[Wesleyan’Mission House.

Rev. N. Turner To Secretaries, Wesleyan Society

In addition to the six sheets of extracts from my journal I send you the following particulars, which chiefly relate to our expenditure of trade with the natives, &c., &c.

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According to our instructions for this station I know that the Committee require that we keep a regular account of all articles of expenditure, stock in hand, what is wanting, &c., and transmit the same to them in order; but hitherto this hath not been altogether attended to, nor am I able by this opportunity to send you so regular an account as I could wish.

Previous to Mr. Leigh’s leaving us, which was three days after my arrival, no regular account of expenditure had been kept from the time of their leaving Rangahoo, nor had it scarcely been possible. A few days after Mr. Leigh’s departure we endeavoured to overhale our stores to take an account of the stock in hand, but such was their lumbering state that it was impossible for us to look at every thing for want of room (nor are we any better yet, but hope to be soon), but were able to take some account of the principal articles, and from the 23rd of August have kept an account of the expenditure of the same.

When Bro. White left us on the 5th of November to accompany Mr. Leigh to the colony, he took with him all particulars for Mr. L. and him to submit to you jointly, and I am sorry to say he has not left me a copy, nor am I able to overhale the stores on purpose, and therefore I cannot send you an account of the stock in hand, but am certain it is very trifling (excepting small trade and old lumber which we shall scarcely be able to barter away at all), nor indeed any at all if our debts were paid, for we have had to borrow much from our brethren at the Bay of Islands.

The following is an account of the principle articles of expenditure from August 23rd to the 31st of December, 1823:—

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In addition to the above there have been many old articles and much small trade, as knives, scissors, buttons, and fishhooks in an abundance disposed of, of which no regular account has nor could very well be kept. These have been disposed of principally for the following purposes: Carrying fencing timber up from the river to the land we have enclosed; carry or fetching water, which for these last three months we have had to fetch from a considerable distance; seeking after the cow in the bush, which since the rivers and swamps have dried up has rambled many miles away; carrying us over the river from time to time, which they will never do without pay, and we have no bridges to walk over. These with a variety of other incidental occurrences have taken away much of our small trade, and will continue so to do.

With respect to the articles we are wanting, it is needless for me to say much, for I suppose my brethren will have written you jointly on the subject before now, but I will just say we are badly in want of the following articles: Axes, hatchets, spades, hoes (large and small), middle sized iron pots, chissels; tin pots of different sizes would be good trade, as well for our own use; we brought a good many with us from the colony, but they have stolen nearly the whole. Saws, drawing knives, and several other articles that we have on hand they will not barter for at all at present. We are also much in want of shops, particularly duck frocks and trowsers and check shirts for men and something dark and very strong to make up into dresses for native girls.

For the use of the mission we are wanting strong linnen for sheeting, huckaback for table cloths and towels. We also want several very large iron pots for the use of the mission. Several bales of common blankets should also be sent for bartering with.

In writing to my friends by this conveyance, I have written to Mr. Benjamin White, of Nantwich, to send me a box of shoes and other articles for my own use, and directed him to commit the same to the care of the Resident Secretary at the Mission House, and to draw upon him for the amount, the same to be placed to my account; and by kindly attending to which, and sending the box by the first conveyance, will be doing me an essential service, as we shall soon be very much in want of shoes.

Revd. and dear fathers, submitting the above to your notice,