52 History of the “ Dayspring.” 
During the year 1868, the “ Dayspring” did a large amount 
of work among the Islands, but without any noticeable events. 
Mr. William Sim, a Christian gentleman belonging to Ballarat, 
and deeply interested in the mission, went with his wife to the 
New Hebrides in the vessel, and was able, on his return, to 
tell how missionary affairs looked to a business man, from a 
colonial point of view. His report was to the effect that he 
was profoundly impressed with the degradation of the heathen, 
with the self-denial and abundant labours of the missionaries, 
and with the power of the gospel over such of the natives as 
had come under its influence. We find, by the report for the 
year, that the “ Dayspring” had been once at New Caledonia, 
twice at the Loyalty Islands, five times at Fotuna, seven times 
at Tana, nine times at Aniwa, nine times at Eramanga, five 
times at Efaté, and once at Santo, Ambrym, Tonga, Metas, 
Three Hills, Makura, and Nguna. Several of these islands are 
hundreds of miles distant from each other, the sea-area of the 
group being about 400 miles in length and 200 miles in breadth. 
In 1869 it was judged desirable to send the “ Dayspring ” 
to New Zealand. That colony is so far distant from the con- 
tinent of Australia, and so far out of the straight course from 
Australia to the New Hebrides islands, that it had not been 
found convenient before to call at any of the ports of New 
Zealand. There were many reasons, however, why that im- 
" portant colony should be brought within the influence of a visit 
’ from the mission vessel. New Zealand is, in fact, the nearest 
point of British territory to the mission field. Several sailing 
vessels from Auckland trade amongst the islands. Both the 
north and south ends ot New Zealand—which, by the way, has 
a north and south both politically and ecclesiastically—and 
especially the south end, are Presbyterian provinces. And so 
the Presbyterian mission vessel was sent to New Zealand, to 
awaken an interest in the Presbyterian mission, the field of 
which is within a week’s sail of Auckland, one of the chief 
