sustained by the fire. It is stated to be between four and five hundred rupees; but I hope it will be found to be even less than that sum. The loss of property to the native timber-merchants is very great: I suppose, not less than three or four thousand pounds. We have reason to hope that good will arise out of this distressing calamity, and people now begin to open their eyes to the danger by which they are surrounded, in consequence of the vast quantities of timber which are allowed to be kept within the walls of the city. Many petitions have already been pre sented to the Magistrates and local authorities to remove all the remaining timberyards beyond the walls of the city. It is believed that this cannot be done by the local authorities; but an order may probably be obtained from the GovernorGeneral of India to this effect. Yesterday, Sunday, 18th, I had an interesting baptism at Royapettah. A native Hindoo female, who for the last six months had been a candidate for the ordinance, was baptized. She appears to be very sincere, and we hope she will adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. MANY of our readers will recognise in Mr. Roberts an old correspondent, whose letters they have perused with much interest. Mr. Roberts's acquaintance with India and Indian Missions gives an additional value to the observations he may make while on his official tour through the South of India. NEGAPATAM.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Joseph Roberts, IT was my intention to have performed this journey by bullock-carriage, and I had actually procured one for that purpose; but so many persons dissuaded me, both with reference to the roads, the loss of time, and the violent motion, that I reluctantly gave up my project, and thus had to leave Mrs. Roberts in Madras, who otherwise would have accompanied me. I left home on Monday, the 5th, intending to visit Negapatam, Manargoody, Melnattam, Trivaloor, and Trichinopoly, with other intermediate places. Travelling in this country is always attended with some risk, and much discomfort; and duty only prompts me on, not counting "my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the Gospel of the grace of God," to these Gentiles, and to all men. Happily at this time the road is free from cholera; and though I have been feverish, from sleeping in an exposed situation, I am very much better, and most humbly and devoutly again give myself to the Lord and to his church. to mourn about better days. A few natives listened to me in Tamul, and some read parts of the Scriptures, whilst others received tracts; and a deaf and dumb man asked me, by placing his fingers in the shape of a cross, if I belonged to the Romish Church; and when he was given to understand I did not, he seemed greatly pleased. Would that all had similar views of that fearful apostasy! In Cuddalore, as I found the resthouse pre-occupied, I was obliged to seek another place; and through the kindness of a true friend I was taken to an empty house, and was soon furnished with a couple of chairs and a table, with other needful things, by the same kind hand; so that I felt quite at home in the solitary habitation. The individual I have referred to considers himself a member of our society; and though separated from us, as to Wesleyan privileges, he holds meetings almost every morning of the week, and conducts a small Sunday-school. I feel much interested in him, and shall try to pay him that attention he so richly deserves. I endeavoured to get the English pensioners together, (nearly two hundred in number,) but failed, as many had gone out on fishing excursions, and others were not prepared to attend service at so short a notice; but I have promised to visit them on my return, and preach to them the word of life. It is to me an interesting and an affect ing sight, to see so many of my country men in the decline of life, residing in this heathen land, most of them being married to native females, or half-castes, who are the mothers of numerous children. I must say, their general neatness, and assimilations to our national customs, give me much pleasure. The houses tell you at once, that tenants from another country reside there: they are higher, and better built, having the doors and windows painted, or otherwise washed, and nice little articles of furniture meet your eyes. The children also are clean, and are clothed as much as possible in the European costume; and the scene, as a whole, reminded me of the descriptions given of those who reside in Pitcairn's Island. Proceeding the next day, or rather night, I arrived at Seedambrum, where, through a mistake, I had to remain twelve hours, in a miserable shelter; but I went to see the wonderful temple, and talked with the Brahmins, who cared but little for what I said, providing I would give them something; but one of them, a youth, kept me company nearly the whole of the day, and I gave him an important tract, which he promised carefully to read, and bring again on my return, to convince me he was willing to know the truth. The next night we had a long run, and at daylight, to my surprise, I found we were close to the Danish fort of Tranquebar. There not being any public building to rest in, I went to inquire at a house near at hand; and the answer was, I could have a room, but that I had better proceed to another, showing the place. On my arrival a gentleman invited me in, and told me I was quite welcome, that he also was a Missionary, (the Rev. Mr. Cordes,) and that he should have great pleasure in entertaining me. In the course of the day I visited the Mission-church, built in the time of Ziegenbalg, the first Protestant Missionary; and felt deep emotion whilst standing by his tomb, being reminded of his labours, his trials, and his success; and said, "It is better to be here than by the grave of Napoleon, where I once meditated on the glories and atrocities of that scourge of Europe." I also saw the resting-places of Gründler, of Dr. John, of Dr. Cameron, (the father of my hostess,) and retired with a class of feelings highly admonitory. The next night I arrived at Negapatam, where I had not been for more than twenty years. I found Mr. and Mrs. Batchelor, and Mr. Pinkney, in good health, and happy in their work. On entering the house, many things came to my recollection as to by-gone days: many brethren seemed again to be near to me, who are now dead, or removed from this scene of labour. I thought of good Mr. Lynch, and Close, and Mowat, and Williamson, and Squance, and others whom I knew and loved here; and felt grateful to be still allowed to work in the same vineyard. On the Sabbath morning I attended Tamul services, in the chapel built by my excellent friend Mr. Mowat. Devasagayam preached a very fair sermon on, "Ye will not come to me that ye might have life." I afterwards delivered an exhortation, being moved in my heart to speak to the people. In the evening I preached in English, and felt it to be a profitable time; and on Monday met the class, and was glad to find, that, though the number was not great, there was a healthy feeling; and I doubt not there is the prospect of better days. I have spent some time in conversing with two natives, especially, with reference to that terrible enemy to Christianity, caste; and was sorry to find that, with respect to one of them, he was decidedly subject to that bondage; and in regard to the other, though much enlightened, he still clings to it in some particulars. I rejoice in the decided measures recently taken by the Church of England against this wily and powerful foe, and feel convinced that nothing less than the most determined proceedings will ever avail. Many Missionaries have tried to coax and wheedle this adversary into the spirit of Christ; but they might as well attempt to win over Satan, as to ameliorate or soften his systems: we must deal with them as the offending right arm or eye, and then only can we expect to prosper. During my stay here, I have had much pleasure in examining the boys in the Head Native-School as to their learning, and can truly say they have made considerable progress; but we look for higher things than human learning. Time must be allowed before we fully decide, as to whether this institution shall have answered its end; and I doubt not, all will be desirous of adopting the right course. The girls' Boarding-School, under the able and kind superintendence of Mrs. Batchelor, is doing well; and if there is any thing in a Missionary's duty which seems to me to be more interesting than another, it is this: for the neglect of the education of females amongst the Hindoos is universal, so that not one in a million can read; and if they are able to repeat a few stories, or proverbs, or riddles, they are considered fully prepared for the duties of life. That we as Christians can never consent to this state of things, is quite certain; nor will our noble-minded Christian ladies at home ever be satisfied till their sisters in India, like themselves, shall be both enlightened and happy. I must conclude, as I have to preach in Tamul in the evening; and in the morning early have to start for Trivaloor, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Batchelor, as I wish much to see and know something about that populous heathen town. On Thursday night I hope to be at Manargoody, respecting which and the rest of the places, you shall hear from me by the next mail. NEW-ZEALAND. In addition to letters from Mr. Ironside, we place on record a report of the proceedings of His Excellency the Governor, Captain Fitzroy, in reference to the lamentable and fatal affair at Wairau. The wise and judicious measures of Captain Fitzroy will tend, we trust, by the blessing of God, to quiet the minds both of the colonists and the natives, that they may live together in peace, and mutually promote each other's advantage. NEW-ZEALAND.-Extract of a Letter from the Rev. Samuel Fronside, dated Wellington, December 1st, 1843. OUR English cause is here fast rising from that cold, heartless state in which it was a few months back. Our chapel, a little box of a place, is two-thirds too small on a Sabbath evening more have gone away than could get in. Would to God that there were more money here, or that our Committee had it in their power to help us! If I had an independent fortune, we would build at once; but I have not, and our friends are all poor. In fact, business never was worse. The merchants go down to their stores in the morning, and spend the day either idling about, or turning over their books for perhaps the hundredth time, and then go home. How we are to get a chapel, I do not know. The society is also increasing we lately added four members, and several others are received on trial. Prejudice is also much on the decline. The native cause is improving. We have added twenty or thirty members since I came here; and although we have to contend not only with the ignorance and selfishness and superstition of the native character, but also with the semiPopery which has been grafted on them, nevertheless we believe and expect that God will revive his work even among the New-Zealanders, and that they shall come by thousands into the spiritual church of Christ. I hear very good news from Mr. Jenkins, of Cloudy-Bay. The natives have received him with open arms, and are quite delighted with his appointment among them. It should be observed, that the Cloudy-Bay natives have removed to this side of the Straits, sixteen miles from Wellington; but about twenty stragglers remain. The large body of natives belonging to Cloudy-Bay Circuit are in the Queen Charlotte's Sound, and to them Mr. Jenkins devotes his chief attention, but resides in Cloudy-Bay; as the uncertainty of the movements of the rambling New-Zealanders, and also the great expense of building, will not justify beginning another station at present. There must be a removal of that station soon; for it is of little use for the Missionary to live half a day's journey from his charge; and the Cloudy-Bay people appear determined not to return. What will be the issue of these things, we know not; but this we know, that "the Lord reigneth." The people here are anxiously looking out for the arrival of Captain Fitzroy. He has got to Sydney, and is by this time in Auckland, we expect. His presence is to improve everything; but it is a common fault among sanguine people to expect too much, and of course the disappointment is proportionably greater. He may perhaps do something towards settling the land-claims: this would tend materially to improve the prospects of the settlers. Although the lands may not have been fairly purchased in the first place by the Company's Agent, yet the numbers who have purchased from them, and have come out here under their auspices, are not to blame for the Agent's mismanagement; and here they are, having spent their little capital, idling about the town, and many of them penniless. As it is, innocent parties are the sufferers. This land-question is every day becoming more difficult; and how it can be settled peaceably, I know not. The Company have He portioned out land which the natives claim; the natives resist the occupation of the land by the duped settlers; feuds and quarrels daily arise; and I greatly fear that the Wairau tragedy will prove only the first of a series. Lord, undertake for us! Extract of a Letter from the Same, dated February 27th, 1844. SINCE my last, we have been visited by Governor Fitzroy. His Excellency landed here on Saturday, the 27th ultimo, and held a levee at two o'clock the same day, at which I was present. In the short conversation which I had with him on being presented, His Excellency manifested the utmost kindness. had seen the Rev. Walter Lawry several times previous to his leaving England, expressed his satisfaction with the conduct of the Wesleyan Missionaries, and promised to render them all the assistance in his power. His Excellency granted me a private interview on the 31st, and was pleased to ask my opinion on several points of interest to the aborigines, about which he was anxious to have all the information he could. He particularly referred to the late disastrous conflict at Wairau, and requested that I would hide nothing from him of which I might be aware, that he might be the better qualified to decide on the case. His Excellency again said that he should render us any assistance it was in his power to afford, for the erection of chapels or schools. tions, relying on the blessing of God; for our present place is so very incommodious, that many people retire every Sabbath evening, not being able to squeeze inside the porch, and the work of God is consequently very much cramped. The building which we have commenced is thirty-nine feet by forty-eight feet, and twenty-two feet in the clear. It is to be of brick, and is calculated to seat three hundred persons: however, we suppose four hundred will be able to The The satisfaction which I felt on this latter point, induced me at once to call a meeting of the Building Committee, and see what we could do privately, in order to meet the Governor's proposition. members of that Committee were even more sanguine than myself; and it was determined to canvass the town at once. The result was, money paid, £90; promised, £50; promise of labour, £40: total, £180. The building of the size required will cost £500 to finish it; but we can get the roof on, and the doors and windows in, for about £320. Now, we may safely calculate on getting £200 here, and the Company's grant and Government assistance will, we trust, enable us to finish the chapel free from debt. At any rate, we have determined not to go further than putting on the roof, till we can do it without leaving a debt on the chapel. Our circumstances being considered so favourable, we have commenced opera get in. His Excellency the Governor very kindly complied with our invitation to lay the foundation-stone. The ceremony took place on Thursday last, the 22d instant. The weather was very unpropitious; but a large company, both native and English, met together; and the speech of His Excellency was most liberal and kind. Our newspaper contains a fair account of the service; and the speech was taken down from the Governor's lips by an officer of the Crown present, so that it is verbatim. Although the elements raged exceedingly in the evening, yet a very numerous and happy company met together in the Exchange to take tea, and the speeches afterwards were replete with interest and eloquence. The Governor has also accomplished a very difficult task; namely, the settlement of the land-question between the natives and the Company. Colonel Wakefield, on behalf of the above Company, has advanced £1,500 (the award of Mr. Spain, the Commissioner) to settle the question as to lands in the PortNicholson District. This is over and above what he paid before; so that now, the natives having been fairly compensated, we may hope to dwell in peace and comfort, and that prosperity may attend us. His Excellency has visited Te Rauparaha, has represented to him the evil of his conduct, &c., and has acted most wisely in looking over this their offence, inasmuch as they were not the first to blame. FATAL COLLISION AT WAIRAU. INTERVIEW BETWEEN HIS EXCELLENCY THE GOVERNOR, AND RAUPAAHA, THE PRINCIPAL CHIEF PRESENT AT THE WAIRAU MASSACRE. ON Monday, the 12th of February, 1844, His Excellency Governor Fitzroy, accompanied by Sir Everard Home, Captain of H. M. S. "North Star," Major Richmond, Mr. Commissioner Spain, Mr. Hamilton, Mr. Forsaith, and several officers belonging to the "North Star," landed at Waikanae. His Excellency and suite were received on shore by the Rev. Octavius Hadfield, Messrs. Symonds and Clarke, and a large body of natives, who, to the number of four hundred and upwards, soon assembled in a large open enclosure within the Pah. His Excellency commenced by reading the following address : "I salute you, Chiefs and Elder Men. Health to you! Peace be among you! I am glad to see you. I rejoice to meet you here. I have much to say to you, many important things. I have heard of all that has been done; some things good, but some very bad. When I see your church, the work of your own hands, and when I hear from your true friend, Mr. Hadfield, what progress you have made in Christian knowledge, I rejoice greatly: but when I hear of the evil that has been done by some, I can hardly believe it can have been done by the same people; so bad is it in my sight. "I have heard of all that happened at the Wairau, according to the English account; and it has grieved my heart exceedingly. I now ask you to tell me your story, that I may compare the two, and judge fairly. When I have heard your account of that dark day, I will reflect, and then tell you what I shall do. The bad news I have heard about killing the English so cruelly at the Wairau, after they had ceased fighting, and had trusted to your honour, has made my heart very dark, has filled my mind with gloom. Tell me your story, that I may compare it with the English, and know the whole truth. "When I first heard of the death of my friends, of the English who fell at Wairau, I was very angry, and thought of hastening here with many ships of war, with many, many soldiers, and several fire-moved ships (steamers). Had I done so, your warriors would have been killed, your canoes would have been all taken and burnt, your houses and pahs would have been all destroyed; for I should have brought with me from Sydney and other places an irresistible force. "But these were hasty, angry, unchristian thoughts: they soon passed away. I considered the whole case: I saw that the English had been very much to blame, even by their own ac count; and I saw how much you had been provoked. Then I determined to put away my anger, and come to you peaceably. Let me now hear your story." Rauparaha then rose; and several voices from among the crowd of his countrymen urged him to speak out, that they might all hear. He said, "There was evil intended in the commencement of this affray. Land is the foundation of all our troubles. The Europeans say it is theirs; but who says so besides themselves? "The Tory' came to Port-Nicholson; and that was the commencement of the evil. We heard of the sale of that place by Warepori and Puni. Warepori was smoking his tobacco, and wear. ing his blankets, alone: we never agreed to it: payment was made, but we never received it: thus grew the seeds of evil. Who authorized Warepori to receive his payment? Who authorized him to do it privately? Why did he not call the people together, and pay them all? "The Tory anchored off Kapiti: Colonel Wakefield wanted to buy all the land; " (here Rauparaha mentioned the names of several places ;) "but all which I sold was Blind-Bay and MassacreBay. "I and Tungia sold these places, and Warepori and Puni sold Port-Nicholson. The land which I sold to Colonel Wakefield, I sold myself: I did not consult anybody. Colonel Wakefield then went to Taranaki; and when he returned, he laid claim to all the land: nothing was said concerning Wairau, until now he claims it. "There was sufficient payment made. All I received was" (here he commenced enumerating articles, but was told that he need not go into those details). Rauparaha continued, "I wished to enumerate them, because Colonel Wakefield says, the Maories are holding back the land which I have been paid for. Porirua also is claimed by Colonel Wakefield; but Rangihaeata will never con |