CORRESPOHDENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 219, 6 December 1854, Page 6

CORRESPOHDENCE.

To the Editor of the Lyl.ldton Times. Sir, —Will you allow me through your columns to call the attention of the authorities to the lamentable want of provision for the moral and religious interests of the inhabitants of Kaiapoi and its neighbourhood ? Within the last twelvemonths several settlers have located there, and stores and public-houses have sprung up, but no church or school have been provided. Having heard that it is contemplated by the Provincial Government in this case, as well as generally throughout the Settlement, to adopt the voluntary contribution system with regard to religion's provision, I give a quotation on the subject from a high au'tho-

rity. "It is, no doubt, plausible' to say thy religion, if true, should be able to maintain it" self: that the public will support those wl lu best discharge its duties, and that no preference should be given to the professors of any peculiar form of faith. But experience has demonstrated that these arguments are fallacious, and that religion speedily fulls into discredit unless its teachers are not only maintained, but amply maintained at the public expense, or from sefsfe. rale property of their own. The majj&d and almost unaccountable i(religion of a't»ro-e proportion of the French ever since the revolution is a sufficient proof that the support of property and a certain portion of worldly splendour, are requisite to maintain even the cause of truth. The reason is apparent. It arises, from the difference between immediate interests obvious to all, and ultimate interests, powerful only with a few. Worldly enjoyments are agreeable in the outset, and only painful in the end. Religious truth is unpalatable at iirst, and its salutary effects are only experienced after the lapse of time. Hence, the first may be safely intrusted to the inclinations or tastes of individuals; the last require the support or direction of the state. If individuals are left to choose for themselves, they will select the best architects or workmen ; but it does by no means follow that they will pitch upon the best religious guides. * * * * When children may be allowed to select the medicines they are to take in sickness, or the young the education which is to fit them for the world, the clergy may be left to the voluntary support of the public, but not till then."— Allison's History of Europe. I hear that it is proposed to cease appropriating the third of the proceeds of land sales to ecclesiastical purposes. Two considerations should induce our rulers to use great reflection, and study the interests of oar future as well as present before deciding upon this important question. Ist. That the scheme was devised by wise arid experienced heads in England \yith s|due regard to the welfare of the State they were planting ; and that this feature of their general plan was the particular inducement that influenced the settler in emigrating here. 2nd. That the clergy are at present in an impoverished* state, and the religious wants of the community are as much neglected as they can be. It has been urged by many " that the church will be very wealthy in this settlement presently." Why should it not be? Will it not be time enough to cutoff their revenues when they are unquestionably sufficient? It has also been objected that this scheme gives undue preference to the established Church of England. Allowing, for argument's sake, that this is a valid objection, does it follow that the third of land revenue-should be abstracted from use for religious and educational purposes altogether, and that it could not be divided amongst the different religiousdenominations proportionably to their numbers? The particular case of Kaiapoi is deserving of especial and prompt attention, for the natives there are exposed to more than ordinary scenes of vice and dissipation, and no counteracting tendencies are offered to show them a better example; I am, Sir, yours &c, Kaiapoi, Nov. 23, 1854. To the Editor of the Lyllellon Times. Sir, —It has been stated to me that at a public meeting held at the While Hart, Christchurch, a statement was made that at some time during the late Session of the General Assembly it was arranged, or, on a certain contingency happening, projected, that I was to be a legal office holder of the Crown under the Fitz Gerald-Sewell Ministry. Whoever made this statement must have drawn upon his imagination for the fact, or received his information from one who was not in the confidence of the Ministry nor in mine, and who was an inventor. I neither sought office nor had it proposed to inc, nor was ever even sounded on t-be subject during the existence of that ministry, nor by them or any of their friends, when it-" was possible that they might have returned t<> power. Subsequently two chances opened t<> j me, one under Dr. M'onro, another under Mr. Forsaith, both of which I declined. I am, Sir, your obedient servant, KouERT Hart. Lyttehon, Dec. 2nd, 1854.