ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 548, 16 July 1851, Page 2

ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the Nlw-Zealandeu. Sir, — There are no douht many others besideB myself who have been anxiously awaiting some explanation of the late forcible baptism of one of our native conTeits in the Government hospital at Auckland. For the benevolent intention of the Government in opening this Institution, I, with my 'fellow-labourers, have felt sincerely thankful } I hare repeatedly urged my people to avail themselves of its advantages. When we consign a patient, however, to the care of that establishment, we presume that its shelter shall not be converted into a means for proselytism, and that the patients shall be protected from treatment of which, in the extremity of sickness, they may have no knowledge, — and to which they have given no consent, — a treatment which your correspondent not very incorrectly designated as • ipligious persecution. i>ui the faithful watchfulness of your correspondent I, as a Protestant, feel sincerely thankful. He certainly has no reason to be ashamed of the step he has tnkf n ; and \\ hoever he be, or to whatever demonmation he may belong, he will not, I hope, discontinue to witch against the encioacbments of a church which would " compass sea and land to make one pro&elyte." I remain, Sir, yours, &c, A CoUKTRY Cni'llCH MISSfONARt. [We have no "desire now to re-open the subject to which our correspondent refers ; but as he, and several others, naturally wish to know whether any steps were taken in the case stated in our columns some weeks since by " A Minister of One of the Denomination 0 ," we feel bound to afford such information as we lrive been able to obtain. The Local Government caused some inquiry into the facts to bs instituted ; and, although no result of that inquiry has been oflicially given to the public, we believe we are correct in staling that instructions have been issued to the Medical Officers of the Hospital calculated to prevent any undue interference in future with the teligion of the Patients; and that, as one means towards this end, it has been directed that a caid on which the religious profession of the patient is legibly written shall be placed at the head of each bed, so as to prevent any mistake. It may not be w holly uninteresting to our correspondent to know that Roka (the Native girl whose baptism by Bishop Poiipallii r formed the subject of investigation J ha* since died. — Ed. IV. Z.

To tbe Editor of the New-Zealandeh. Sm Nat in m el:— Lews Deo bone intclligo. lloloi'i n n e« :— Bone ? —bone for bene : Priscian a little sci atch'd; 'twill scivc. L.ye's Labours Lost.

Sin,— Will you be good enough to inform "Anglicus" that he is welcome to lecture me as long as be pleases, provided only that he abstain from bad Lalin, which is affronting to the public, and particularly painful to my own feelings. •' Homo sum, nil humanum a ma alienum puto." Fie ! Fie ! and in so very trite a quotation ! Metoikos.