It is our painful duty to record the death of the Rev. John Skevington, Wesleyan Minister, who was suddenly called into eternity on Sunday evening last, in the prime of life, being but thirty-one years of age, in active vigour and usefulness, as a missionary among the aboriginal inhabitants of this country.

This zealous minister arrived in this country in the year 1841, and was appointed to form a station among a tribe, called the Ngatiruanui, residing at the southward of Mount Egmont. He entered upon the onerous duties of his office, in the spirit of a devoted servant of Christ, and continued to discharge those duties with fidelity, zeal and success, until by a mysterious dispensation of Divine Providence, he was called to render his account to his great Master and Judge.

His death was awfully sudden. On Wednesday evening, 17th instant, he preached with great energy, a most excellent sermon, in the Wesleyan Chapel here, on which occasion he faithfully discharged the duties of his ministry. On the day on which he died, he was to have preached to the natives, in the market place, but feeling a little indisposed, his placed was filled by another missionary. On Sunday evening, he attended as a hearer at the Chapel, when, during the first part of the sermon, he fell back in his seat, and almost instantly expired.

By this afflicting dispensation, the Wesleyan Missionary Society has lost one of its zealous and efficient ministers, and the natives a true friend and an affectionate pastor. - "New Zealander" September 27