The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 415, 6 April 1850, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

Be just and fear not : Let all the end» thou aims't at, be thy County's, Thy God's, and Truth's.

SATURDAY, APRIL 6, 1850.

The South Australian Government Gazette contains an official correspondence respecting a project broached in London for the emigration of educated females to fill the situations of Governesses in the British Colonies, which we presume has been forwarded from Downing Street to the other Goveinors as well as to Sir H. Young, although so far as we have seen, he alone has as yet published it "for general information." The interest felt by most of our readers in every thing relative to the subject of emigration may be a little quickened here by the fact that New Zealand is named as one of the Colonies to which — should the scheme be wrought into efficiency— it is designed to ex* tend its operation. The avowed object of " The Ladies' National Benevolent Emigration Fund Society," (as the new Association calls itself) is to provide a fund from which the means of emigration are to be placed within the reach of " the widows and orphans of gentlemen, clergymen, professional men, officers in the army and navy, bankers, and merchants." Whenever the fund will permit, candidates from these classes I presenting testimonials from clergymen personally acquainted with them, will on their election by the subscribers, be furnished with the means of proceeding to such English colony as they may choose ; — the money to be advanced, however, not as a gift but as a loan, for which security must be given, and which must be repaid by yearly instalments. This requirement is designed to produce a progressive increase in the available fund, and, moreover, "it is expected that many ladies will marry in the colonies, and that thus the sphere of employment will be opened for others." It is anticipated by the originators of the plan that the effects would be the relief of destitute females of respectability and the bestowment of a great and muchneeded boon on the colonies, — for, say they, " Our colonies most urgently require the influence and exertions of ladies of the educated classes ; the tone of colonial society is lowered, the prospects of the rising generation are checked from the absence of such influence." The Prospectus of this project was forwarded by the Secretary, Mr. Hyde Clarke to Mr. Hawes, with an urgent appeal to the Colonial Office for its co-operation. By Lord Grey's direction the application was submitted for i consideration to the Land and Emigration I Commissioners, who reported, on the whole, in favour of it, stating that " the object contemplated by the proposed Society is one which, under proper restrictions, appears to us well worthy of encouragement, and likely to benefit both the parties who may be sent out, and the Colonies to which they may be sent." — They recommend, however, that, before any decisive steps be taken in the matter, the cola.-

nies be communicated with on the subject ; and in pursuance of this suggestion, Lord Grey has enclosed the whole correspondence in a despatch in which he intimates that he will suspend his judgment until he receives the opinions of the Colonial Governors concerning the expediency of encouraging the scheme. Viewed in the abstract, the object of obtaining a permanent and satisfactory provision for ladies 1 educed to distress by bereavements, or other adverse circumstances, is so self-evidently excellent as to commend itself to the warmest sympathies of every benevolent and feeling heart. But the depth of the interest with which we regard the object is itself a powerful motive to induce us to examine with an almost jealous scrutiny, the means proposed for the attainment of the end. We must say then that — so far as the present scheme is before us, —it seems open to so many and serious objections that we should greatly hesitate to commend it to public patronage, or to advise those for whose especial advantage it is put forward, to avail themselves of its proffers. To begin with the beginning. There is no provision made, or even hinted at, for the protection of those ladies on their voyage. We need only glance at the dangers to which an attractive and dependent female would be exposed during a three or four month's voyage in constant companionship with such associates as some of the passengers and officers of emigrant ships too frequently are. She may fall into kind and honorable hands ; or she may have a brother or other friend to watch over her ; but she may not, — and the scheme does not even profess to meet this difficulty. But, supposing it happily passed through, in what position and under what guardianship will she rind herself on her arrival in the colony 1 Mr. Clarke tells Mr. Hawes, " It is my intention to ask the influence of the Bishop of Winchestfr with his brother the Lord Primate, that the patronage of the Ecclesiastical Authorities may be given to the Institution, so that young ladies proceeding to the colonies may be recommended to, and placed under the superintendence of the Colonial Prelates." This is as vague and hypothetical promising as ever was thrown out in a case of such importance. But admitting it all to be realized — admitting that Mr. Clarke does ask the Bishop of Winchester to ask the Archbishop of Canterbury to ask the Colonial Bishops to superintend the governess-immigrants, and that all those Right Reverend persons comply with the requests made to them respectively : — What then ? A Colonial Bishop cannet create situations of this kind, and we much fear they will not be found already existing as vacancies ready to be supplied. We have on our table while we write two journals representing the prospects in relation to this matter of two of the neighbouring colonies. For New South Wales, the Sydney Heiuld says, — " Upon a cursory perusal of these documents the scheme appears to be a very dangerous one. No doubt a few highly educated intelligent ladies, competent to act as governesses, would obtain employment ; but the demand for this class is very small, while with governesses of a less degree of education the colony is swarming. An advert.sement for a lady competent to teach English and French would have twenty answers in the course of a day. Persons without capital who come to a colony must be able to labour with their hands, or they will almost certainly be sorely disappointed. We observe that reference is made to the colonial clergy ; we are confident that all of them residing in Sydney could give instances of the most bitter distress among the class that it is proposed to send ont." The Adelaide Observer speaks yet more strongly :—": — " While we cannot but profoundly sympathise with those reduced ladies, crushed by cempetitive struggle in the United Kingdom, and barely able to eke out a preca rious subsistence by the most assiduous application of their time and talents, we still feel it our duty (speaking of this colony) to warn them, that in transterting their education and accomplishments thither, with a view to obtaining maintenance thereby, they will be bringing their commodity to a bad market. They cannot do so without disappointment to themselves, and injury to those actually in the field. The article they propose to trade in, if not in excess of the positive requirements of the colony, is decidedly in excess of the demand. However recherche their accomplishments, however diversified their educational acquirements, the bulk of them, we fear, would sink into so many ' colonial helps,' a situation which would prove equally irksome to themselves and their employers. The fact is, the colony does not need either mere ladies or mere gentlemen. We have too many of that class already." What is said hy our contemporaries of their colonies, is substantially applicable to New Zealand also. We may wish it were otherwise, but the fact is so. Although we must bring these remarks to a close, we cannot refrain from quoting one sentence from the Report of the Land and Emigration Commissioners as illustrative of their views of " what will do for the colonies" in this matter also. Messrs. Murdoch and Wood say — "It would of course be desirable that the Governesses sent out should generally be not very young ; and we have been informed that it is amongst those of maturer age that there is the greatest desire aod necessity for cmi-

grating, — the recent progress in educationt /taving in a considerable degree, extruded them from employment.'' 1 Leaving it to our colonial bachelors to ap* preciate the discreet care of the Colonization Commissioners in fixing ou ladies of " raaturer age, " to bear their part in the realization of Mr. Hyde Clarkes expectation that many of those sent out will " marry in the colonies," we must notice the clearly implied admission that the Governesses would probably often be such as had not kept pace with the piogress of knowledge, and had consequently been " extruded from employment" at home. This is an exemplification with a vengeance of the " 'tis good enough for the colonies " axiom. Whle then we cannot but approve of the primaiy ideas of the scheme — the relief of ladies in reduced circumstances, and the introduction of additional means of education for females of the higher classes in the colonies, — we must regard its practical details, so far as they have hitherto been defined, as very crude, and unlikely to work well ; and we should apprehend that the actual operation of the plan according to pteeent its frame-work, might — • like that of various other projects of sentimental but ill-informed benevolence - be found productive rather of disappointment than of prosperity to those whom it specially professes to serve.

Marriage of Lieutenant-Governor Eyre and Miss Oiimond. The marriage of Edward John Eyre, Esq., Lieutenant-Governor of the Province of New Munster, and Miss Adelaide Fanny, daughter of Captain Orkond, It. N., was solemnised in the Chapel of St. John's College, Bishops' Auckland, on Wednesday last. The Bishop of New Zealand performed the ceremony, and His Excellency Sir George Grey gave away the bride. The bridesmaids were the two Misses Pitt, Miss Hulme, Miss Cockcraft, Miss Churton, and Miss Shepherd. The interest of the occasion was heightened by the celebration of a Native Marriage, at the same time and place ; the parties being Henry Taratoa, the cook of ' St. John's College, and Emily Te Rua, one of the Rev. Mr. Kissling's scholars — a prelty and intelligent looking girl, with 3 face radiant with an unmistakeable though modest expression of deep happiness. Tha ceremony of presentation occupied some time, after which the bridal party and the invited guests — numbering probably not less than, one hundred and fifty — proceeded to the spacious Hall which was fitted up with flags and other decorations, so as to present, when the company were seated, a very picturesque and imp sing coup d'tcil. Here a substantial and elegant dejeuner was provided, in a style reflecting the highest credit on the hospitality of the ' ollege. The Hall was laid out with a cross-table at the upper end, at which the Bishop presided and Mr. and Mrs. Eyre had their places ; another at the lower end where Mrs. Selwyn took kindly charge of the Maori bride and bride -groom; and side tables extending the whole length of the apartment, where the Deacons and other gentlemen connected with the Institution were assiduous and entirely successful in their efforts to secure the comfort of their numerous guests. The singing at intervals, of a few well-chosen pieces by the College choir — European and Native— added considerably to the innocent enjoyment of the festive occasion. Several toasts were subsequently given, and cordially responded to. The principal were " The Queen" ;— " Mt. and Mrs. Eyre," proposed by Sir George Grey, in a speech in which playful humour was happily intermingled with graver matter, and responded to at some length by Mr. Eyre ;— " The Maori Bride and Bridegroom" ;— " The Governor-in-Chief'j— "The Commander-in-Chief, " responded to in a characteristic and soldierly style by the veteran General Pitt, who then proposed " The Bishop, Mrs. Selwyn, and St. John's College" ;— and " The British Navy " with which were associated the names of Captain Ormond (Mrs. Eyrk's father) and Captain. Oliver, of H. M. S. Fly. About fiv o'clock the company separated, Mr. and Mrs. Eyre leaving for the residence of the Attorney-General, where they at present remain, accompanied by many good wishes for their future welfare. We are sure we only express the general feeling when we say that Mrs. Eyre — young, almost a stranger in a strange land, and placed in a position the responsibilities of which are proportioned to its prominence — has in a very large and special degree the sincere benedictions of many who, while they anticipate that she will prove a blessing to the Colony in her performance of those duties at which Sir George Grey well though rapidly glanced, earnestly desire that her own lot may prove one of happiness—happiness realized by herself as well as conferred by her. After the European company had broken up, their places at the tables in the Hall were quickly and con amove occupied by Maories— the friends of the newly united Native pair, and of the Natives connected with the establishment. We left them in the midst of their social enjoyment, thankful to see, in their orderly and decorous demeanour, additional evidence of what Christian civilization has accomplished for the aborigines of Now Zealand. jA

New Presbyterian Church.— The subicribers to this building, which is now ready of the commencement of public services, met n the Church on Wednesday evening, when he Committee appointed to superintend its ;rection presented their report, and the management of the building and the documents connected with its settlement were transferred to Trustees, *,on whom the duties will in future devolve. Considerable discussion arose on some points ; but we are informed that the whole terminated satisfactorily to the several parties concerned. It will be seen by our advertising columns that the Church will be opened for Divine Worship on Sabbath next (to-morrow), when two of the services will be conducted by Wesleyan Ministers. We observe this announcement with pleasure ; for everything that tends to a closer union amongst Christians, who, however they may differ on comparatively minor questions, ate agreed on the great doctrines which they mutually regard as constituting the fundamental truths of religion, is especially important and desirable in the present day, when so many elements of discord and perversion are in operation. We trust that our fellow townsmen of all the Protsstant denominations will act in this spirit on the forthcoming occasion, and manifest as far as practicable their good will tovvaidj the numerous and respectable body of Free Church Presbyterians here, by attending one or more of the opening services, and lending their friendly aid towards the funds. Public Clock. — The want of a clock, accessible to the public in this town, has long been complained of ; and had it not been for the movements of the military, which (as a correspondent learnedly observes) " were somewhat horometrical," many would have been left without the means of ascertaining, with anything like correctness, "the time of day." This deficiency has been — in part, at least — supplied by the spirit and liberality of Mr. Keightley, who has erected in front of Ins premises in Queen-street a clock which we presume will indicate the hour with general accuracy, and so prove a great convenience, — so great, we should hope, as to stimulate, ere long, to a step like that which our fellowcolonists in Wellington are now taking, by erecting a tower and clock for the public benefit. Meanwhile, we are happy to acknowledge the advantage which, for the present, results from the liberality of our recently arrived townsman.