’Mr. Codrington takes at present the elder Banks Islanders, Mr. Palmer the next class, and Mr. Bice the youngest set of boys from the same group.

’Mr. Atkin takes the Southern Solomon Islanders, and Mr. Brooke those from the northern parts of the same group.  I have been taking some Leper’s Islanders and Maiwo or Aurora Islanders as new comers, and other classes occasionally.

’Out of so many we shall weed out a good number no doubt.  At present we don’t condemn any as hopelessly dull, but it will not be worth while to spend much time upon lads who in five months must go home for good, and some such there must be; we cannot attempt to teach all, dull and clever alike.  We must make selections, and in so doing often, I dare say, make mistakes.  But what can we do?

’Our new hall is a great success.  We had all the framework sawn out here; it is solid, almost massive work, very unlike the flimsy wooden buildings that are run up in a week or two in most colonial villages.  It is so large that our party of 145, plus 9 English, sit in the aisles without occupying any part of the middle of the room.  This gives us ample accommodation for the present.  Indeed we might increase our numbers to 200 without any more buildings being necessary.  The married people give the most trouble in this respect, as they have their separate rooms, and four or five married couples take up more room than three times the number of single folk.  However we have here room for all, I am thankful to say, though we must build again if more of our young people take it into their heads to be married.  They pass on quickly, however, when married, into the next stage, the life in their own islands, and so they leave their quarters here for some successors.

’I hope you can understand this attempt at a description, but I never could write properly about such things, and never shall do so, I suppose.  I like the life, I know, a great deal better than I can write about it.  Indeed, it is a quiet restful life here, comparatively.  Some anxieties always, of course, but, as compared with the distractions of New Zealand life, it is pleasant indeed.  We have very few interruptions here to the regular employment of our time, and need not waste any of it in visits or small talk, which seems to be a necessary, though most wearisome part of civilised life.

’Your namesake goes on well; not a clever girl, but very steady and good; her sister and brother are here; the sisters are much alike in character and ability, the brother is sharper.  You will, I know, specially think of George Sarawia and his wife Sarah at Mota, with Charles and Ellen, Benjamin and Marion.  They are all Communicants, but the temptations which surround them are very great, and early familiarity with heathen practices and modes of thought may yet deaden the conscience to the quick apprehension of the first approaches of sin.  They do indeed need the earnest prayers of all.