AFTER service visited a few sick people -one of them near Jordan, waiting the coming of his Lord. Had a delightful season of spiritual enjoyment whilst sitting on the mat of another dying man. When speaking of Maretu, my native fellow-labourer, he seemed almost to forget his weakness: he told me, with much feeling, that after his baptism he had acted inconsistently with his public profession, and that, when Maretu heard of it, he visited and conversed with him on the subject. Maretu said to him, "You are a Demas-you have forsaken the Lord-you have turned your back against Jesus!" "I was dumb," said he; " my soul was filled with anguish as soon as I could speak 1 said, Tika rae (it is so); Ua oti ua (that is enough). No more will I walk in that pathI will return to Jesus-he is the only pathway to the kingdom. I did so, and through grace have been enabled to walk in it till this day. Oh! Pitimani, I forsook the Lord." His expression of countenance, mode of speaking, and tone of voice, gave palpable evidence of the feelings of abhorrence with which he thought of that period of his life. When talking of the re-union of the soul with the body, he asked, "And is it possible that the soul will again enter into such a vile body?" He was greatly diseased. I said, "It would then be a glorified body." "Yes," he said, "it would be so ;" and then he spoke at some length of the amazing love of Christ to sinful creatures. Occasionally, he expressed a fear that Jesus would not receive him; but, when reminded of the love of Christ to sinners, he again committed his soul without wavering into his hands, as his only Redeemer. I left his humble cottage blessing God for such manifestations of his grace to poor sinners in this once heathen land.

Spent some time conversing with the Native Evangelist Iro, his wife, and people. We spoke of the various methods of divine grace in the conversion of sinners. "Ah!" said the wife of Iro, "that is true; for many years I went, like others, to all the religious services, &c., and thought myself a real disciple. One day, opening the New Testament, I read part of the 25th Chapter of Matthew. Like a flash of lightning my mind was struck with amazement. What is this? I read it again. Though I had read it so frequently, it never awakened such feelings in me before. Not being able to read fluently, I fetched Sini, [a young woman in our school, now a member of the church,] and said, Read me this portion of Sacred Scripture. She read

the whole chapter. My soul was filled with fear and hope. I said, Read it again and again. It was completely fixed in my mind, and it was not easy to erase it. I now went to the house of God with different feelings. How eagerly I listened to every word that was spoken! From that time till the present the word of God has had such hold on my affections, and wrought such a change in me, as could be effected by nothing else." This must have been the work of God. What a blessing is the Bible Society wherever they assist the servants of God to translate and publish the Sacred Volume!

Rode to Titikaveka. Examined a class of candidates for baptism, with all of whom I was much pleased, and do hope they are taught of the Spirit: they have been nearly eighteen months candidates. Had some pleasing conversation with the sick. One poor man, who has been ill for more than four years, is near death. He was just able to answer a few questions, which indicated a mind renewed by divine grace. Christ alone is his hope for pardon, peace, and salvation. He is, I trust, near the heavenly inheritance. The good effects of the friendly visits of the church-members, who almost daily visit the sick, are very apparent. They are also assisting Iro, by using every endeavour to bring the thoughtless youth and others to Christ. May God, in his infinite mercy, bless their and our united efforts!

Many of our poor people have been cut down by death; amongst them, two more members of the church, one of whom I visited, and who, I trust, died in Christ; the other is Pureiau, a man who was sent a few years back to obtain, if possible, a landing on Savage Island, but could not. He was taken in the Missionary Ship to the Navigators Islands, where he resided, until a few months ago, when he returned in an ill state of health. This morning his spirit departed to be with Christ, and is now, I trust, before the throne, with many of his brethren who have preceded him from the Churchmilitant. With him I have had repeated and most pleasing interviews. He also mentioned the comfort he had experienced from various conversations with Maretu. Last evening I elicited from him his views of divine truth in prospect of death, and have reason to believe that he was firmly fixed on the Rock of Salvation. Speaking of our near separation, he said, "Teacher, grieve not. The will of God is good and right." I said, "We shall ere long meet again in a world of joy."

"Yes, oh yes!" he said, his eyes filling with tears, which gently trickled down his furrowed cheeks. I was much affected at his earnestness, and then he said, "Shall I not see Pitimani-vaine (Mrs. Pitman) again? shall we meet no more in this world?" I said, that the weather was so very stormy, and she was suffering so much from pains in her face, that I feared she would not be able to come out that evening. He felt it much; and twice after repeated, "Oh, I shall not see her again!" After prayer, taking me by the hand, looking most earnestly, and scarcely able to articulate, he said, "I am waiting the coming of the Lord;" and wished me farewell, till we meet in the world of spirits.

- Fresh cause for thankfulness. Many of our young people, over whose state we have long mourned, are coming out from the wicked, and express a wish to unite in our classes. With them I have conversed faithfully. They all say, that, separated from the people of God, they are not and cannot be happy. A young member came to state his desire to go and labour among the heathen, and I conversed with him on the all-important subject. A young Mangaian came from Arorangi, in the absence of Mr. Gill at the Navigators Islands, expressly to enter into spiritual conversation. He was convinced of sin under the ministry of Maretu at Mangaia. The subjects on which he wished to converse were of vital importance. I was much delighted with this young man, and hope he is taught of the Spirit. A deacon coming in at the time, he talked with him in reference to the conversion of his soul through Maretu. It was truly soul-cheering to hear him relate the wonderful ways of God in gradually bringing him out of darkness.

Maretu has been greatly blessed in the conversion of sinners to God. There are at present eight or ten Mangaians, that I know, in this Island, some of them in the Institution on probation, who attribute their change of heart to his labours on their own island. "Bless the Lord, O my soul!"

I could mention other facts equally gratifying with the above, but suffice it to say, there now appears to be a great awakening amongst the people. Maretu and the deacons have visited all the districts, and held conversation with all who would listen to them; so has Iro, with the assistance of some church-members. Wherever they go, so

soon as it is known, nearly all who had been previously careless and indifferent, assemble and listen to what they say, and, in many instances, prepare food for them. Many wish to come to chapel, but say, "Can we go in these ragged garments? We have largely planted-we have potatoes for sale; but no ships come to our Settlement to purchase." The result of these visits has exceeded our expectations, and, at present, there appears to be in very many a real thirsting after the living waters. If the work be of God, it will stand. Let us patiently wait, with earnest prayer, that it may not be as the morningcloud or early dew, which quickly passes away. Nearly fifty young persons, during the last three months, have joined our classes in this station, are now constant attendants at the house of God, and desirous to obtain the Scriptures, which they have had granted them, to be paid for in arrow-root. Much of our time is also occupied with applicants and candidates for baptism and church communion.