here, as also other signs of civilisation. After running for about an hour alongside the bay, our path again struck inland, and in a short time we arrived at Horokiwi, ready to do justice to a substantial breakfast that awaited us there. At Johnsonville we met an old companion, that we little expected to meet in New Zealand-a Scotch mist. After breakfast we entered the Horokiwi Valley, and here the sublimity and grandeur of New Zealand scenery is to be really seen. What ferns! what lovely shrubbery! and what magnificent trees! What grandeur reigned all around! But at length we reach the head of the Horokiwi Valley, and are doomed to a disappointment. Had the day been clear, one of the most magnificent sights would here have burst in upon our view in a moment; but the haze was so great that we could just perceive the water washing at our feet some 800 feet below, and discern the top of the Island of Ka-pa-ti rising above the cloud. The path leads down the side of this mountain. In some parts the depth at your side is very great. Sitting in the coach, you could hold out your hand and drop a stone perhaps 200 feet before it would strike the ground. So narrow is the road, and so sharp are the turnings, after you leave Horokiwi, that they can only take two horses; and these horses have taken the coach over this particular part of the road since the coach was started. This hill, which you descend, is called Paikakariki. We had now completed thirty miles of our journey, and the remaining forty lay along the beach. This part was monotonous enough, except when we came to a river which had to be forded. In three of these the water came up to the axle-tree, and in one it even came inside. At Otaki we had dinner, and saw also a Maori church. About seven o'clock we arrived at the Manawatu. In a few minutes our luggage was on board the ferry-boat, and in five minutes more we were on the other side, and saw Mr Duncan. Our day's journey was not, however, yet at an end. Mr Duncan's house is about three miles from the ferry, and he had brought down a dog-cart for us. This was the most trying part of the road. Sometimes the wheels sunk deep in the sand, and at other times we were up to the horse's knees in water. About eight P.M. we were under Mr Duncan's hospitable roof, after fourteen hours hard riding.

Mr Duncan has two churches-one at Manawatu, and another at Lower Rangitikei, twenty-five miles off. In the former I preached on the first Sabbath after coming here. They appeared very attentive. The mothers brought their children with them. At Rangitikei the church is built in the midst of a wilderness, only one house within sight of it. In the church ground there would be say forty horses saddled and bridled, and two or three gigs. Gigs are not much used here, on account of the roughness of the roads. After the forenoon service we got a gig and were driven to Upper Rangitikei, some six miles off, and preached in the court-house. I sat on the bench, and sounded the offers of mercy from that place where oft is sounded the sentences of punishment.

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On Thursday we visited Ihakara. He keeps his carriage and pair, and has also his gold watch. He is the chief who has always proved very friendly to Mr Duncan. He knew we were coming, and had on a piece of native cloth as a badge of his office; and a reed in his hand as his insignia. He had European clothing, but was very shabbily dressed. When we approached I heard a "Naumai, naumai,” Welcome, welcome." On com. ing nearer he held out his hand and shook ours warmly, saying, "Tenakoe," meaning "That's you"; to which we replied, "Tenakoe-That's you." He then spoke about the present rebellion in New Zealand, and told us how sorry he was that so many of the natives had gone back to heathenism. The natives are shrewd, intelligent, and have very retentive memories. A brother of Thakara, called Kereopa, remembers the colour of Mr Inglis' hair, and even some slight things about his eyes.

He expressed his great grief as to the present backward state of religion among the Maoris, and hoped that there would soon be a change for the better.

RECEPTION AT OTAGO.

20th January 1869.

On all hands the reception given and the interest manifested has been of a most gratifying character. We have received here quite an ovation, every attention being shown. At the opening of Synod, Mr Inglis and I were invited to take our seat in the court. It was then proposed that the Synod should visit the "Dayspring" in a body, which was unanimously agreed to. We all assembled on the poop. The moderator conducted religious exercises, in which he was assisted by the Rev. Mr Sutherland of this town. One or two then spoke in the most pleasing manner of the success of the Mission, and the trig look of our pretty vessel. In the evening, according to previous arrangement, the first missionary meeting of the Presbyterian Church of Otago and Southland took place. There have been missionary meetings held in this province long ere now, but this was the first time that the highest court of the Church set apart a sederunt for missionary speeches and missionary matters generally. The meeting passed off very well. There was a large attendance. Mr Inglis spoke of the claims of the Mission.*

Mr M'Donald of Melbourne made a very pleasant speech, in which he advocated, very powerfully, the claims of the "Dayspring."

One day was set apart for the children of the Sabbath schools to go on board. About 1000 availed themselves of the opportunity. We expected to have addressed the children when they were all assembled on board, to have sung a hymn with them, and to have let them hear a hymn in Aneityumese, but the wind was so high that the plan had to be abandoned. The vessel was open for inspection the whole of last week and yesterday, and the numbers who visited it, especially on Saturday, were amazing. On Saturday, for several hours, a steamboat plied between the wharf and the boat, and was crowded both ways. The sailors had brought a great many curiosities with them, and all were eager to get some memento of the vessel. To-day the vessel has gone to Port Chalmers. To-morrow it is to be exhibited there, and at night there is to be a missionary soiree, and on Thursday we sail for Wellington.

Notes on Public Affairs.

NATIONAL EDUCATION.

FOR many years past the subject of National Education has engaged the attention of the Scottish people; and, notwithstanding differences of opinion on matters of detail, there is a wonderful agreement in leading principles. That education should be national, religious, universal, and efficient, is the conviction of the great majority of the people; and it was fondly hoped that discussion and agitation were about to be followed by actual legislation. That expectation has been disappointed. At the beginning of the Session the Upper House clamoured for work, and Government answered their cry by the introduction of the Scottish Education Bill. This Bill, although based upon compromise, contained many valuable and important

*For Speech, see page 342 of present number.

provisions, and had the rare merit of fixing the principle of National Education as a landmark for future guidance. Although not so explicit as we could desire in its security for religious teaching, the immemorial custom of the nation was in no danger of being disturbed; while it ought not to be forgotten, that the Bible and the Shorter Catechism have been taught in the schools because they were demanded by the convictions of the parents, for there has never been any legal enactment enforcing instruction in religion. The Bill of the Session had many imperfections, but it was capable of great improvement in its actual working, and promised signal advantages; but it suffered grievously in the hands of the Peers. The parochial schools were to remain in their present exclusive management; and a door was opened for a subtle form of concurrent endowment, by providing that denominational schools should be entitled to assistance from the Privy Council, under the conditions of the existing system. It was towards the end of July that the Bill reached the Commons, who removed many of its obnoxious portions, restored its more liberal provisions, and pushed it through its various stages with extraordinary energy and persistency. But much time had been lost,-the Session was nearly at its close,-the Appropriation Bill, the natural termination of the important business of the year, had been read a second time,-the Peers were in no mood to give a calm consideration to a measure with which they had no genuine sympathy, and which had undergone so great a change in the Lower House. They could also urge, with much plausibility, that it was unworthy of their own position, and injurious to the Constitution, to enter upon so important a question at so late a period, and that hasty and ill-advised legislation would not be followed by benefits in any degree proportionate to the disadvantages. The measure was accordingly thrown out-a result which we deeply regret. We are sensible of the imperfections of the Bill, and believe that a bolder and more satisfactory measure could have been carried more easily than one that was in many respects so innocuous and tentative. But a noble opportunity has been lost, and it is impossible to tell under what circumstances the question may be brought forward at a future time. Were the Government to introduce a strong measure into the House of Commons early next Session, and support it with all the authority and determination of which they are capable, there is no doubt that it would be carried; but the future is uncertain, and the educational problem of England and Ireland is surrounded by extreme difficulty. Scotland presents conditions that are comparatively easy; and, had our measure been placed on a satisfactory foundation, it might have furnished help to our statesmen in dealing with the more complicated aspects of the question in England and Ireland. The priests will make a determined effort to control the whole education of Ireland-primary, intermediate, and collegiate; and, unless our leaders are watchful and resolute, they will easily fall into the snare. In its bearing upon other parts of the kingdom, the loss of the Bill may have the most serious consequences. The presence of so strong and unscru

pulous a body as the Roman Catholics ought to awaken us to greater activity and vigilance; and it appears to us that it is in connection with education that our present danger lies. Some of our leading statesmen are suspected of unsoundness in this matter. The people at large are apt to indulge the security of ignorance, till they discover that events have passed beyond their control; while the pressure of an eager, active, and indomitable priesthood may become overwhelming.

Reviews and Notices.

Care Cast upon the Lord. By Rev. J. Hall, D.D., New York. 18mo. Pp. 63. Edinburgh: W. Oliphant & Co.

AN admirable practical little book, upon a theme of universal interest. The object of the book is, perhaps, best stated in short compass in its Dedication, which is, "To the great company of the 'careful and troubled,' whose faith is feeble, and whose burdens are too heavy for them, this little book, by one who has tried and proved its plan, is dedicated, with sympathy and affection, and not without hope that, through it, the loving Saviour may say to some of them again,' Cast thy burden on the Lord.""

The Apostolic Church: Which is it? An Inquiry at the Oracles of God, as to whether any existing Form of Church Government is of Divine right. By Thomas Witherow, Professor of Church History, Londonderry. Fourth Edition. Revised. 18mo. Pp. 80. Belfast C. Aitchison. 1869.

PROFESSOR WITHEROW has recently been appointed to the Chair of Church History in the Presbyterian College, Londonderry, and this little book gives ample evidence that he is very competent for its duties. It is a highly readable, as well as able, statement of the Scriptural character of Presbyterianism.

The Church's Dangers and Hopes. A Sermon Preached at the Opening of the Eastern Reformed Synod, at Waterside, Derry, on July 6, 1869. By Samuel Patton, M.A., Waterside. 8vo. Pp. 18. Londonderry: J. Macpherson.

A GOOD Synod sermon, although much of it is adapted for the sister island rather than for Scotland.

A Help to Young Communicants. 16mo. Pp. 38. Glasgow:

D. Bryce & Co. 1869.

THIS "Help to Young Communicants," compiled by the Rev. Henderson Carslaw of Helensburgh, is made up of the Ten Commandments, the Creed, Lord's Prayer, Sum of Saving Knowledge, Questions regarding the Lord's Supper in Larger Catechism, and the manner

of administering the Lord's Supper, by John Knox. Of the intrinsic value of these selections there cannot be two opinions among those who love the doctrines of revelation. A short commentary on the words of our Lord at the institution of the Sacrament of the Supper, such as Matthew Henry's admirable one, would have added much to the usefulness of this little book.

Since the foregoing lines were in type, Mr Carslaw's "Help" has gone into a second edition. It contains ten additional pages of "Hints to Young Communicants regarding the Ordinance.' They are good, but do not sufficiently bring out the nature of the ordinance as a showing of the Lord's death until He come.

The Biblical Repertory and Princeton Review, for July. Edited by Charles Hodge, D.D., and Lyman H. Atwater, D.D. New York: Scribner & Co.

A LARGE part of this number of the "Princeton Review" is taken up with the proceedings of the General Assembly of the Old School Presbyterian Church in the United States, especially its action in regard to the proposed union with the New School. Dr Atwater, the junior editor, defends the union, while his venerable colleague, Dr Hodge, is rather afraid of it, but hopes for the best. We give three extracts. The first is from the close of Dr Atwater's article. In answer to an allegation that the union would be the death of the Old School, he says:—

"Nor does the Old School Church die. As the continuation of the Church of our Fathers while yet undivided, it will still live in the same Church once more undivided and enlarged, by again clasping to her bosom the portion that was for more than a generation separated from her. The stream of her one life does not lose its identity by the influx into it of another branch, whether formerly divided from it by some obstacle after having been one with it, or always before having been separate and independent. It is only amplified into a broader and deeper channel, for a more vigorous life and a nobler work."

"Is it said that this great movement is at best an experiment? So it is. Every great movement of the Church forward is an experiment. But it is an experiment to which we are. summoned by the leadings of God's Providence, and, as we must hope and believe, by His Spirit. Left to man, it must fail. If its promoters are more lifted up with pride and selfsufficiency, than bowed in fervent prayer and conscious dependence, it will come to naught or to shame. Our only safety is to commit it to the guidance and support of the great Head of the Church. He alone can carry forward with that grand development for His own glory and the blessing of man, to which we hope and believe it is predestined. With Him we leave it. We thank God for the past, and take courage for the future. In the present posture of this movement, its defeat in the Presbyteries would, we believe, be as disastrous as it is improbable. We therefore hail its prospective consummation."

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The second, on the Distinctive Doctrines of Old School theology, and the third, are by Dr Charles Hodge :

"The distinctive doctrines of Old School theology for which our Church has so earnestly contended, are known in history as Pauline or Augus