EFFECTS OF A RAIN-STORM IN THE ISLAND OF MANGAIA. (SEE PAGE 43.)

NOTICES OF THE MISSION.

"Notwithstanding the admission of seven new members to Church fellowship, we have, during the past year, suffered a diminution in numbers, partially owing to removals to other churches; six individuals having gone to Rarotonga, and three removed to the station occupied by my colleague. The excellent native teacher (Sadaraka) formerly located here left with his family in July last. In the May preceding, the John Williams conveyed to the institution at Rarotonga two pious young men and their wives, who had long enjoyed the privilege of private instruction from Mr. George Gill, but who remained in communion with us until their departure. May they prove faithful labourers in the many islands of the West that are already white unto the harvest!

"Lengthened experience of native character has taught us to rely less on those promising appearances which at first seemed so satisfactory. Those who watch for souls in foreign climes have, like their brethren at home, to lament that the bright promises of spring are not always realised in the time of harvest. We rejoice, however, that among those whom death has removed from our midst were many shocks fully ripe, whose last days testified the sincerity of previous professions.

HAPPY DEATH OF A CHRISTIAN CHIEF.

"Of the several aged members of our church, who have recently been called to enter into the joy of their Lord, was a chief named Koouou, who will long be remembered with affection and respect. His conduct was eminently consistent and devout. At a critical juncture in the affairs of this settle

ment, prior to the arrival of a European Missionary, he succeeded in securing the supreme authority for one whose extensive influence has been invariably on the side of order and piety. The good old man ever manifested the deepest interest in the Missionary who had come to labour at this settlement. One of the most interesting traits in his character was his love to the house of God, from which, when in health, he never absented himself. I often saw him during his prolonged illness, when, according to native custom, he was conveyed to a temporary dwelling hastily put up for him in the open country. His mind was invariably calm in the prospect of death, confiding in the merits of our adorable Redeemer. His end was peace. He has gone to join the general assembly and church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven.' It is pleasing to add that his son has long been one of our most pious and active young

flight. Another family, who were sleeping near their plantations in the neighbouring valley, were roused from their rest by a sudden rush of water, stones, and trees, carried down from the mountains, against a corner of their house. As, in this genial climate, the dwellings are often made of merely a double row of reeds, everything was afloat. Snatching up their children, they with great difficulty made their way to a place of safety on higher groand. [See Engraving.] At daylight, the valleys which supply this settlement with food presented to the eye only vast sheets of water. The poor natives were now obliged to go in canoes to their respective plantations, to dive for their taro.

The effects of this visitation will be felt for months to come. It is matter for devout gratitude that there was no wind, or the evil would have been much aggravated. It is somewhat remarkable that it was almost confined to this settlement.

ANNIVERSARY MEETING AT ONEROA.

"On Sabbath, January 1st, we held our usnal gathering at Oneroa. It was an occasion of deep and solemn interest. At six o'clock in the morning, a prayer-meeting, attended by several hundreds of people, was held in Mr. George Gill's spacious schoolhouse. My colleague preached in the morning. In the afternoon, the three Churches united in commemorating the dying love of Christ. May the hallowed influences of that deeply interesting occasion long be felt by all!"

ENCOURAGING results.

"We commence this year with a total of Church members, at Oneroa, 279; at Tamarua, 140; at Ivirua, 71. The total of the three villages being 490. In attendance on the schools in the three villages there are 835 adults and 800 children, while the teachers are 111 in number.

"We are again permitted to close another year under circumstances which demand our grateful acknowledgments to the God of all our mercies. We commenced the year 1853 with many fears and anxieties, occasioned by the wreck of a whale ship, and a few months subsequently another vessel was cast upon our shores. Such events, among these islands, occasion the Missionary much anxiety for it is often found that the great majority of the crews spread vice and immorality among the people, which subsequent labours can never effectually repair.

"The statistics of our churches, &c., afford a very gratifying proof that our people, under the extraordinary excitements and unusual temptations of the past year, have stood well,

"The character of professors has, I think, in many cases been tested; and many proofs have been given that they resisted temptation, because they knew it to be a bitter and an evil thing to sin against God.

A DOOR OF HOPE FOR THE BOLDEST

TRANSGRessor.

"There have been two cases which have afforded my own mind much gratification and encouragement. In the first I refer to, an individual, who is one of a family which was long and bitterly opposed to the efforts of the native teachers, when first they brought the Gospel to these shores. Subsequently, however, most of the members of this family abandoned their heathen customs, and attended the means of instruction; and I believe some of them were plucked as brands from the burning. This individual, up to May, 1852, had obstinately refused to attend our schools, or any of the means of grace. At the annual meetings held in May he was to be seen in the village looking upon the festivities only to indulge his ridicule and mockery. My repeated visits to him

had always been repulsed and discouraged. He has often said to me, 'My father lived and died as a heathen, and I wish to live and die as he did. My affection for him is very great, and all I desire is to live and die as he did.'

"Latterly, I have found him more disposed to receive my visits, and to join in conversation with greater freedom.

"When the Bibles were being sold he came to make a purchase for himself. I said to him: Is it true that I see you coming to purchase a Bible? You cannot read! you have never attended our schools! of what use will the Bible be to you? You had better take the Alphabet Books,' &c. His reply was, 'My thoughts are now very different to what they were formerly. Let you and I talk together, and I will tell you all.' I listened to all he had to say. He was much affected, and declared from that day he meant to learn to read, and would join the classes. In the course of our conversation I referred to the sentiments he had so often expressed to me, as to his determination to live and die a heathen. He told me that after every conversation I had with him he felt very unhappy, but was now solicitous for peace to his troubled conscience. I have great hopes of this young man. He has been very diligent in learning. May the Holy Spirit be his guide and teacher until he shall be brought to a saving acquaintance with the truth.

A HEATHEN PRIEST SITTING AT THE FEET OF JESUS.

"The second case is that of an aged man, who for many years was the officiating priest at the death and burial of the natives when in a state of heathenism. When all hopes of the sick man's recovery ceased, it was his office to present offerings and prayers to the household deity, that the sufferings of the sick might cease, and that death might be speedy.

"As the principles of the Gospel spread among the people, his 'craft' was 'set at nought' and 'despised.' The sick man received a better faith, and his dying hours were cheered with the brighter hopes of immortality. The old priest has for several years been a member of the classes, but I

fear his profession of religion was only nominal. Recently, however, his attendance on the means of grace has been marked with a constancy and seriousness which I had not known before.

"Some months since I preached from Jeremiah vi. 4: Woe unto us, for the day goeth away, for the shadows of the evening are stretched out.' I observed the old man much affected, and the falling tear told me how he felt. He came to me to tell me how long he had lived at ease in Zion, having the form of godliness but denying its power. From all that he has told me I have good evidence to believe that he has been awakened by the Spirit of God, and has thus betaken himself to the merits of the Saviour's death as his all and in all.

"Feeble, aged, and infirm, he often visits me for conversation and instruction. His head white, and his eye dim with age, carry our thoughts back to the days of his ignorance, when, without God and without hope, he vainly taught the dying heathen to seek peace. The history of such a man-as it would embrace much of the darkness and superstitions once prevalent here, his own position and influence in his office as one of the priests of those who knew not Godwould be interesting; and then his gradual appreciation, and I believe saving acquaintance with the name and love of Jesus Christ, would afford us encouraging proof that the Gospel of Christ is the power of God unto salvation, able and willing to save even unto the uttermost.

SHADOWS.

"It is, however, our lot often to feel discouraged; the day of adversity,' of deadness and indifference among the people, causes our heart to sink within us. And then it is we find it hard to believe that God hath set the one over against the other. Today we rejoice, to-morrow we shall mourn. To-day an inquirer is sitting with us, anxiously and humbly seeking guidance and instruction; to-morrow the details of vice, immorality, and profligacy will pain and afflict us, and we say, 'Who hath believed our report? for many, of whom we had hoped better, go no more in the paths of rectitude and virtue.

"The dry bones appear as dead and as

OPENINGS FOR THE GOSPEL AT PENRHYN'S ISLAND.

"The minutes of a committee meeting, held by the brethren at Raratonga, in January last, will inform you that a new field of labour has presented itself in an unexpected and providential manner.

"I refer to Penrhyn's Island, not many days' sail from Maniiki. We have long heard of this island, and all reports confirmed our previous information, that the people were wild and savage heathens. Commodore Wilkes, in the 4th volume of the United States' Exploring Expedition, gives an account of his visit there in 1840.

"They were the wildest and most savagelooking beings that had been met with, vociferating in a frightful manner, and accompanying their exclamations with the most violent contortions and gesticulations; they seemed frantic with excitement. These natives were quite naked, except a few who had on a small maro' of cocoa-nut leaves. Some wrung their hands and cried, protruding their eyes and making frightful grimaces, reminding one strongly of maniacs in their utmost frenzy. The order was given to clear the decks, which was quickly done by the crew with their cutlasses, but none of their

visitors were injured. The moment they got into their canoes, large pieces of coral and shell were hurled on board with great force two guns were fired over their heads; but they took no notice of them, and stood up in their canoes, brandishing their spears and yelling defiance.'

"In the month of January, 1853, the Californian brig Chatham, Capt. Snow, was wrecked upon this island, and the crew and all on board expected to meet their death from islanders reputed as such daring and blood-thirsty savages. Such, however, was not the case; the vessel and cargo were completely ransacked and destroyed, but no lives were taken. Contrary to their expectations, all the crew were kindly received into the huts of the people.

"A few months since, the owner, E. H. Lamont, Esq., who was accompanying the vessel, was removed from Penhryn's Island to Rarotonga. Seeing a vessel passing, he persuaded the natives who had attached themselves to him to paddle him off to the vessel, which, after a long chase, they succeeded in doing.

"These natives accompanied him to Rarotonga, and our Brethren will of course communicate with you, and inform you that one of them still remains on the Institution premises, to receive instruction, which it is hoped, in future days, he will communicate to his countrymen, now in ignorance and darkness.

"The resolution of the committee proposes forthwith to send three pioneers to Penhryn's Island, there, in the name of our Master, to set up the Gospel banner, that the people may rejoice and be saved. We seem to hear our Master saying, 'Up. Is not the Lord gone out before thee?'