’As I write, some dozen boys are on the roof, knocking away the shingles, i.e., the wooden tiles of roofing, a carpenter is taking down all that needs some more skilled handiwork.  In a week the house will all be tied up in bundles of boarding, battens, about 14,000 or 15,000 feet of timber in all.  Yesterday I was with the Primate; I went up indeed on Monday afternoon, as the “Southern Cross” sailed with thirty-one Melanesians at 11 A.M., and I could get away.  It was rather a sad day.  I was resigning trusts, and it made the departure from New Zealand appear very real.

’April 1st.—­My fortieth birthday.  It brings solemn thoughts.  Last night I had to take the service at St. Paul’s, and as I came back I thought of many things, and principally of how very different I ought to be from what I am.

’All are well here at Kohimarama.  My house knocked down and arrangements going on, the place leased to Mr. Atkin, Joe Atkin’s father, my trusts resigned, accounts almost made up, many letters written, business matters arranged.’

In a few days more the last remnant of St. Andrew’s was broken up; and the first letter to the Bishop of New Zealand was written from Norfolk Island before the close of the month:—­

‘St. Barnabas’ Mission School:  April 29, 1867.

My dear Primate,—­We had a fair wind all the way, and having shortened sail during all Friday so as not to reach Norfolk Island in the night, made the lead at 5 A.M. on Saturday morning.  But a sad casualty occurred; we lost a poor fellow overboard, one of the seamen.  He ought not to have been lost, and I blame myself.  He was under the davits of the boat doing something, and the rope by which he was holding parted; the life-buoy almost knocked him as he passed the quarter of the vessel, and I, instead of jumping overboard, and shouting to the Melanesians to do the same, rushed to the falls.  The boat was on the spot where his cap was floating within two and a half minutes of the time he fell into the sea, but he was gone.

’Fisher in the hurry tore his nail by letting the falls run through his hand too fast.  I was binding it up, the boat making for the poor fellow faster than any swimmer could have done.  How it was that he did not lay hold of the buoy, or sank so soon, I can’t say; the great mistake was not jumping overboard at once.  This is a gloomy beginning, and made us all feel very sad.  He was not married and was a well-behaved man.

’It was blowing fresh on Saturday, but we anchored under Nepean Island, and by hard work cleared the vessel by 5 P.M.; all worked hard, and all the things were landed safely.  Palmer, with the cart and boys, was on the pier, and the things were carted and carried into the store as they arrived.  I came on shore about 5, found all well and hearty, the people very friendly, nothing in their manner to indicate any change of feeling.

’I walked up to our place.  It is, indeed, a beautiful spot.  Palmer has worked with a will.  I was surprised to see what was done.  Some three and a half acres of fine kumaras, maize, yams, growing well; a yam of ten pounds weight, smooth and altogether Melanesian, just taken up, not quite ripe, so the boys say they will grow much bigger.  Abundant supply of water, though the summer has been dry.