Colonial.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XI, Issue 668, 2 April 1859, Page 2

Colonial.

WELLINGTON. Prom the ' Spectator' of the 26th instant, m extract the following account of a meeting on the subject of MB. BAKER AND THE CHUECH IS WELLINGTON, A meeting of members of the Church of Eng. land, called by an advertisement which appeared in both papers, was' Held in the Thdrridbri School* room on Wednesday evening.l Though not stated in express terms in the requisition, it" was generally understood that the meeting was-called with reference to the case of the Bey. A. Baker, and, as a meeting of ' Church members, it • might have passed off without attracting the' attention of the public in general, or becoming the subject of particular comment but for a most discreditable production in the shape of a letter tinder the signature of " Scrutator," which appeared in Tuesday's ' Independent,' evidently .written with a view to influence the decision of, the meeting. .The strong feeling of disgust excited by this letter /against the writer of it and his party, and the clear indication it afforded of the course they were likely to pursue, gave quite a different complexion to the affair, .and caused,the meeting to be very fully attended. Mr. Piekett having been called to the chair, Mr. J. H. Wallace, Secretary to the Archdeaconry Board, gave a short account of the proceedings taken by that Board with reference to Mr. Baker's case, and read to the meeting a communication from the Bishop of New Zealand to the Board conve3'ing his Lordship's definitive sentence in the matter. Mr. Wallace then moved the following resolution : —

" That this meeting is of opinion that it is inexpedient for the welfare of the Church of England in Wellington that ,the Rev..A. Baker should continue his ministrations in this place:"

—which was seconded by Mr. Barraud. This was opposed by Mr. Toomath in an earnest speech, which produced a strong impression, and who moved an amendment:—

".That as Diocesan; Synods are or are about to be established by the General Synod, now sitting, it is not expedient for this meeting of church mem* bers to express any opinion in the matter of the Rev. A. Baker until such Diocesan Synods shall be called into existence:" . .

—which was seconded by Mr. Hunter. The meeting was addressed by "a Mr. Wyatt, a clerk in .the Land Office, in a rambling irrelevant manner in favour of the resolution, and by Mr. Allen in support of the amendment, who pointedly reminded the meeting that the Bishop bf-Xew. Zealand-had given his definitive decision in Mr. Baker's case as they had heard that evening, and that- as churchmen they were bonnd to respect the decision of their Metropolitan. Mr. Brandon tried to persuade the meeting that his party had abstained from interfering in the matter, and that if any political feeling had been mixed up in its discussion it was attributable to their opponents, but besides other palpable evidence to the contrary, furnished by the meeting, the very course that he himself, the Provincial Solicitor and legal adviser of the Provincial Government, was at that time taking, gave the flattest contradiction to every word he ; said. The amendment was then put to the meeting, and on a division, was declared by the chairman to be carried. A curious scene then ensued; Mr. Fox in a very excited state came, forward, and declared that the decision was illegal (we suppose he meant to say informal), and insisted that a division should take place by each party going to different sides of the room: in other words the decision being against himself and his good friends, he wished to have the matter tried over again. .As. the amendment was carried by a large majority, there is no doubt that if the numbers then in the room had been counted, the result would have been the same, but the sense of .the meeting would not allow the chairman's decision to be disturbed at the dictation of Mr. Fox, and after a vote of thanks to the chairman the meeting broke up; The above is a brief account of the proceedings at Wednesday's meeting and the crowded state of our columns does not leave us much room for comment. We cannot refrain,- however, from saying that whatever difference of opinion may exist with regard to Mr. Baker's case, the course pursued by his political opponents is that of all others least calculated to promote the welfare of the Church of England in this province, and is marked by a bitter malignant spirit of persecution that cannot fail to create a feeling of sympathy in favour of the object of their hatred. If the. interest* of/the church are to be promoted, if. her.welfares are to be consulted, it pan only be by her members acting together in a spirit ef unity and Christian charity, and in thw spirit trying to seek peace and ensnte ,i 1". The Boomehang Contract.—With reference to the voto pf the Victorian Parliament disalkwiug the Boomerang.contract, wo understand that the requisite, notice has been .giv,on, and that on the return to Melbourne of that Vessel with tho August mails, her contract 'will cease.' This fact is, however, not: a naked one, it is accompanied by others which give good grounds for believing that

ere the' six'inbritKl' fidticjp lias .^^e^alisE^irafy aiTiingem^fe' *il| 'b'ejniad^ n^i,. .cantilf'^rnii^^p^t^lvMo^jU^ their ''corrtepdndciits" at "Melbourne, wllijcli,' iufomis U s ,{l)at,tho Melhpurae .merob^ts o are ;^y nq ; means :pleascdr-angyy i ! : isoJhQ;ewoM ;ft^spd^ats:iihe4'^^^^^ come to, and'Hame the Government forLnot^eour* m o - a .fuller house. .Tlxeo Chamber of Commerce does -apt enddrse ih'el^ews^putifovwardf iri'Pal»liamenttby the;opponents QpiW c&ntract;^ and s-ttie trade that is springing kj); KvidqiicfedKlJ^tlie largg number bf passeiMjirss':l)y rs the; ufeteamer;; and '!her being bbligef ( tdj^hut • out1, cai'gq,:;^ holds''.ou^ the prospect 'bf ,^^he;;.Advantages T of ; the" 7. subsidy shortly;' beeprnin^jVsb .apparent.. as;V "to" {induce , ; a re-cousidoratiojlj)OM.J!Otel.h'yl'a 'new ' house expe^ted,:rtp c , r ;a^emble{ t withmr l ua; ; few} 'l lhe i 'iinip.qvknfiß;L^fMol.bouri\e,-.qfta directcomrnuni-i cation .with: Wellingtoa-in•lhe.ejreritiof IthejPariaYna » line .being establislred^is« ; fully^appreciaterl'by the' ■ Victorian^ ;Govjenimren.t}.: and.4erves: to - strengthen' the firm hdpe-we^nteMate that1 th:e;mutually bpne-^ ficial relations'exi^m'j^^ tington' wjll'Jivotlftvily^ be rib^;interr^ tnaHy;vb^6me^tab;^B^id^Qn'.a foqtingl;^'Jt' > wiir''be''s'eenf:lf'rdra!th tisempntl^triictedjf frqm;ithe ■ thaj^^the Eoyab!]tfail,<pp i mpany;-(are!;parefuily .feeling;;'[.their. ■way.v>yitii(;referenge,!toi^the; .establishment of tithe PunftniaiJihe^andfthafentheyiare fullyalivetbthe advantages of;mukihg Wellingtori.their-:N6w-Zea-larid^'stJationl X"'"'' 1 --'" r--^^-^j •■" '■;■ v; i:; '■.'L':|. ■ PiJrAMiLi-lIbUTE.-^To enable" the. directors, of the Packet'^ tain.witly'.accura'cy tlie;; cbst of. thie; Piinanja'seryice^ • they'^afe!;'4psirous. of ( rece.iyiiig 'jtendejs' for ..the fteigilt^frq'm^-Ih^"Bjunter ok the;lllawarra,.qf 200 pcr r month;,respectively,to : TaliitiranHv > Zealand.;; 7 The.i form, oficharternparty; njayj;b;e;:seen; at • the n Company!s' offices, Melbourne^, wi'i;; ?■■■ ■•.-;;•. ?A;iv-i: •:■'■.', '.c ?.-.ir,[) ~ - r GHA|a t riG>N;;WETTo3sr,v.Sup.erintendent; ;«j —Ibid; March'2s. ' ti^-^'i. r-^ ;;;--^ ,-?■ „-■.-:!, The Hot "Springs.— Miv A/Macdonaldj' of the Eahgitikei, recently rfeturned in;five:daysfrom a visit to Taupo> in 'company wipKa-! .party among': whom -wefese'ybral ladies. It:is'i!qnna§ntlyj_beHfeved tiiat a Toabl can be'cut from the"'nbighbourhbodpf tup Ratig^itptei, J)y „whjchithe; : Taupa cbuntry^.can.lbe opened!up, at,a very t irifling-eb"st., ■(, It. is< expected thatSottmore than.i5 fl jnil % es j q.f,feish.;^viQi liave -to be gqnet through, the n remainder; ,of the, distance being already practicable for horse/traffic'.1;. We are happy ; ta hear that an exploring ipaaiy;- Headed by Mr.'Swainsdn"of theii Survey will start very shprtlyl-^J^?^eftrfe«/,;'Mareh 18. „ •■ The"-BiiJk^-^Amohg "• the' rpa?sengers! %y: the Boomerang yesterday we Carter, and family and : TEei farmer gentlemanTlias been appointed' i<tp^''£b,e"/managershipVofrthe Union Bank here, vacant, the-jdeath „qf !&. Macdqnald,, fTheAatter o gentle'man i is;;the^lnsp^oto^ the ; Oriental. 03aiik., w The,'c^ rangariui; settlers; who hay&ieen. jvaiting [some; months; vfor'-the; i establishmentnofi ajßrahon \of>'lthe/;Union ; r;Banlj, ;:uv 'itheir ■, district^vwiUiiibw shortly have^he pleasure of-seeing iti'ja^eaScl ;;* the T'delaiy^ ;in ' the1! appbintment • pf'a, tiiyeag*e^:tb:tlie:Kead- iquarters:kt' Wellington haying been the cause^f the delay-- —lbttt,'"'1 '"J; i'"' :-"