Charles Wray Finch, 1839

Enclosure A. 4, to Minute No. 13 of 1839.
Charles Wray Finch, Esq., Examined before the Executive Council,
Friday, 19 April 18.39.

I have resided near Wellington Valley, at a place about 30 miles from it; I have resided there 12 months. I was not personally acquainted with the- missionaries. From the conversations I have had with the blacks I do not think any good has been done. I have seen the Mission Report of 1837; I do not think it a candid one; it is calculated to lead the public to believe that more has been done than has been; I do not see that the character of the blacks is at all changed. I have service at my own place; the blacks attended and could repeat the Lord's Prayer, but without any knowledge of its meaning. I do not think that they believe in the existence of a Good Spirit; they believe in an evil spirit. They have no idea of a future judgment, or of future rewards and punishments.

The missionaries are generally disliked among the blacks, but from what cause I cannot tell. They are very averse to part with their children to the missionaries, and do not give any thanks to them for their education. I do not think their habits of industry at all improved. I think the blacks always speak the truth; I have never been told an untruth by a black, and I believe them to be honest; I have always found them so. I have seen as many as 20 blacks on the mission, and occasionally as many as it 00. Wellington Valley is not their head station, they have two other stations some distance off, at which time they more frequently reside; I speak of the Wellington tribe. The same dialect is spoken for about 50 or 60 miles round.

It is a difficult question to answer, as to whether the establishment of a police force has been beneficial or injurious to the mission. If the missionary statements are correct, and not overcharged, I think the vicinity of a police establishment would be beneficial to the mission, as it would enable them to preserve order, and would also be a protection to them. Since the establishment of a police force there has been less crime; servants could not previously be kept in order. It has not lessened the number of natives resorting to the mission; the police being there would increase the resort of blacks. The sight of punishments would not deter the blacks from coming to the station; I know that they laugh at whites for being subject to punishment, the selves being exempt. There are more blacks at Bathurst than at Wellington Valley. I cannot say whether that portion of the report for 1838 which relates to the laying a floor with brick, and the blacks asking important ques-tions during the progress is a fair statement; my opinion is that it is an exaggerated one. I am not aware that any benefit has resulted to adult blacks. I do not know anything about the children. I visited Wellington twice during the last year. I think many other places in the neighbourhood of Wellington might be found for a mission station. A town-ship is much wanted, and the conflux is the best place for it; it cannot injure the mission; it can have no effect upon it, surrounded as it would be by large establishments.