetaated ; he CfrUed westings of his subordinate chiefs

mm iiiii TnifWirirn-iiiirinfiiif in;w— n "*'"■ ■■"— «— » «"—— »» ~— ) | totakecounselto^ether.and arrange to pro* ► ceed into the interior as soon as possible, . with a strong force, and punish the muri derers in such a way as to mark his abhorrence of their wanton and barbarous . act. It is satisfactory to know, that, ot * th:s outrage, but one feeling exists • amongst all the Christian natives and i resident Europeans. The deepest sympathy is felt for the poor widow and her ■ children, and the cry for chastisement is ■ universal. Punishment adequate to the offence is sure to be inflicted, although from the almost impenetrable nature of the country, the inappropriate time of the year (their cotton planting season), the tedious ceremonies which proceeds all Fijian movements*, and list but not least, preparing to meet au American debt of very questionable equity ; the guilty may escape longer than is desirable. However, this foul massacre is tbe last act of the kind which is likely to be committed jin Fiji ; for this raid into the remote in- ; terior will in all probability strike the ; final blow at the root of heathenism, and render life secure throughout the entire group. ' . „ I cannot refrain from taking this opportunity of recording my high appreciation of the great and good work which the missionaries are accomplishing in Fiji ; and which must be apparent to every unprejudiced and Christian man visiting iiji. It is indeed a rare pleasure to attend the native services ; to see large and flourishing congregations imbued with the spirit of devotion and godly reverence ; to hear heartfelt praise to G-od; to observe their zeal in prayer, and the love of their Bibles. Never was I so much Btruck with the power of Divine truth as when I stood inthe midst of a native congregation at Bau, of over seven hundred, (the king seated in a dignified manner in an armchair, with his large bible before him ; the Queen, the finest specimen as regards flesh and bones of the 'human face divine' that I ever saw, in a conspicuous place among the women,) and heard the Gospel preached by a native minister, and the accents of their praise ascending up on high like the voice of many waters. The church is a large native building, capable of holding one thousand persons, and displays great ingenuity in its style of architecture. I was well repaid for my visit to the Eichmond Native Institution on the island of Kandavu. The clean and airy schoolroom, the tidy little houses for the students, and the beautiful order in which the grounds are kept, delighted the eye of the visitor. "When we entered the institution a well-defined air of satisfaction gleamed in the faces of forty-five finelooking young men, and as we proceeded to ascertain their mental attainments, slates and paper were quickly laid before them, and the examination passed off in a manner alike creditable to themselves and to their energetic teacher. The writing of some especially attracted my attention, it being as good as any I have ever seen, and the course of study is wisely selected. ' This institution is clearly the hope of Fiji, for native agents must be largely employed; therefore a constant number of not less than one hundred should be kept under instruction, and although Mr Nettleton appears to be a host in himself, an assistant is necessary. Mrs Nettleton devotes much of her time to the wives of the married stidents, in storing their minds with useful information, and indoorcivilization. What I have stated of the success of Mission work in Fiji applies equally to that, in the Navigator's group, for few mission fields are blessed with such truly excellent men of long experience and sound judgment. Fhe Native Seminary at Mutua, under the able management of Dr Turner and his colleague is a perfect model of its kind. It is the first of the sort I ever saw and when I consider the beauty of the situation, the harmony which prevades every part the admirable course of instruction and the ex»*ct method with which everything is carried out, I cannot but compare it favorably with many of our English grammar schools. It is self supporting and contains generally from ninety to one hundred students, and turns out annually on an average, thirty well trained candidates for the ministry, who are allotted their respective spheres of labour, to take charge of day schools and conduct Divine Service on Sunday ; the missionaries, of course having the superintendence of the whole. In this way each village has its own teacher, and supports him comfortably. Things are so well managed that not only do the natives provide for their own educational wants but they make a large contribution every year to the London Missionary Society. A handsomely bound copy ofthe Holy Scriptures, and nearly all the useful English school books, are translated into the native language and are in universal use. The Samoans are naturally a superior, and comparatively speaking a fine race, and I believe they are farther advanced than any other native race in the South Seas ; except perhaps, the Tongans of the Friendly Islands whose great progress I only know by reputation. They are all Christians and are now manifesting a desire for progress in the direction of law and order. Their hospitality combined with their ceremonious manners impress all visitors with a feeling cf satisfaction. Mr Fletcher is working hard and successfully on an unhealthy and lonely island of Botumab. He is holding on until he completes a translation of the New Testament and then I hope some compassion will be in store for him as his constitution and that of his attached wife are suffering a good deal. It is impossible to speak here of the labors of each individual missionary, I would gladly do so if the narrow limits of a letter permitted, Bishop Patterson's mission field, Bank's island and the Solomon's Group, I have not visited but the name of such an eminent divine is a sufficient gurantee that the Lord's work is prospering there under the able management of this highly gifted servant of (Jod,