field among the Aborigines is preoccupied by other Missions - which I do not consider the case -that will not compensate for the religious destitution of our own country people, who form such a numerous and respectable portion of New Zealand settlers. I believe that the Societies already stationed in the Island, claim their exclusive right to religious ministration among the natives; but cannot clearly perceive why this exclusive right exists' if these bodies are incapable of occupying the whole country, and administering their duties efficiently, - which it is certain, with all their assertions, they cannot do; and there are now in this country, large and numerously peopled districts that only receive an annual chance visit from a Minister of any persuasion; and if one of those ministers happens to preach, and administer the Ordinances of religion to a barbarous people in the incipient stages of Christianity, for the sake of afterwards claiming them as his own flock, to the entire exclusion of all other religious bodies, - from the mere circumstance of having administered Sacraments before these natives, such is understood as possessing any other virtue than a mere external piece of formality, - I cannot conceive this constitutes the right has been so long assumed, and unreasonably contended for in this country. Now I imagine in such neglected districts as I have described, the Scotch Presbyterians have equally as much right - and not more than any other religious body, - to station themselves; especially if the natives evince equal willingness to receive them as their instructors; and I feel satisfied that one or two energetic Scotch clergymen would soon demonstrate the applicability of our genuine and efficient Church principle and discipline; which, from its unsophisticated simplicity, would be found so accessible to the capacities of the natives. I shall, at all times, feel interested in hearing that your Mission efforts, wherever exercised, will be attended with success; and that the improvement in Mr. Duncan's health will enable him to cooperate with you in the furtherance of your Gospel Ministrations, - whether to heathen in the South Sea Islands - where your Society contemplate Sending a Missionary; or residing among our own people, whose unalienable attachment to such ministrations, would render your work among them so acceptable. (unsigned copy.).