The New=Zealander.

New Zealander, Volume 6, Issue 476, 6 November 1850, Page 2

The New=Zealander.

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

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 1850.

We publish in our present number the first portion of a Review having reference to the rise and progress of Missionary effort, especially (though not exclusively) in connection with the exertions of the Wesleyan Methodist Body, and more particularly to the introduction and effects of Missions in the Islands of these Seas and in Western Africa. We may premise that the title " Review" is adopted in nearly the same sense in which it is frequently used in the Quarterlies at home,— not so much as implying a detailed and critical examination of the works on which it is professedly founded, as the employment of those works as texts and bases for what might perhaps more strictly be designated an Essay on the general subject of which they treat, the writer availing himself of the materials afforded by them for the con* firmation and elucidation of his own views. The Article has been prepared in order to its publication in England, where, we understand, it will appear with the author's name,— a name not unknown or uninfluential there. In the meantime, we have been favoured with permission to insert it in our columns,— but without permission to state its authorship. It will, however, we cannot doubt, command the attention of an important class of our readers on the ground of its own intrinsic merits, irrespective of the question, from what pen it may have proceeded ; — and this will probably be more generally realized as to the future portions, than as to the somewhat introductory part which appears to-day. If we mistake not, some of the views in the forthcoming sections, will be deemed by the judicious and philanthropic reader, amongst the most expanded and philosophical which have hitherto issued from a thoughtful and cultivated mind, enriched with an unusually ample store of information respecting aboriginal races, and the effects of Christian civilization on their character and destinies. But we must not anticipate. As the operations of the Wesleyan Missionary Society occupy a very prominent place in the article, it may be right towards all parties to state, (as is indeed distinctly intimated in the opening paragraph of it) that the writer is not himself a Wesleyan. He is well known to all who are acquainted with him personally, as a decided — though, we need scarcely add — a liberal and catholic-spirited member of the Church of England.

Inquiries have from time to time lately been addressed to us respecting the state and prospects of the experiment which the Committee, appointed by a Public Meeting, had undertaken to conduct, with reference to the feasibility of the scheme for rendering the Waikato Coal generally available for use in Auckland and the neighbourhood. We postponed any fur« ther notice of the subject than we had already taken, in the almost daily expectation that the Committee would find themselves in a position to lay a Report of their proceedings before the Subscribers at large. Delays for which they were not accountable, however, prevented the presentation of such a statement until now ; but, (as will be seen by our advertising columns), a meeting of the Subscribers is called for to-morrow, to be held at noon in the Royal Exchange Hotel. We trust that all those who have manifested so much interest in the undertaking as to subscribe to its advance - ment, will prove their continued interest in it, by, if possible, attending on the occasion. In connection with the subject, we may notice one or two errors which appeared in the List of articles forwarded to the Grand Exhibition in London, as published in the Government Gazette, and also in the Southern Cross — to which journal, therefore, Mr. Connell, the able and zealous Hon. Secretary to the Committee, has forwarded corrections. It was stated in the List that certain specimens of coal

were " presented by Mr. Connell, as Secretary to the Auckland and Waikato Coal Company." To this Mr. Connell replies, " I beg to say that I am not Secretary to any Coal Company, nor am I aware of the existence of any such in Auckland." The error was not wholly unimportant, as to those living at a distance, or who, from other causes, were unacquainted with the fact, it would naturally convey the idea, that the Committee were engaged in some trading speculation in this case ; whereas, as is wellknown to our local readers, they are neither a Coal Company for commercial purposes, nor the nucleus of one. Their organization is simply that of a few gentlemen who, on the request of their fellow-townsmen, undertook to conduct an experimental investigation, from the success of which they could derive no possible benefit as committee-men, — none that woull not be participated in to the fullest extent by the community at large. Mr. Connell, in his note to our contemporary, also very properly exonerates himself from being " in any way responsible for the statement of distances given in connection with these specimens." On referring to the List, we find the statement (which he does not quote) to be,—" Specimens of Waikato Coal, distance from Auckland 35 miles, and 10 miles from Manakau Harbour, on the West Coast." Mr. Connell says — (and, as all the evidence respecting distances, means of conveyance, and other matters connected with the mine from which the coal was brought, have come into his hands officially, no man can be better qualified to give information on the point) — " The actual distance of the Kupakupa mines from Auckland is, I believe, not less than 70 miles of inland water carriage, taking into account the passage across Waikato Harbour, and about 7 miles of land carriage." Had these errors only appeared in the columns of our cont emporary, we probably should not have referred to them to-day. Mr. Connells statement in the same paper in which they were published would have been abundantly sufficient. But the official confirmation apparently given to them by their insertion in the Government Gazette— (where, we must take leave to say, inaccuracies which, however inadvertent and unintentional, are virtually misrepresentations, ought to have been mote carefully guarded against) —induces us to give the corrections the publicity of our circulation also. Indeed we intended to remark at least upon the former of them, before we knew that Mr. Connell would himself notice the matter.

We shall dismiss in a very few words the inflated prose and prosaic attempt at poetry in which the Southern Cross of yesterday assails us. We had hoped that we should not have had occasion to recur to the subject, — but our contemporary " even though vanquished " in argument and plain facts — can, not indeed " argue," but abuse " still." For example, he yesterday describes us as " reckless," — a " hollow fugitive " (before the army of the " Crusader" of the Cross we suppose), — " ridiculous," — " insolent," — " audacious," — and mnch more in the same style : — the climax of our iniquities being expressed in the very significant and characteristic charge, " We know of only one person in New Zealand who has been equally unscrupulous ; and that one is," — (the reader will anticipate who is the solitary individual in the colony whom the Editor of the Southern Cross regards as " equally" bad with ourselves) — or course, " Governor Grey." To all this we could make no corresponding reply without such a descent towards our contemporary's level as we hope we shall ever shun. Indeed, however, the Article which — (as it is in broken, as well as bad, prose), is probably designed to pass for poetry, — affords ample matter for comment. It is one of the most insane instances we have ever known of a man " living in a glass-house" yet "throwing stones," Those who understand that effusion, and who therefore are aware what a crushing recoil it might be cansed to make in the present case, will appreciate our forbearance. In this matter, at all events, we can say, " Let the galled jade wince ; — our withers are unwrung."

Mechanics' Institute. — Last evening a Lecture on " The Atmosphere" was delivered in the Hall, by Henry John Andrews, Esq. The Lecturer dwelt, in lengthened but forcible preliminary remarks, on the defensible and beneficial character of Mechanics' Institutes as an instrument of popular instruction, and on the general importance of providing education for the people. He then proceeded to his more immediate subject, and described, in language which happily combined scientific accuracy with skill in conveying knowledge in a pleasing form, the component parts of the atmosphere, illustrating their respective natures and properties, by facts and anecdotes, which were entertaining, as well as solidly instructive. He did not conclude his extended subject, but intimated his willingness to resume it on another occasion ; — an offer of which, we should think the Committee, will gladly avail themselves.

Floral and Horticultural Show on FhiI day. — We are gratified to observe that the contemplated " Floral and Horticultural Show of the Auckland and New Ulster Agricultural

and Horticultural Society," is to take place on so early a day as Friday next, and that so central and convenient a room as the Hall of the Mechanics' Institute has been obtained for the Inhibition. We anticipate a large attendance, as — independently of the desire which, we are sure, most or all of our readers feel to promote the objects of so laudable and interesting an Association — there will, judging from what we have heard, be, in the Show itself, enough to attract and well repay the attention of those who may be disposed to see what New Zealand already produces in flowers and fruits, or even of those who may merely wish to pass an hour in a very agreeable — and far from uninstructive — promenade.