The Missionary by S. N. Haskell

International Tract and Missionary Society · Oakland, California · Dec 9, 1886

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 12, No. 47.

The Missionary.

By S. N. Haskell

Planting the Third Angel’s Message in New Zealand.—No. 2.

VISIT TO KAEO.

KAEO is situated 160 miles north of Auckland, on a river of the same name, and is about seven miles from the bay. It is in a beautiful and fertile valley about ten miles in length and three in breadth. The surrounding hills are grazing lands for the sheep, cattle, and horses owned by the inhabitants. The valley has its nooks and coves, where are nestled, among the fruit trees, the small houses with their colonial ovens. American stoves are a thing unknown in this country. Kaeo is in the district of Whangaraa, and within a few miles of the latter place there are many small country places retaining their native names. Three miles south of Kaeo is Ku Ku Prairie, and about the same distance in the opposite direction is Tami Tami. The latter place has a post-office, contains a saw-mill, and is quite a place for ship building. There are saw-mills at other places on the bay. A small steamer runs up the river as far as Kaeo when the tide is in. On the surrounding mountains is the stately kauri pine, the cutting of which is the principal employment of the settlers. After being cut the timber is rolled down the mountain-sides to the winding streams, there to await the freshets, which occur twice a year, when, under the engineering of competent lumbermen, often native Maoris, the logs are carried down into the bay. In the various nooks of the bay are large saw-mills, and from these the vessels carry the lumber to more distant ports. Australia is largely supplied with this timber, it being used for building and all common purposes. It is much harder and heavier and of finer texture than the white pine of America, and of a different nature from the hard pine. It resembles somewhat the Oregon pine. This pine yields a gum, which is gathered by the natives and sold to dealers who ship it to England, where it is converted into superior copal varnish, and sent to all parts of the world. It is now becoming scarce, as much of the timber is being used for lumber.

Wagon roads are few, though others are in process of construction. The traveling is done mostly on horseback and on foot. Boats furnish a ready means of conveyance up and down the river, when the tide is in. Most of the streams are fordable, except in some places where they are crossed by planks or long sticks of timber. The length of these timbers causes them to spring, so that care must be exercised, else the footman is liable to have an opportunity of measuring the depth of the water beneath. At one time on an occasion of haste, we went upon one of these bridges, and losing the motion of the timber, and consequently our balance, suddenly found ourselves in the midst of the stream. The water was only about four feet deep, so we experienced no serious difficulty. During a freshet the water rises to a great height, but at other times the streams become nearly dry.

It was in this valley that Joseph Hare, Sr., settled in 1865. He came from the north of Ireland, where he had been a school-master for twenty years, and then a Bible-reader in a Protestant church. He had acquired an excellent reputation as a school-teacher, but because of the opposition of the Catholics to his method of teaching the Bible in his school, which was finally prohibited, he left a situation upon which he was dependent for a livelihood. His services were in every other way satisfactory, and his employers endeavored to keep him by proposing a compromise, to the effect that he might have the privilege of teaching the Bible after the close of school, to such as wished to

remain. To this he objected. The Bible had been to him the Book of books. He had ever taught it to his children when they came around the table for the family meal, and had woven its teachings into all his school work, and now to make it a secondary matter was a thing which he could not do. When he left the school he had no knowledge of how he should support his large family, but resigned his position because of principle. To his surprise, he was soon offered a position as Bible-reader in one of the churches at a larger salary than he had received in the school. Thus God honors those who honor him.

The course which Brother Hare pursued in the training of his children, constantly inculcating Bible principles into their young minds, led them to regard the Bible as a sacred book, and to rely upon what it taught them as true. The result has been that in a large family profanity is unknown, and all are strictly temperate. Although he himself had smoked for over forty years, not one of his children is addicted to the habit, and it is seldom that a family can be found where exists greater respect for each other, and especially for the parents, than in this. After moving to New Zealand, his oldest children, having reached manhood, carried these sterling principles with them into their business and social relations, and consequently are respected for their integrity. Soon after receiving the Sabbath, Father Hare abandoned the pipe, much to the improvement of his physical, mental, and spiritual condition. The same may be said of Mother Hare's family by her first husband. She is Brother Hare's second wife. He had been in the colony but one year when his first wife died, by whom he had had eleven children, all living but one. Three years later he married his second wife, who had, by a former husband, eight children, all living. Only one of the number uses tobacco in any form, and all of them are temperance people. Since his second marriage they have had five children, all living at the present time. Many of those who have grown to be men and women have families and their husbands and wives in each case are persons of moral worth. Of this numerous family, including children and grandchildren, thirty-seven on the father's side and three on the mother's side are keeping the Sabbath. No family is yet divided in the keeping of the commandments of God. On Father Hare's side all are observing it save one, and it is present circumstances that prevents her from doing so, and all are persons who are respected in the community. It is hoped they may each be able to say in the day of the Lord, Here am I and the children thou hast given me.

After Edward Hare and his wife, who lives in Auckland, had accepted the Sabbath, he was very anxious that we should visit his father and mother, and present to them and their brothers and sisters, the truths which he and his wife had accepted. Accordingly after remaining in Auckland five weeks, we left, Nov. 24, for Kaeo, on the boat, which makes the trip between the two points once a week. We found his father officiating as a local preacher for the Methodist Church, that being the only denomination which held meetings in the place. In our next, we shall speak of the reception of the truth by the friends at Kaeo. S. N. H.