On the Island of Pines, so called from the tower-like masses of the Norfolk pine on the shores, was at that time the French Bishop of New Caledonia, the Oul, as the natives called him and his countrymen, for whom they had little love.  After an interview between the two bishops, the ‘Undine’ returned to New Zealand, where the native boys were brought to St. John’s College.  The system of education there combined agricultural labour and printing with study, and the authorities and the boys shared according to their strength in both, for there was nothing more prominent in the Bishop’s plan than that the coloured man was not to be treated as a mere hewer of wood and drawer of water, but, as a Maori once expressed the idea:  ’Gentleman-gentleman thought nothing that ought to be done at all too mean for him; pig-gentleman never worked.’  The whole community, including the ladies and their guests, dined together in hall.

The five boys behaved well, Siapo being a leader in all that was good, and made advances in Christian knowledge; but it was one of the Bishop’s principles that none of them should be baptized till he had proved whether his faith were strong enough to resist the trial of a return to his native home and heathen friends.  The climate of New Zealand is far too chilly for these inhabitants of tropical regions, and it was absolutely necessary to return them to their homes during the winter quarter from June to August.  The scheme therefore was to touch at their islands, drop them there, proceed then further on the voyage, and then, returning the same way, resume them, if they were willing to come under instruction for baptism and return to the college.  In the lack of a common language, Bishop Selwyn hoped to make them all learn English, and only communicate with one another in that.

The ‘Undine,’ not being large enough for the purpose, was exchanged for the ‘Border Maid;’ and in the course of the next three years an annual voyage was made, and boys to the number of from twelve to fourteen brought home.  Siapo of Nengone was by far the most promising scholar.  He was a strong influence, when at home, on behalf of the Samoan teachers, and assisted in the building of a round chapel, smoothly floored, and plastered with coral lime.  In 1852 he was baptized, together with three of his friends, in this chapel, in his own island, by the Bishop, in the presence of a thousand persons, and received the name of George.  When the ’Border Maid’ returned, though he was convalescent from a severe illness, he not only begged that he might come back, but that the young girl to whom he was betrothed might be taken to New Zealand to be trained in Christian ways.  Ready consent was given, and the little Wabisane, and her companion Wasitutru (Little Chattering Bird), were brought on board, and arrayed in petticoats fashioned by the Bishop’s own hands, from his own counterpane, with white skirts above, embellished with a bow of scarlet ribbon, the