VAN DIEMENS' LAND.

New Zealander, Volume 8, Issue 644, 16 June 1852, Page 2

VAN DIEMENS' LAND.

We received, by the Bramble, via Wellington, Van Dicmen's Land papers to the 28th of April, which the pressure of more urgent matter prevented our immediately

extracting- from. We have now additional news to the 11th of May. We are disappointed at not finding reports of the business proceedings of the Delegates of the Australasian AntiTransportation League, then in Session in Hobart Town. The Guardian — vehemently hostile to the League— states that one of the Delegates had informed him that reporters would not be admitted, and that the results of the Conference would probably first appear in the English papers. The Government organ, the Advertiser — also unfriendly— tauntingly refers to the League as " having given way under the accumulated pressure of its own enormities," and says of this Conference, " 'Who the * Palaverers' are, or what they 'palaver' about, we know not, nor have we considered them mattei's worth enquiring about." We shall probably ultimately obtain a fairer as well as a fuller account of proceedings which it is in vain for the advocates of the accursed convict system to attempt 'to pooh-pooh after this contemptuous fashion. Our chief regret is that the leading men of the League should by their own indiscretion (to use the mildest term) have given a handle to their enemies. The proposition to add merely political objects to that one and sacred object for which the League was at first understood to exist, and yet more, the rash — not to say criminal — threats of an appeal to physical force uttered and loudly cheered at the recent Anti-Transportation meeting in Sydney, and echoed with enthusiasm at Hobart Town, afforded only too much ( foundation for the attacks of their adversa- ! ries, and, if persevered in, must detach from their ranks many of their most valuable, because most conscientious and religious, supporters. The Advertiser also broadly hints that "an audit of the accounts" would lead to revelations which would " amuse and edify the public." We willingly believe that this insinuation is no more than a " weak invention of the enemy;" still it undoubtedly is desirable that even unjust suspicion should, in such a movement, be met and quashed by the publication of a satisfactory financial statement. While, however, the deliberations of the Conference were not reported there were some more public proceedings of which the recent papers contain accounts. On the arrival of Mr. C. Cowper, the President of the League, on the 7th ult, an address of welcome was presented to him and the delegates, from the Hobart Town League and another from the Trades Union. Mr. Cowper replied to both, and also delivered to Mr. T. D. Chapman, the President at Hobart Town, the address of sympathy agreed to at the Sydney Public Meeting on the 6th of April. A banquet was given in the evening, at which Mr. Cowper still was the " lion." Mr. E. Dry, Speaker of the Legislative Council, acted as Chairman. In his principal speech during the evening, Mr. Oowper referred to the means by which the transportation system should bo resisted, in terms little less inflammatory than those used at Sydney. He would prefer "moral means ; but he was prepared individually to say that, whether as & member of the League, or a member of the Legislative Council of New South' Wales, ho would endeavour to put down the clinging curse in whatever way it became necessary." Such language as this (and there was much more of it) is likely, we apprehend, to retard rather than advance the anxiously desired consummation A Public Breakfast was to be given to the President and League Delegates at Launceston, to attend which they left Hobart Town on the 9th ult. The Church of England Meeting, which, as we formerly mentioned, the Protestant Association had resolved to call for the purpose of considering certain steps taken by the Traetarian Bishop of Tasmania* was held in Hobart Town, on the 22nd of' April. The attendance is described as having been numerous and respectable. J. T. Knight, Esq., occupied the Chair. Gentlemen from Launceston were present, and took an active part in the proceedings* The speeches all breathed an ardent attachment to the Protestantism of the Church, and a fixed purpose to resist all attempts to undermine it, however they might have Bishop Nixon's sanction. An effort by the Rev. Mr. Cox to defend His Lordship's conduct, was received with lively tokens of disapprobation. Dr. Bedford moved, as an amendment on one of the resolutions, a Petition to the Queen, praying that Synods may not be held in colonial dioceses until they shall be permitted in England and Ireland, — that the relative position of the Colonial Bishop and the Clergy in charge of parishes may be assimilated to the analogous relations at home, — and that the Colonial Bishops shall not directly or indirectly have the patronage of livings or chaplaincies. This, however, was negatived, and a series of Resolutions — which we subjoin as bringing the present case of controversy fully and clearly into view — were carried " amidst loud and prolonged cheering :" — Proposed by Mr. "W. P. Weston, and seconded by Mr. R. Q. Kermode : Inasmuch as the Lord Bishop of Tasmania, in February last, rejected the Certificate given to a Candidate for Hoty Orders by the llev. A. Slackhouse, and the Rev. G. Wilkinson, by the Rev. Dr. Browne, and the Rev. A. C. Thompson, on the ground that they were unsound in their religious opinions, and therefore incapable of testifying to the soundness of the opinions of another, and that they had acted inconsistently with their allegiance to the Church of England, because with eighteen other clergymen they had signed the "Solemn Declaration of Ministers of the Church of England," in which they declared — 41 That the Holy Scripture is the sole rule of faith ; and that every individual has the right to read and interpret the Word of God by his own private judgment, with the aid of the Holy Spirit; denying tho authority of Tradition, or the right of any Church or Minister to prescribe to individuals in matters of religion in opposition to their own judgment." And inasmuch as the Bishop has refused to countersign the Testimonials of a clergyman leaving (he colony, because one of the clergymen whoso names were affixed to the Testimonials had signed the above-named " Declaration." And inasmuch as this proceeding of the Bishop is an act of persecution against those Ministers, who, in the Solemn Declaration opposed j^omani&m in the Church ; and as its direct

tendency is lo compel Ihcni to renounce one o the fundamenlal principles of he Protestant lleformalion, ami lo coerce them into an npknowlcdirnicnl of an authonly in the Church to over-rule Private Judgment, betting aside the Divine Authority of Holy Scripture as the sole llulo of Faith, and subverting religious liberty : —And inasmuch as this proceeding would render Hie whole Church subservient to the arbitrary will of the Bishop, and is calculated lo drive out the Evangelical Clergy from the Diocese, and to fill their places with Ministers of Romanizing senlimenls : — Resolved .—That a deputation consisting of R. Q. Kermode, Esq., 11. W. Null, Esq., Major Cotton, J. Barnard, Esq., Nigel Grcslcy, Esq., Captain Mackay, J. D. Lorh, Esq., Rev. Dr. Fry, Rev. J. G. Medland, Rev. A. C. Slackhouso, and Rev. W. R. Rennet!, bo appointed to wait upon the Bishop of the Diocese, and lo request him, in the name of this meeting, lo withdraw his condemnation of the Clergy. Proposed by the Rev. A. Stackhousc, and seconded by Mr. W. Jleniy : ll.— lnasmuch as (he Bishop of Tasmania in his last charge and elsewhere, has u protected" against the decision given by the Privy Council in the case of Mr. Gorhaiu, whose opinions he terms a heresy, and refuses to admit to Holy Orders any candidate of similar sentiments, not holding the doctiincof baptismal regeneration, —that is, that all children baplbcd arc necessarily regenerated. And inasmuch as in lie opinion of this meeting Mich resolution ol the Bishop is a denial of the law of the Church of England, tending lo separate the Church in this colony from the mother Church in England. And inasmuch as this determination of the Bishop, by his sole authority excludes from the church of this colony ministers holding evangelical sentiments, and therefore narrows the terms of communion in the Church, and is highly detrimental to the cause of true religion :— Resolved : — That the before-named deputation be instructed to request the Bishop in the name of this Meeting to retract his proles! against the decision of the Privy Council, and his resolution to exclude ministers not holding the doctrine of Baptismal Regeneration. Proposed by the Rev. Dr. Browne, seconded by Mr. Loch :—: — HI. — Inasmuch as in Ihe " Solemn Declaration," above twenty Clergjinen in fhis Colony h,i\e shown that (he books called " Steps lo the Altar, or Spiritual Communion," and " Thcophilus Anglicanus," inculcate some dangerous errors and corrupt practices of the Church oi Rome : And inasmuch as this Meeting fully concurs with the statement of the Ministers in the "Solemn Declaration;" and deeply regrets thai the Bishop of this Diocese should have expressed his judgment of the above-named books in the following words, ' I cannot regard, <Sc," identified with (he true teaching of the Church o; England: and that under his direction uTheophilus Anglicanus" has been prescribed te Candidates for Holy Orders, and is taught t( Students in Divinity at the College :— Resolved : — That Hie before-named Dupulalion be instructed to request the Bishop, in tin name of this meeting, lo piohihil Ihe use, a the College, of the book called " Theophilu: Anglicanus." Proposed by Mr. Barnard seconded t by tin Rev. Dr. Fry : IV. — Whereas the Protestant Defence Association has been formed in England, (o oppose the alarming progress of Romanizing (carhim proceedings - A*«*l- J ft I lu>i<*>aB, 4«-4liv> opluioi of this Meeting, the condition of the Churcl; of England in this colony is such as to fill Uk minds of its Evangelical members Avilh deq apprehension of the danger lo which the principles of the Protestant Reformation are exposed from the influence and prevalence of Roman izing Ministers and teaching :—: — Resolved — That the Protestant Association c this colony, be constituted a Society on th principle of the Protestant Defence Associalio; of England, thai Ihe Secretaries be requested I communicate with the Home Society, for th furtherance of its objects, and that (hefollowin Committee of the Protestant Association, b the Committee of the Society now constituted with power lo add lo their number :—: — Nigel Gresley, S. Jeffrey, 11, W. Nutt, Captaii Michael Fenlon, B. Harvey, G. Scotl, J. D Mackay, T. Lempriere, Rev. Dr. Fry, Rev W. R. Bennett, E. P. Bedford, Esq., Thoma Dobson, Esq., B. Berlhon, Rev. J. Norman R. Q. Kermode, Rev. J. Mason, T. J. Knight Major 11. C. Cotton, 3. G. Francis, 11. Priaulx James Barnard, Win. Sorell, G. Lovell, am HI. Steel, Esqrs. A project had been started for the esta blishment of Steam Communication be tween the port of Hobart Town and tin neighbouring colonies, especially Por Phillip, — for which, it was stated, no lesi than eighty-six vessels had sailed withir the preceding three or four months. At i meeting, on the 20th of April, which wai numerously attended by influential merchants and others, a Committee was ap^ pointed to take immediate steps for the promotion of the object. A Company was to be formed, and it was proposed to send to England at once for a steamer of 30C horse power to ply between Hobart Town and Melbourne. The Postal accommodation in Hobart Town had been greatly improved by the establishment of a number of receivinghouses, and an arrangement that the lettercarriers shall perambulate their beats every evening (Sunday excepted), ringing bell?, in order to collect letters and newspapers. The latest papers give no additional information respecting the Van Diemcn's Land « Gold Field.'^ His Excellency the Lioutenant-Govcrnor presided at the Thirty -second Annual Meeting of the Van Diemens' Land Auxiliary Bible Society, which was held in Hobart Town on the 4th ult. Wheat had risen in the Hobarfc Town market. On the 10th of May it was from 7s. to 7s. 3d. por bushel ; Flour, £20 per ton. Potatoes sold at £4 LOs. to £5 per ton : Onions, £10 to £12. At Launceston, the grain and flour Market was unsettled. Wheat, ss. Gd. to (k; x>T? Ji° Ur ' £l 7 to £18 5 Potatoes, £4 to £4 10s. ; Onions, not much in demand, at 15s. per cwt. ; Bread, lOd. per 21b. xr -p/" 61 '* 3 had b°°n largo shipments of van Diemcn's Land produce to other colonies, especially of fruit, by which the growers on the East and West Tamar had realized considerable profit,- Apples finding ready sale at Gs. per bushel, and Pears, in ma yy instances, selling for 12s. The Convwau Uironick, referring to the gains to be obtained from agriculture and horticulture, truly observes, « This is the most certain way to dig up gold in this colony, without tiie privations incident to mining operalions, rt l

Valedictory Sukviui:. — On Monday evening a Valedictory Service was held in the Presbyterian Church, on the occasion of the intended departure of the Rev. John Inglis for his appointed field of Missionary labour at the New Ilcbzides. The service was conducted by the Rev. Thomtih Buddie, who delivered an appropriate address, founded on St. Paul's leave-taking of the Ephcsian Church. Mr. Tnglis also addressedthc congregation, acknowledging the affection with winch he had been treated, dwelling upon the gratifying^ harmony he found existing amongst Christians of different denominations, and stating several particulars respecting the Islands to which lie is proceeding. The Rev. Messrs. Fletcher, M'Donahl, Reid, J lamer, and Ward, also took part in the devotional services. —Wo understand that a few evenings since, at a meeting presided over by the Mayor, a sum of sixty sovereigns was presented to Mr. Jnglis, subscribed by members of the I'resbyterian Church here as a faicwell gift, and an evidence of their appreciation of his personal and ministerial worth : we have pleasure in recording this fact, which is highly creditable both to the donors and to the general esteemed recipient of the present.