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New Zealand Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 4959, 13 February 1877, Page 2

Thebe was a good deal of talk in town yesterday respecting a sermon delivered the previous evening by the Rev. Mr. Coffey, of St. Mark’s. It seems -that the reverend gentleman, of whose peculiarly puritanical views we have previously heard something, delivered a really stinging address; in which was exposed the sinfulness of men who sports and amusements, special" reference being made to the lost mortals who had encouraged or 'attended the recent race meeting. It is to be regretted that some notice of his intention to preach such a sermon did not find its way to the newspaper offices, so that the views enunciated might have received fullerpublicity. Whqa a preacher goes out of the ordinary course’to attack a particular : class in the community, or to discharge his thunderbolts against a special besetting sin, in common fairness he should invite and facilitate criticism. If his doctrine be sound and rational, he may anticipate a greater measure of success for his preaching should it be more generally diffused, while, on the other band, if his teaching be narrow-minded and Pharisaical, opportunities would be afforded the Press or the-platform of showing him where he is wrong ; and we are sure no one is more eager than Mr, Coffey to be set right. Further; we arerinfotmed, he denounced the - Rev. Mr. Pearce, of Melbourne;.the subject of a reprint article which appeared in the New Zealand Times some fortnight or three weeks ago. Surely it would have been more manly to have had his remarks on that point published. We do not care to criticise a sermon on mere hearsay evidence ; but this much may be said, the ag? has gone by when the influence of the surplice prevented men taking rational recreation. If the Rev. Mr. Coffey and the clergy gene-; rally desire to put down horseracing and kindred sports by treating them as iniquities; they mistake the spirit of the times, and will ignominiously fail; but there is much to be done in another way. ; Let these gentlemen take St; Paul’s advice and be temperate in all things, and they may by their presence and example elevate and purify their fellowmen, even in the amusements of the hour. The wise man said “ There is a time for all things and the representative's of the pulpit will best preserve their influence by endeavoring to purge our amusements of all that is vicious and debasing. This may be better done by showing their flocks how to rationally indulge in the pleasures of the world without becoming the slaves of the world.

As far as can be observed at present from the addresses of candidates, the main question at the general election proceeding in Victoria is that of Free Trade v. Protection. Until lately the freetraders have been, apathetic, but by'leagues and associations they are now endeavoring to educate the masses in the teachings of free trade. The'following remarks, which appeared in the Daily Telegraph, should open the eyes' of Victorians to the effect protection is having upon their commerce ;—“ The Sydney papers contain particulars, which have a melancholy interest for ourselves, of how the New Zealand trade is being thrust upon the free trade ~ port. The steamship, Rotorua, which' left Port Jackson on Wednesday, is described as one of the finest vessels in these waters, and, iii conjunction with sister boats, she is to run from Auckland, via the Manukau, to Taranaki, Nelson, Lyttelton, and Dunedin. Hitherto there have been no Sydney steamers in the trade with the Middle Island, but now Victoria is to be fought in her stronghold, and what is most significant of all is that the venture is made by New Zealand, and not by Sydney merchants, Otago supplying the capital. ■‘ A trade,' says the Sydney Echo, ‘is springing up between the two colonies which we hope our merchants will be clever enough to develop into magnificent proportions; ;Sev«ral ’o! the New Zealand ports are about 'equi-distant from Sydney and Melbourne.' Years ago Sydney , had the trade, and then a great deal of it was taken from us by the; southern city, partly because of the superior push of the Victorian merchants, and partly because the goldfields in the .south of New ■ Zealand were largely occupied by Victorians, who naturally opened up commercial relations with their own colony. Now the tide has turned again, and "Sydney is getting the; trade once more.’ Otago to a great extent was made what it is by Melbourne money and Mel-; , bourne enterprise, and it is • bound by, many ties to this'port. .'But. Sydney is believed now to be a cheaper market, and the very energy which we have,deyeloped.i» likely.to_be turned to account against ourselves. This is akother picture for the men who cry‘No tariff re- 1 form’ to gaze upon.”

At the meeting of College Governors held yesterday morning the time of those present was chiefly occupied by hearing read a good deal of correspondence in connection with a little affair that occurred at the College; recently; Mr. Wilson having punished (un-l justly, it is alleged, by Mr. Turnbull) two of; the latter’s children. The correspondence referred to will befound published in full in another column. By. most persons it will be considered ; a matter of some importance, and must naturally have some interest for parents of | children at the College ; because if the statements contained in Mr. Turnbull’s letter, namely, that the castigation administered was unjust, and at the same time excessively severe, , are true, then blame is attachable to the PrincL pal. As will be seen from our report of the pro-; ceedings at the meeting yesterday, ,the Governors considered that the matter demanded, immediate inquiry, and it was resolved there-: fore to hold a special meeting on Wednesday (to-morrow) for the purpose of instituting: inquiries. At the present stage it would be unfair to comment further. We hear that the Government contemplate the removal of the Patea branch of the Lands Office to Wellington, and we much regret that such a ’decision has been come to. In a district like Patea, where there is nearly a million acres of unsold land, very great inconvenience will ensue if there be not provided means, whereby intending purchasers can with facility; obtain all necessary information. The reason of the proposed change does not appear. We believe a good deal of land has been sold in the district, and the recent communication of our ,special correspondent has shown that it is a thriving settlement and, likely to prove, attractive to men of small means. But if an intending purchaser has to travel one hundred and eighty miles before a sight; of a map can be obtained or the slightest information had, it will amourit to a'positive discouragement of settlement in the district. We hope the Government will reconsider its decision in this matter.