APERHAMA RUKE, HEAD TEACHER OF WANGANUI. 
CHAPTER XXXIII. 
SAMUEL MARSDEN. 
Of all the persons connected with the civilization of New 
Zealand, no one stands higher than Samnel Marsden. Cook 
took possession of the country in the name of his Sovereign, 
but it was Marsden who first unfurled the banner of the 
Prince of Peace, and claimed those fair realms, then laid in 
heathen darkness, on behalf of the King of kings ; it was he 
who first introduced their savage inhabitants to Christian 
philanthropy, enlisted the sympathy of the Church in their 
behalf, and having obtained aid, brought it himself, and was 
the first to proclaim the message of mercy on their shores ; 
