’July 9, St. John’s College.—­Though we reached harbour on July 5, and landed the next day, I have scarcely found a minute to write a line.  Imagine my feelings as I touched land and jumped ashore at a creek under Judge Martin’s house, in the presence of Rota Waitoa, the only native clergyman in the diocese; Levi, who is perhaps to be ordained, and four or five other natives.  Tena ra fa koe e ho a?  “How are you, my friends?” (the common New Zealand greeting), said I as I shook hands with them one by one.  We walked up from the beach to the house.  Roses in full flower, and mimosa with a delicate golden flower, and various other shrubs and flowers in full bloom.  Midwinter, recollect.  The fragrance of the air, the singing of the birds, the fresh smell (it was raining a little and the grass was steaming) were delicious, as you may suppose.  Here I was, all at once, carrying up baggage, Maoris before and behind, and everything new and strange, and yet I felt as if it were all right and natural.  The Bishop and Mrs. Selwyn had landed the day before, and we were heartily welcomed.  Mr. Martin took me into his study.  “I am thankful to see you as a fresh labourer among us here; a man of your name needs no introduction to a lawyer.”  Nothing could exceed his kindness.  He began talking of at once.

’We dined at about 12.30.  Clean mutton chops, potatoes and pumpkin (very good indeed), jam pudding, bread, and plenty of water (beer I refused).  It did taste so good, I am quite ashamed of thinking about it.  About two o’clock I started with the Bishop for the College, nearly six miles from Auckland.

’The Bishop is at a kind of collegiate establishment on the outskirts of Auckland, where Mr. Kissling, a clergyman, is the resident, and thither I go on Wednesday, to live till October 1, when we start, please God, in the “Southern Cross” for the cruise around New Zealand.  Here, at Mr. Kissling’s, I shall have work with Maoris, learning each day, I trust, to speak more correctly and fluently.  Young men for teachers, and it may be for clergymen, will form at once my companions and my pupils, a good proportion of them being nearly or quite of my own age.  I am to be constantly at the Judge’s, running in and out, working on Sundays anywhere as I may be sent.  So much for myself.

’The College is really all that is necessary for a thoroughly good and complete place of education; the hall all lined with kauri pine wood, a large handsome room, collegiate, capable of holding two hundred persons; the school-room, eighty feet long, with admirable arrangements for holding classes separately.  There are two very cosy rooms, which belong to the Bishop and Mrs. Selwyn respectively, in one of which I am now sitting....  On the walls are hanging about certain tokens of Melanesia in the shape of gourds, calabashes, &c., such as I shall send you one day; a spade on one side, just as a common horse halter hanging from Abraham’s bookshelf, betokens