NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Wednesday, August 4, 1852.

New Zealand Spectator and Cook's Strait Guardian, Volume VIII, Issue 731, 4 August 1852, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND SPECTATOR AND Cook's Strait Guardian. Wednesday, August 4, 1852.

IWe learn by the latest English papers that Mr. Gladstone obtained leave in I Parliament to bring in a bill to relieve | bishops, clergy, and laity, in the colonies, !in communion with the Church of Englland, from legal doubts or disabilities j affecting the management of their church affairs. This induces us to bring again the subject of a church constitution before our readers. The question has already received considerable attention, not only in this colony, but in several of the adjacent colonies. No result, however, of a practical nature seems as yet to have followed from the steps which have been taken. While all are agreed as to the desirableness of the object to be attained, there has hitherto appeared but little unanimity as to the means which should be employed for the purpose of attaining it. The Bishop of Sydney has expressed one view, the Bishop of Newcastle another, and the Bishop of New Zealand a third. This has been the case also in New Zealand ; the members of the church having expressed their general approval of the plan proposed ; but each particular settlement has had its own peculiar mode of procedure, and suggested a different course to be pursued. Now we may not be able to influence other colonies, or to gain their co-operation ; indeed the distance separating us from them precludes much hope of this. Still we need not despair of uniting all the settlements in New Zealand in one consistent course of action towards the attainment of that which all are unanimous in thinking highly essential to the well-being of the church iere, and which it cannot be supposed the mother country could refuse to grant. We call the attention of our readers to this subject, because many may imagine that as Mr. Gladstone is proceeding with it in the House of Commons there is now no longer any occasion for us to perplex ourselves with deciding whether an act s of the Colonial Legislature be sufficient, or whether the subject should be referred to Parliament, or to the Queen, or, in short, of deciding any of the questions relating to this subject which have been mooted here. Now we hope that Mr. Gladstone's proceedings will not engender any apathy of this kind. We do not know what may be the fate of Mr. Gladstone's bill ; but we do know that there are strong prejudices enlisted against it : its novelty- alone will raise up against it plenty of opponents. But should there be a prospect of its being carried through both Houses of Parliament, ought that to render the members of the church supine, or induce them to relax their exertions ? We perceive by the terms of the motion that it will be of a general character, not prescribing for us, or any other colony a constitution, but giving us the power of framing such an one as will suit our peculiar wants. Whether, therefore, Mr. Gladstone's bill become law or not, we conceive that the course to be pursued by members of the church should be the same, that is, they should strenuously exert themselves to promote the accomplishment of that which they have in view ; not so much, perhaps, at first to ascertain clearly what would be the best mode of obtaining for the 'church that which is the inherent right of all bodies who have no objects at variance with the well- being of the state, and which, therefore, the state can hardly refuse, but to arrive at a mutual understanding as to the principles on which the constitution should be based, and the 'laws and regulations, at least the more important ones, which they would really wish to have in force. Let these be, once well defined, let church members be well agreed as to these, and then they will be prepared to act as circumstances may require.

I The practical difficulty which now prei sents itself, is — how are the members of ! "the church, scattered the country in the various settlements, to come to any ' agreement on this subject? Meetings haye been held, resolutions have been passed, corresponding committees have been formed, and various other steps taken 3 but what has been the result? We will not say that there has been none, for the attention of numbers has been drawn to the consideration of the subject for the first time ; and good cannot but flow from this. But we may still ask, — what has been the practical result ? Are the church members agreed as to what they want? We answer no; and the reason simply is that the subject has not yet received from church members, scattered as they are over the country, that attention which it requires. There is a great object to be obtained by churchmen, an object whose magnitude, is not easily estimated, it is no less than the framing of the constitution of a church which may hope to extend its light and its- blessings into future generations ; and let it be borne in mind that such a constitution is essential to the existence of a church, if it is to exercise its proper and legitimate functions. We cannot here enlarge upon this part of the subject ; to have hinted at it will be sufficient ; it is, in fact,- disputed or denied by none. But, when was any great object ever attained without exertion, "and toil, and self-denial? What we suggest therefore is, and we do it advisedly, that some measures be adopt-, ed for the purpose of ascertaining the opinions of all the members of the church in New Zealand, that there may be an unanimous expression of opinion; and when this is once obtained, the rest becomes comparatively easy. The Bishop, it is true, has issued ( a pastoral letter, calling upon church members to unite in a" petition embodying his lordship's suggestions ; but it is doubtful whether church members are prepared to agree, without further discussion, to all these; it is almost certain that they are not. But surely no difference as to details should prevent cordial co-operation in endeavouring to obtain what all are agreed is an indispensable object. We therefore jstrongly advise that the church members in the various settlements should meet and present petitions to the Bishop, requesting his lordship to authorize the members of. the church, both clerical and lay, to send their respective delegates to a central place where they may discuss the various subjects connected with this question, and sketch the outlines of such a constitution as they would wish to have ; this might subsequently be submitted to the clergy and laity at large for their approval. Such a course would doubtless entail trouble and inconvenience to those who might act as delegates. But where a great object is to be gained, these must be disregarded. We feel assured men would be found to undertake the task. This subject has hitherto met with no opposition : all have approved. Nevertheless, it seems in danger of 'being lost sight of. We hope it -may not be said of this — Laudatur et algeU

The Auckland papers, which are to the 1 9th ult., contain a variety of useful local matter. In the several addresses to the electors the writers exhibit a fair average of talent, which it is to be hoped the successful candidates for legislative distinction will use to good purpose in the approaching senate. The 30th of the present month (August) is named for the day of nomination, and great care appears to have been taken to enrol all eligible parties on the electoral list. Several of the districts will be spiritedly contested, and there seems to be a considerable display of energy evinced on the engrossing topic of the 'day by the settlers generally. A land association was about being established at Auckland.

The arrival of trie cutter Kawai from New Plymouth, on Saturday evening, has placed us in possession of Taranaki, Auckland, Sydney, Cape of Good Hope, and English intelligence. The brig Raven, which arrived at Auckland from Sydney, furnishes dates from the latter place to the ]st July. And the barque Cresswell, Captain Williams, which arrived at NewPlymouth from Auckland on the 25th July, brought on files of colonial papers, which, together with her mail, were placed on board, and came to hand by the Kawai. We have furnished in to-day's Spectator as complete -a summary as our present space will admit. .The English news, vid Sydney and Auckland, is two days later than that received by the Cresswell, namely, to the 6th March. The Cape news is to the 13th April. Major-Ge-neral Gathcart, the new Governor-in-Chief, had arrived, '.and forthwith proceeded to the frontier.-- Major-General Sir Harry Smith had taken an affectionate l^ave of his soldiers, and quitted the scene of his disasters. On the

whole, things appeav to have now a more promising aspect; but the "great question— how are the Kafirs to be managed for the future?— remains unsolved. A few years' truce, to be - followed by a protracted and inglorious war, may certainly be anticipated, if old systems of coercion be continued. A great and just mind and a cool head is indispensably requisite for the government and guardianship of savage tribes.— ln Lord Cathcart, the distracted Cape colonists believe they can descry the coming man : that he may turn out all they desire is our earnest wish ; and we trust, ere lon«, to be able to announce in our columns the "lad news, that all differences between the races have been adjusted— estimating, as we in New Zealand do, from long continued experience, ,the blessedness of such a desirable consummation. And we hope that the future of South Africa will be as promising and peaceful as it has hitherto been dark and foreboding.

The barque Cresswell, Capt. Williams, -arrived' at Auckland on the 30th June from London, after a passage of 118 days With characteristic despatch, her passengers and cargo were discharged by the 31st 'July, on which day she sailed for Taranaki, where she arrived on the 25th, and in a very short space of time landed 92 tons of goods. The passage throughout is described, in a private letter, as having been exceedingly .pleasant — not a murmur being heard — Capt. Williams securing the best wishes of all on board for his health and happiness. The greater part of her passengers remained at Auckland, only three proceeding to New Plymouth. After unloading, the Cresswell returns to Auckland to take in the cargo of the William Hyde for London.

In the' Auckland newspapers we have^but a meagre account of the Jbarque Gwalior. No reason is assigned for the almost incredible length 'of her passage — 186 days ; and we are merely led to believe that blame is to be attached somewhere from proceedings taken by the seamen-before the Eesident Magistrate.

We would call attention to the subjoined total of imports and exports of New Zealand produce belonging respectively to Auckland and Wellington during the quarter ended the 30th June, so as to shewthe relative progress of the two settlements :—: —

In the Government Gazette of 29th ult. is a statement of the immigration and emigration connected with Port Nicholson during the quarter ended the 30th June. From it we find that emigration preponderates to some extent ; but it ought to be borne in mind that many of those who left had come from the smaller settlements to ship for the Australian gold .fields; and also, that the majority of settlers belonging to Wellington have left theirwives and-families behind, intending to return in a few months with tlie fruit of their industry. It must not be inferred that our po pulation is a moving one, as the fact is the very reverse, — few settlements possessing a more settled or contented population than this.

The following is a su lnmary of the Government Gazette of Thursday last, 29th ult. :— A Proclamation from_ the Governor-in-Chief appointing -additional Polling places for the " Danedin Country District," Otago, under the Provincial Councils Ordinance. - In the Estate of 'William Brown, manner, deceased intestate, creditors are to come in and prove their debts before R. R. Strang, Esq., on or before the 14th day of October next. Eighty- seven deeds of grants under purchase from the New Zealand Company, for the Nelson District, and ten deeds of Grants under purchase from the Crown, {or the same district, are notified as being ready.for delivery. Sixty-eight persons arrived at, and thirty-five departed from Port Victoria during the quarter ending June 30. Twenty- three persons arrived at, and one hundred and forty-eight departed from Port Nicholson, during the quarter ending June 30. j New Zealand produce to the Value of £7,810 12 0 was imported coastwise into Wellington, during the quarter ending June 30. New Zealand produce to the value of £26,436 15 0 was exported from Wellington during the quarter ending June 30. Sixty-three vessels of 5,162 tons arrived in Port Nicholson, foreign and coastwise, during the quarter ending June 30, 1851 ; and seventysix vessels of 5,035 tons, during the quarter ending June 30, 1852. Fifty-nine vessels, of 5,736 tons, departed from Port Nicholson, foreign and coastwise, during the quarter ending June 30th 1851, and seventy-five vessels, of 5,320 tons, during the quarter ending June 30th, 1852, shewing an increase of thirteen vessels over the .June quarter of 1851, in arrivals, arid an increase of six vessels in the departures. A list is given of 32 patients admitted into the Wanganui Hospital during the quarter ending June 30, with the particular disease and the result effected in each case. Of the' above nine are Europeans, and the remainder, of the aboriginal race. A return is also given of 96 cases treated as out-door patients at the Wanganui Hospital, during the quarter ending June 30; of this number 69 were natives and 27 Europeans.

The Sea jMarrived yesterday, Having brought on the mail -of the Samarang, which entered Pojt Victoria on the 31st July. The news by this opportunity extends to the latter end of March s but having devoted so much room to interesting matter received by othf.r arrivals, we are under the necessity of being obliged to postpone it till next number.

Two men have been engaged the last day or two searching the beach at the head of the bay for the body of Hansborough, formerly third mate* of the barque Slag, who was .unfortunately drowned on Friday last. The cap. of the deceased was picked up on Sunday on the rocks

near Oriental Bay; 'but we, regret to report that the - search for the remains has' proved ineffectual.

Auckland Imports .£8,852 10 0 Wellington Do „ 7,810 12 0 Balance in,favour of Auckland .. £1,041 18 0 Wellington Exports £26,436 15 0 Auckland Do. ...* 14,234 0 0 Balance in favour of Wellington £12,202 15 0