616 



society's lands —discontent. 



Dec. 



ner. Their conduct deserves unanimous applause. To many it 

 appears, that the respectable support and steady countenance 

 of these upholders of the real character of Britons have, in a 

 quiet, unpretending manner, much assisted the progress of the 

 missionaries, and the spread of incipient civilization which 

 must accompany the sacred truths of the gospel. If a few such 

 men had not appeared upon that side of the world, how low 

 might the character of Englishmen have fallen there. A few 

 isolated missionaries would have been always opposed by 

 numerous reprobates. 



By such men as those who are jealous of the influence of 

 the missionaries, an outcry has been raised against their " at- 

 tempts to monopolize the lands." Said those men, " Why 

 should a missionary be allowed to purchase so much land as to 

 prevent people who come afterwards from obtaining an eligible 

 piece of ground near a frequented port T " Why should 



Mr. be allowed to try to prevent Waripoaka and his 



tribe from selling me that piece of ground, because he thinks 

 that I shall sell spirits, or build a public-house ? Have not the 

 missionaries already monopolized the best land in the finest 

 situations 



In answer to this, lest the reader should think that the mis- 

 sionaries have been covetous, and have taken undue advantage 

 of their influence (gained, it ought to be remembered, at the 

 imminent risk of life, and when no ordinary men dared to stop 

 in the land), I will explain — that a large extent of land in 

 N^w Zealand was long ago purchased by the missionaries, on 

 behalf of the Church Missionary Society : and that many of 

 the outcriers supposed that land to be the private property of 

 individuals. And I will ask for attention to the too little con- 

 sidered fact, that these unjustly blamed individuals have (by 

 their engagements) divided that tie which once held them to a 

 country whose inestimable value can only be fully felt by those 

 who have long been wanderers in other lands. New Zealand, 

 or Otaheite, or a less known island, is now their home ; and 

 there are around them a host of little children whose smiling 

 healthy looks would interest even strangers in their behalf, 



