Tippoona Feby 13. 1815 Revd and dear Sir, I have the satisfaction to acquaint you that I and mine have been hitherto preserved from the Dangers to which we have been unavoidably exposed, and we are now settled amongst the People of New Zealand who have in the best manner they have been able treated us with every mark of their goodwill, kindness and attention. The consideration that the people amongst whom we are appointed to sojourn have had but little intercourse with Europeans and have reaped so few advantages from that intercourse, will naturally lead Our Society to expect that their civilization, and moral and religious instruction will be promoted by very slow degrees. The idea of their cannibalism and savage habits operated so strongly in the minds of many good men, that their case has been considered almost desperate before this attempt, and to us who have been sent out expressly for their benefit and have in a great measure overcome the fears which accompanied such a painful Idea, their filthiness and uncleanliness are such great obstacles that we can with difficulty make up our minds to form such intimacies with them as to permit them to come into our [f] dwellings. This is however a trial which must be borne, and you will, my dear Sir, be peculiarly satisfied with the intelligence of our prospects bidding fair in other respects. “God has in his abundant mercy given us favor in the sight of the New Zealanders upon our first appearance amongst them.” God’s Holy Word has been introduced amongst them, and His Truths rehearsed altho’ as yet in an unknown tongue. The Light it is true is faint and glimmering; but He who is the Father of Lights can give the Word and it shall increase like as the twilight which is succeeded by the rising Sun. A friendly intercourse has been established along the eastern coast of New Zealand with the Natives for a distance of two hundred miles. In our little Settlement there are none of us as far as I can learn under the least apprehensions respecting our personal safety. We have lived some weeks in a Hut which the natives prepared for our reception previous to our disembarkation without bars or doors. It is worthy of remark that the aged chief Terra who had been at variance with the people of Tippoona several years, never coming near them, lately came over from Kororarikka to assist in building our Houses. Amongst men who manifest such a particular desire to [f] obtain our good offices in supplying their temporal wants it is to be hoped favorable opportunities will occur to acquaint them with their spiritual and to point out to them the Blessings of the Gospel of the Lord Jesus. This is His purpose and His work which He will accomplish in His own time: and it becomes us to go on in patient labour in the service of Him who is rich in love and mercy. We have for our encouragement His promises in our favor. The prayers of the Church are put up in behalf of the poor benighted Heathen and He has pledged His word to hear her prayer. There are several children at Tippoona. I doubt not but I can have a School full of them as soon as a room is built. At present I have not room for more than six. I must clothe and victual them but this I think I can do at a trifling expence. The little boys which now come to me are very fond of Mrs Kendall, they call her their mother. My organ has not received the least damage in coming. We can sing to it tolerably well. The natives are astonished at the sound. They also observe us at our Worship with attention. They seem to have no mode of Worship of their own, or to bow the knee to any thing altho’ in conversation they make mention of some Deities. They tell me that the God Atua dwells in the Heavens and He is angry with bad men. [f] Mr Marsden has been very busy here and the Society will find his Accounts of the different places he has visited very interesting. Mr Marsden and I are upon good terms at present, but there are some points in which I am constrained to differ from him. My colleagues Mr Hall and Mr King are also dissatisfied as they have always been with his conduct towards them and I am sorry to observe that for this very reason they write with much reluctance to the Society. This is a grief; yet I do not see how the case can be remedied. I believe Mr Marsden’s motive to be good as it respects the Natives of New Zealand. There are many excellencies in his character. And I believe there is no other person in New South Wales more active in behalf of the Heathen, or so well qualified to manage the affairs of the Society; but he is always in a hurry, and I wish he paid more attention to arrangement and system. When I left England I was taught to expect that Mr Marsden was strictly exact in his transactions, but I have found it to be otherwise. He scarce commits any thing to paper. He is slovenly in many things. And altho’ he has a disposition to serve every man yet for the foregoing reasons he gives great offence to many. The faults and imperfections of public characters are often visible and I know that Christians are too apt to expect too much from one another: and I have on this account made no complaint to the Committee. [f] I distributed the greatest part of your Tracts with which I was furnished before I left London amongst the different Schools in New South Wales through the medium of Mr Cowper. He is very active as a Minister and in my opinion would dispose of any Bibles, Testaments or Tracts which might be sent from England with great advantage. Previous to my embarkation I placed my two daughters Susanna and Elizabeth under the care of Mr and Mrs Hosking the Master and Matron of the Female Orphan School at Sydney and I intend to keep them there for the present. Several pious friends in New South Wales advised me to do this, and Mr Marsden now he has seen the manners and habits of the People of New Zealand recommends me to permit them to continue with Mr Hosking for two or three years to come. Their board education and clothing will cost me about forty five pounds per Annum. This is more than I can afford, and I submit it to your consideration whether any application ought to be made to the Committee on their account. I beg leave to refer you to the thirty third article in the Laws and regulations of the Society contained in the report of the year 1813. The Society allows me ten pounds each for clothing per Annum. I shall have to pay out of my own private property about twenty five pounds Yearly. Both Mrs Kendall and myself were very sorry to part with our children but our friends urged reasons which I forebear [f] to mention. We could not well attend to their education at first if they had embarked with us, and it is some consolation to reflect that where they are they are safe and happy. The climate at New Zealand is more temperate and apparently much more salubrious than at New South Wales. There are no hot winds in the former as there are in the latter place. The Thermometer has varied during our residence from 630 to 730 and this at near midsummer. The interesting remarks which Mr Pratt will receive from Mr Marsden will render any of my own unnecessary at this time. It is my intention to write fully to him by the next. My friend Mr Nicholas who came out with me as a Settler in the Earl Spencer, and who embarked with Mr Marsden as his companion to this place will write to Robt Marsden Esq. Doughty Street by this conveyance. Mr Pratt will be favored with his observations. I have had two severe fits of Illness since I had the pleasure of seeing you last, but I bless God I am in good health at present. Neither I nor my family have suffered any material inconvenience from our different passages by Sea. We have generally been as happy as in our house in London. I am making a little progress in the New Zealand Language. Had I an Otaheitan Missionary with me he would assist me very much. The Language of both Islands is radically the same. [f] The Ship Jefferson Captn Barnes is now at Anchor in the Bay. We have assisted the Captain in procuring potatoes & pork. I intend to send a copy of this Letter by him as the Ship is bound to London after she has completed her cargo of Spermaceti oil. My Dear Sir, I know you will be glad to hear of my safe arrival in this place, and I would gladly unite with you and my many kind friends near you in Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the many blessings and mercies which he has vouchsafed to me and my family. My heart is with you, but here is my appointed station, and it will afford you much pleasure to find, that after so much money has been spent and I and my companions are arrived on the very spot where we are to commence our labours, that we have every encouragement to go on. And you will continue to implore our Divine Master for His blessing upon our humble attempts to carry into effect the Benevolent views of the Church Missionary Society. Mrs Kendall unites in affectionate regards to you Mrs Woodd and family, and all kind friends who may enquire after our welfare. I am Revd & Dear Sir Very faithfully yours Tho Kendall The Revd Basil Woodd Paddington Green [f] Memorandum November 15. 1814. Embarked on board the Active with my Wife and three sons Thomas, Basil and Joseph for New Zealand. Richard Stockwell who was recommended to me by six clergymen at Bristol, being desirous to continue with me, was permitted by Governor Macquarie to leave the Colony for a limited period. His services were very acceptable to Mrs Kendall during my absence in the last voyage of the Active to Van Diemans Land and New Zealand; and should it please God to bless me in establishing a School at Tippoona he will be very useful to me. I pay him a Salary of ten pounds per annum for clothing &c. Mr Marsden, Mr Nicholas & My Colleagues Messrs Hall & King with Mrs Hall and Mrs King and one child each, also the Chiefs Shunghee, Korokoro and Duaterra, and the natives Tenana, Toi, Mowee, Mahou, Miti, Deporo and Warkakkee were our companions. Mahou died two days before our arrival in the Bay of a Dysentery. Decr 19th The vessel came to an Anchor near to an Island belonging to Wahou the Sister of Shunghee. Here I saw the two Brothers Taara and Tippoohee with a large party of men from Wangaroa who assisted in the destruction of the Boyde. They all conducted themselves towards us in a very friendly manner. Decr 22nd We arrived at Tippoona and Janry [sic] 10. 1815 I removed from the Active with my family.— Memorandum. Mr Marsden has had an opportunity to observe a great deal of superstition during the illness of Duaterra which he will notice in his communications. I am in haste. [f] Should the Committee take it into consideration to allow me any thing towards the support of my two daughters, Mr Pratt will deduct the sum of Five pounds twelve shillings and sixpence which I have received of different persons in New South Wales for the Naval and Military Bible Society and three pounds one shilling and five pence which I have received for the British and Foreign Bible Society, and he will have the goodness to pay the same into the hands of the respective secretaries as soon as convenient. The Committee would be conferring upon us a great favor if they would send us out an investment of such articles of clothing & ca as we shall be in want of here to the amount of a years Salary and Mr Marsden might be instructed to deduct it as soon as it became due. The Amount of one years salary for me is ninety pounds, for Mr Hall fifty pounds and for Mr King fifty pounds. Each Settlers property should be kept distinct. A copy of the Investment ought to be sent to each for our inspection and the articles inclosed in stout iron bound portar [sic] casks as these would be very useful to us. It would prevent uneasiness in the minds of the settlers if Mr Marsden was instructed that their salary is not intended to purchase food but clothing. [f] Mr Pratt will have the goodness to send me some paper, Quills, Ink or powder, Books for Memorandums, Fish Hooks and Buttons as rewards for children, Medicines, Buchan’s Treatise on &c [sic] apothecaries weights & scales, Lances for the purpose of letting blood also Burns Justice & Periodical Publications &c &c. With respect to the investment I could wish you would introduce the subject to the com[mitt]ee. Every thing bears such a high price in New South Wales that a small salary is gone very soon and to consider the Settlers in this manner would have a tendency to attach them to the Society & it could not at the same time give any offence to Mr Marsden. Mr Marsden should be instructed to suffer nothing to be unpacked which was directed to the Missionaries in New South Wales. List of Articles Black cloth and Black Kerseymere for Coats and Waistcoats Dark cords for Breeches. Fustian & Twill’d Jane & Nankeen. Buttons large and small Button Moulds and Shirt Buttons Irish Linen for Shirts, Mens Worsted Stockings, Jaconet Muslin for Cravats & silk Handkerchiefs, Dark print for Gowns, Stuff for Petticoats. Thin flannel for shirts cambric Muslin, Lace for caps, Checked Aproning. Womens Black Worsted Stockings, Coarse towelling & calico sheeting Diaper for Table cloths, Pins, Sowing [sic] Needles & Knitting needles, Silk, threads, twist, tapes, worsted for childrens stockings [f] Black & purple ribbon. Nutmegs and spices. Muslin for caps. Brown Holland. Iron Table spoons and Teaspoons Knives & Forks and Three Wigs of Dark Hair for myself. The inclosed thread reaches round my head. I have come to no regular arrangement with Mr Marsden respecting the School. I think the Society would do right by sending some Brown Woolen Cloth such as is used in Charity Schools in London. It would suit the Boys for clothing very well & keep them warm in the winter. I would not wish the Society to send out a large quantity. I intend to make the Mats and Kakkahoa’s do as soon as I can teach them to keep them clean.