The New-Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 5, Issue 425, 11 May 1850, Page 2

The New-Zealander.

Be just and fear not : let all the ends thou aims't at, be thy Country's, Thy God's, and Truth*.

SATURDAY, MAY 11, 1850.

Auckland Sacred Harmonic Socety. The Second Public Rehearsal took place in the Hall of the Mechanics' Institute on Wednesday evening, and was in every respect even more gratifying than that to which on a former occasion, we with pleasure directed attention. The public evidently grow in their appreciation of an undertaking, the success of which will at the same time elevate the taste of our townsfolk, and furnish them, now and again, with a very agreeable mode of passing an evening in innocent relaxation from the " thick coming cares" of life. The attendance on Wednesday was so large that many were compelled to content themselves with— what in Ireland would be expressively, though perhaps blunderingly, called — " standing seats. ' ' On the part of those connected with the performance, progress was manifested not only in the introduction of new pieces into the programme, but in — what to us, who have watched with some anxiety the history of more than one similar Institution at home, seems far more important — the marked improvement in the execution of pieces which were included in the last programme. This struck us especially with reference to the grand " Hallelujah Chorus," which on the former occasion, we objected to as too ambtious an effort for so young and comparatively feeble a body ; but which, on Wednesday night, was executed with a completeness of harmony that surprised even as much as it pleased us. Other pieces have ample claims to consideration, but we are unwilliDg to particularize where an omission, however involuntary, might be interpreted as implying censure. No one, however,

will object to our singling out for especial iiot&e the young lady whose vocal powers are universally known to be one of the greatest attractions of these concerts, and who, in this performance, more than maintained her reputation for pure and effective interpretation of sacred music — especially of the music of Handel and Haydn. Although, however, we thus write in language of apparently undiscriminating eulogy, we saw, or fancied we saw, defects which — even with the resources available here — might toe remedied. We prefer, however, making our suggestions more privately to the Managers of the Society, from whom we have no doubt they will receive any attention which they may deserve. We cannot look upon the Sacred Harmonic Society with the cold glance of merely editorial criticism. We cordially ■wish it well ; and therefore we do what, in our humble judgment, is best calculated to promote its interests. Meanwhile, Mr. Outhwaite may feel justly proud that a Society which he has, with such untiring perseverance, been labouring to organize and keep organized, is now in a state of progress which must compel ihe public to see how much they are indebted to the energy and talent of the individual who has been the main agent in conferring such benefit and enjoyment on the town as this Musical Society is likely — should it go forward, as we confidently anticipate it will — to prove.

"We have before us numerous complaints respecting acts which the parties committing them would probably call only freaks, but "which our correspondents, in our opinion justly, characterize as outrages. Wrenching off knockers, obliterating door-plates, tearing off gates, carrying away steps, breaking windows, and such Hkeintelleetual and valorous performances, do not altogether comport with the usually received ideas of refinement, any more than the interruption of A lecture by a respected clergyman would comport with the general notion of common decency. Many plain, honest men would say, If this is to be gentlemanly, Save us from being gentlemen ! We refrain just now from more than adverting to these facts, and request our friends to excuse us for not publishing the names of parties whom they have reason to believe or know are concerned in the disgraceful transactions. We have heard that the' proper authorities have their <;yes upon these gentlemen (?) ; and the public, oi course, have their eyes upon those authorities. We shall, if necessary, return to this subject. Many and gross improprieties, attiiLuted to the same class of offenders, have been for some time calling for notice ; but our unwillingness to wound personal feeling has withheld us from dealing with them as perhaps we should have done. Let us hope that the present hint, which will no doubt be understood in the proper — by which we mean the high and authoritative — quarters, may save us from the necessity of being more explicit.

"We had marked for insertion, before it appeared elsewhere, a paragraph in which a London paper, calling itself the Wesley an Times, oracularly declared that " Grazing cannot be carried on in New Zealand in consequence of the noxious shrubs which prevail there, and that large importations of cattle from Sydney take place in consequence." But we should, of course, have inserted it only to show how little confidence the public at home can repose even in some papers which bear a religious character. The Wesleyan Times, however, is not truly a Wesleyan paper. 'Ihe last Wesleyan Conference deemed it necessary not only to disclaim but to denounce it. But the name of John Wesley, which has been often traded upon, even down to the association of it with a quack -doctor's pills, has been found convenient in this instance for mingled commercial and factious purposes, and is accordingly used so as to deceive the public into the idea that the paper is, in some sense, a recognized organ of the Wesleyan Connexion. Much of what it says about Methodism is just as true — and no more true — than what it s'ays'about the noxious shrubs poisoning our cattle here, and the consequent large importations of cattle —to be poisoned by these same shrubs.