THE LATE REV. JAMES WATKIN.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2312, 4 June 1886, Page 2

THE LATE REV. JAMES WATKIN.

The Sydney Morning Hofald of the 18th May says:—The oldest clergyman belonging to the Wcsleyan , Methodist Church passed away to his rest on Friday last, and hia remains were buried in the Rockwood cemetry on top following Sunday in the presence of a" large concourse of people, The Rev. James Watkin, the minister referred to, left England between fifty and sixty year* ago to engage in missionary work in the Friendly Islands. Missionary tjfljflrpriße in the South Seas was at thatvfß only at its infancy, and the. agents of the Societies were subjected"'tft-'numeroui deprivations, and wero often'exposed to personal danger. Mr Watkin 'soon learned the language of tho Tongan ■ people, and was successful in his efforts to impart to them a knowledge > of Christianity and tho rudiments of civilisation.' After a residence of Boveral years in' tho group he was transferred to New Zealand, where he was employed for some timora teaching religion to tho Maoris;' His nexWemoval was to New' South Wales: Mr Watkin retired fronuthe active of the ministry, and from this date until his death he sustained a supernumerary relation to his church, Mr- Watkin was possessed of considerable intellectual ability, and until late in life he was a devourer of books. He was able to carry on an intelligent conversation on every subject of common interest, and he was especially well read in theology and geueral literature. Mr Watkin had a large family, and, with a single exception, all his children survive him. Three of his sons are clergymen ;one< of tho three is tho president of tho Wesley College in Victoria; another is Btatione(fljl Now Zealand; and the third is the cqjKjpastor of the Free Church in Tonga.. Two sons are engaged as property auctioneers in .this city; and a daughter is married to a Wesleyan clergyman.. The Ifcev. Mr Watkin was for some years stationed in New Plymouth.