Special mention has frequently been made of the great liberality of the Samoan churches.  The Rev. George Pratt thus describes the energetic effort made last year to increase it:—­

“In May I paid a visit to Mr. Drummond’s district.  Very much pleased I was to see the very great improvement amongst his people.  At the May Meeting they made a great effort, and challenged Samoa to beat them.  I accepted the challenge, reminding them how formerly our people beat theirs in a game of chance just when they made sure of victory.  The report of this speech preceded me, and created a furore among my people.  They determined to beat; the merchants raised the price of money fifty per cent.; the merchants refused money, or ran short; all in vain; every difficulty was surmounted; and when a most iniquitous discount for bills is deducted, there will still be hard on to 700 pounds for the London Missionary Society.”

The Rev. A.W.  Murray informs the Directors that the contributions so gathered have been the largest of all.  They have amounted to the extraordinary sum of 2,236 pounds 18 shillings:—­

“Our contributions for the present year are not quite complete yet.  What remains will be inconsiderable.  The full amount will appear in my annual statement of accounts.  What has come to hand from the different stations, including our own, amounts to the unprecedented sum of Two thousand, two hundred, and thirty-six pounds, eighteen shillings.  May I add a word of caution with reference to the amount raised by our people this year.  It will be wise, I think, for all of us to say very little about it, inasmuch as the present year will certainly be an exceptional one.”

[Illustration:  Mission house, Mangaia.]

Nor are others of our Polynesian Converts behindhand.  The Native Churches in Mangaia have also given generous gifts, of which the Rev. W.W.  Gill speaks thus:—­

“This sum (217 pounds 7 shillings O pence) is considerably the largest contribution ever made by Mangaia to the funds of our Society; the reason is, that I have this year obtained a better price for the arrowroot.  I feel deeply thankful that our people have steadily persevered in their offerings to God, notwithstanding the accumulated misfortunes produced by three hurricanes in two years, and their consequent poverty.”

When it became clear from the letters received from the islands that the missionary ship was really lost, the Directors without delay devoted their attention to the question of securing a new one.  Several important facts were clearly shown in the statements laid before them.  Some six or eight small vessels are now running regularly between the chief groups of islands and Sydney:  a few vessels also pass irregularly between the islands themselves, and can at times be chartered, or be employed to carry goods.  So far, therefore, as mere goods are concerned, there