THE BIBLE SOCIETY.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 476, 31 May 1890, Page 4

THE BIBLE SOCIETY.

MEETING LAST NIGHT. Auckland, May 22. Tun Auckland auxiliary branch of the British and Foreign Bible Society held a meeting in the Beresford-street Congregational Church yesterday evening. There was a large attendance both on the platform and in the body of the church. Mr C. E. Button took the chair. He was supported by tho Rev. W. Gittos, who?© life has been devoted to theMaoii mission, the Rev. Robjohns, B. A., a delegate from the parent Society, and many others. Th Secretary read the report, which was of an intere-ting character. Tho last report of tho parent Society sho.ved that there have been pub into circulation during the year a total of nearly three million seven hundred thousand (3,677,204) copies of the Holy Scriptures, in whole or in part, in 299 languages or dialects, by the help of its auxiliaries, branches and associations, numbering in all 7,015. Its total issues liavo now reached the immense number of 120,136,783 copies. Its total income lor the year was £212,655 15s 7d ; its expenditure was £13,508 18s lOd more than that amount. With regard to the work done in New Zealand amongst the aboriginal natives, it was interesting to note that a considerable supply of Holy Scripture had from time to time been made available for their use.

During the thirty years prior to 1860, some 70,000 copies of the New Testament Scriptures had been put into circulation among them, with the result that at that dato it was a rare thing to meet with individuals ivho could not read and write in their own language; and with the further result that large numbers of Maoris of that generation emerged from the horrors of a ferocious barbarism into the light and blessings of the Gospel of Peace, and very many of these passed away in the hope of eternal life.

About 1860 the Old Testament Scriptures were published in the Maori language, in three separate parts, and widely circulated to the extent of about 40,000 copies of those portions. The residue of those portions, amounting in number to 2,600 volumes, viz., 400 of the historical portion with Psalms, and 2,200 of the prophetical, have during the past year been sent as a free grant for the use of schools among the Maoris, and of aged and indigent persons among them. During the thirty years since 1860 another 7,000 Maori New Testaments, an entire edition of 5,000 New Testaments bound up with the Psalms, and an entire edition of 5,000 complete Maori Bibles, have been put into circulation, almost exclusively by sale, notwithstanding the troublous times. And at the present time (1890) there is ready for issue a new edition of the Scriptures in Maori, comprising 6,000 Bibles, 4,000 New Testaments, and 2,000 portions, which contain the four Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles, in a revised version, for which the Society is indebted to the indefatigable zeal of the Rev. Archdeacon Mauneell and his coadjutors, continued throughout four and a-half years of gratuitous labour.

Furthermore, attention is being directed to the provision of marginal references for the Maori New Testament, to bo ready for the next new edition that may be required. A long table of tho issues of Bibles and Testaments in various languages was read, which space will not permit of our giving. The sale here of British Bibles for the year had been 1,048 and 453 Testaments. The Maori Bibles amounted to 35 and ments. It had to be remembered in looking at these figures that 100 Maori Bibles were lost in tbe wreck of the -.s. Maitai, and the depot had been without a stock for the greater part of the year. Of the Maori portions sent out as a free grant by the parent Society, 1,578 volumes have been distributed during the year as free grants, entrusted to responsible persons in all parts of New Zealand. The total issues from the depot at the corner of Albert and Wellesley streets amount to 4,454 volumes.

The stcck on hand comprises 8,240 volumes in 25 different languages, and is valued at £564 7s 6d, all paid for and insured ; besides 1,080 copies of the prophetical books of the Maori Old Testament (Scriptures, being a part of the free giant in process of distribution. This makes the total stock amount to 9,326 volumes. In the matter of finance, the Committee were glad to report an improvement. After remitting £BO on purchase account in payment for books from tho parent Society, they were able to remit £IOO on fiee grant account, besides the noble contribution of zealous and warm-hearted friends at Waipu and its neighbourhood—£44 12s 9d —also sent home as a free grant to the parent Society. The treasurer gave a detailed statement of receipts and expenditure.

Mr Button and other gentlemen then addressed the meeting. The substance of all the speeches was the same gratitude for the past, and hope or the future.