A SETTLER'S THANKS.

THE following letter was recently received by the Bishop of MONTREAL (now of QUEBEC) from a respectable settler in the township of Kilkenny,* Lower Canada. It must be very pleasing to the friends of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel to see how gratefully the ministrations of the Church are appreciated in the remote parts of America.

"Kilkenny, May 4th, 1850.

"MY LORD,-I need make no apology for the liberty I take, as I am bound both by duty and gratitude to return your Lordship my sincere thanks for the valuable and acceptable gift of a Bible and Prayer-book, which I received from the hand of the Rev. Mr. Lockhart soon after his return from Lennoxville. He also recently let me know that your Lordship had forwarded a parcel to the Rev. Mr. Irwin, at Montreal, containing a book of Psalms in metre, with another small book, requesting him to have it conveyed to me likewise, or let me know of its being there for me. My Lord, it is my duty to let you know that the Prayer-book, which contains a Companion to the Altar bound with it, is very valuable to me, as I never possessed one before, and I hope I will be much edified as well as profited by the pious instructions contained in it.

"That your Lordship should so remember me in this retired back-of-theworld place, still adds more to the worth of your Lordship's gift. Permit me to add a few lines respecting our religious prospects at present in Kilkenny, with the state of things that existed before your Lordship's late visit; and also compare our present privilege with the state of things that existed twenty years ago (for I am so long a settler in this township). To begin with the latter period; we might be said to be hardly one remove from the native Indian. The Sabbath was then very often spent in travelling the wild woods in small parties, armed with an axe or gun, in search of some amusement; while the Sabbath was equally profaned by those who remained at home. None of the ordinances of religion were then or the ten following years within the bounds of this township, except occasional visits of some of the Methodist preachers and other dissenters. About ten years past your Lordship was made acquainted with our destitute state, and our spiritual wants began in a good measure to be supplied: from the time of the Rev. Mr. Torrance's services until his remove to Quebec, a brighter and much happier day began

Kilkenny is mentioned in the Bishop of Montreal's Visitation Journal, 1843, page 9. See Church in the Colonies, vol. i.

to break upon us; but it was succeeded by a long and dreary night of privations, which I am happy to say terminated at the time of your Lordship's late visit to Kilkenny, as we have had regular morning service by the Rev. Mr. Lockhart since that time.

"What gratitude is due by the people of Kilkenny to Almighty God, and under him to your Lordship, as well as to the blessed Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, who sent and supports Mr. Lockhart to be our minister ! No words of mine can sufficiently describe the improvement that already appears. Could the Society above mentioned see the same people I once have seen some twenty years ago-see them now 'clothed and in their right minds, sitting' with becoming attention under the services of our beloved pastor, I am of opinion it would be singularly gratifying to men so benevolent; and I mention this, knowing that your Lordship will rejoice to hear that this wilderness is beginning to blossom, and likely to bear fruit to eternal life. The sum required by your Lordship in aid of Mr. Lockhart's support will be made up by renting the pews. There are three new pews wanted to give the congregation a convenient sitting.

"Mr. Lockhart requested me to let him know the population of this place as near as possible. Of the township at large I am not able, but of the Protestant population I can, as I am acquainted with every Protestant family in this township. There are thirty-three Protestant families in this locality, numbering 175 souls, living on an extent of about four miles in length, and about two miles in breadth. Situate on the south-west front of the township there is a vast majority of French of late crowding in here from other settlements, but they are squatters, and in general have fled to avoid the payment of seigneurial rents. The number of Protestants mentioned above all belong to Kilkenny congregation, exclusive of New Glasgow and Paisley.

"Before I conclude, I beg leave to add, that previous to your Lordship's late visit to this mission my mind was bowed down under the fear we could not be supplied with a minister, notwithstanding Mr. Torrance still encouraged me to hope and pray on. My fears were partly confirmed by hearing a gentleman say, not long before Mr. Lockhart's arrival, that your Lordship would give up this township altogether, as no gentleman would undertake to go on our roads.* I distinctly remember your Lordship told me on your way from New Glasgow to Kilkenny, that in laying down your plans of travelling you always contrived to give Kilkenny a Sunday service. You little know, my Lord, how that short sentence cheered my mind, and strengthened my faith in your good-will to have us supplied as soon as in your power; I almost reproached myself with want of faith in God, Who has in his kind

The gentleman said so without authority, and without foundation for what he said.

providence sent us a minister who seems to find no difficulty in getting over our roads. Trifling as this may appear, it will, I hope, in future, make me less distrustful in a kind Providence, or in our Bishop's good-will to have us supplied, and take every possible care of us.

"I have the honour to be,

66

My LORD,

"Your much obliged well-wisher,

"JAMES IRWIN.

"N.B. I would have acknowledged your Lordship's kindness earlier, but rheumatism in my arm prevented; I am thankful to say it is much better."

THE MISSIONARY BEE-HIVE.

ATTENDING lately a Missionary meeting, in a small parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, we were made acquainted with a fact which deserves a record in our Magazine. A poor man, desirous of "doing what he could" for the extension of his Saviour's kingdom upon earth, has assigned the produce of one of his bee-hives to the support of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. The hive is kept sacred to this one object; and whether the interest naturally taken in the humble offering invests it with superior attractions, or a double blessing does indeed rest upon the "LORD's lot," the neighbours think that the bees of this hive prospered better last winter than all the rest! How much instruction might be drawn from this simple incident in rustic life! A bee is but a little insect; and though it

"gathers honey all the day From every opening flower,"

the keenest eye can hardly detect the tiny load, which it carries continually to the beloved hive. Yet open the hive, and what a store of sweetness is found, collected by the combination of these scanty but untiring efforts! Is not this exactly the model for a Parochial Missionary Association? Only let all classes of society look upon God's Church as their hive, and in the spirit of the working bee bring what they can to its treasury; and she would soon be enabled to shed among the nations of the earth those judgments and ordinances which are sweeter than honey and the honeycomb.”—Ps. xix. 10.

CANTERBURY SETTLEMENT, NEW ZEALAND.

THE annexed extracts from a private letter recently received from Christchurch, New Zealand, furnish some interesting information respecting Port Lyttelton and its prospects :

"The harbour of Port Cooper is only divided from the plain by a ridge of hills of an average height of about 1200 feet, covered with grass near the entrance, but towards the head of the harbour partly wooded. The town of Lyttelton is situated in a bay four miles from the heads on the north shore of the harbour: it will form a very pretty town, but hilly and confined. Behind are the hills which divide it from the plain, the low spurs of which running to the shore form the site for the town, containing about 80 acres. The road from Lyttelton to the plain was commenced five months ago. A much better line has been found than was at first expected. There is no doubt that by the end of this year a good road will be made from the Port to Christchurch. The road over the hills from Lyttelton to Sumner is steep, but this could not be avoided; and as a very good landing-place can be found at Sumner, all heavy goods can be taken round in boats. The town of Christchurch is situated in a beautiful agricultural district, with a fine stream called the Avon running through it, and navigable for boats as far as the lower end of the town.

The water is very cool and clear in the warmest weather, and does not

rise or fall more than two feet during the heaviest rain or the driest summer. The banks vary in height from five to twenty feet, and this will be the height of the town above the river. The Avon receives the Heathcote near its mouth, and empties itself into the sea at Sumner, so that the latter town is on the high road from Lyttelton to Christchurch both by sea and land. Excepting a scarcity of wood, no tract of country can be better adapted for a large settlement than this is. There is a sufficiency of agricultural land, with three or four millions of acres of grazing country intermingled with it, so that a settler can farm his land and at the same time have a sheep or cattle run contiguous. At Wellington the nearest grazing country is 50 miles off, and at Nelson much more, and difficult of access-so difficult, in fact, that it is only within the last two or three years that the attention of the settlers has been directed to sheep farming. The lambing season this year has been very productive. In the Wairau the increase, it is stated, has been in many cases upwards of 120 per cent. Judging from the crops and gardens of some of the settlers, the land around here is not inferior to any part of New Zealand. Excellent crops of barley and oats have been raised this summer, and, though scarcely a shower of rain has fallen for the last three months, the potatoes look healthy and green. The fruit-trees are well laden, apples and plums in particular looking well. The soil is a sandy loam, with a subsoil of sandy clay. The vegetation consists of grass, tutu, flax, a little fern, and the flax palm. A few miles further into the country the surface is partly covered with stones, with a growth of grass, and excellent as sheep runs. The best agricultural land lies near the sea shore, extending back ten or twelve miles on the shore of Lake Ellesmere, and back under the hills. Some of the English forest-trees would no doubt grow well here, and every colonist ought before leaving England to lay in a stock of seeds, taking care that he has them well packed. Fruit-trees can be obtained, almost in any quantities and of the best sorts, from Nelson or Wellington. The roads here have so far been chiefly executed by natives, brought down from the other island. Most of them have had some experience on the Government roads at Wellington. They work well, and seem to take a pride in it. About 150 men are at present working on the road over the hill."

MISSIONARY EFFORTS IN MADAGASCAR.

DEAR MR. EDITOR,

THE following particulars relative to Missionary efforts in Madagascar having been communicated to me, I forward them for insertion in your Parochial Missionary Magazine, should they appear adapted for the purpose..