WAIAPU.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume II, Issue 205, 16 September 1874, Page 2

WAIAPU.

(from our own correspondent.)

September 10. Both the Church of England and the Established Church of Scotland have lately sought the British Parliament, through their leaders and representatives there, for power to carry out important charges urgently needed. The Church of England is afflicted by the breaking out of spiritual disease of a dangerous character in many of her Parishes, and seeks a speedy remedy to stay the plague which threatens to destroy her faith and impair her usefulness. This disease is well-known by the designation of Ritualism. The Church of Scotland is asking for the removal of the decayed branch of patronage, which does not touch her doctrines, but which materially hinders her spiritual prosperity, and has been already weakened and almost severed by the action of enlightened thought within her pale. Meanwhile some who looked on with unfeigned profession of concern for the welfare of these Churches, as branches of the Church of Christ, regard their appeals to the Parliament as new reasons for their entire disestablishment. The Archbishop of Canterbury, with a view to stop Ritualism, introduced a means —“The Public Worship Regulation Bill,” —which the House of Lords has passed; but which, it is doubtful, the House of Commons will sanction. This measure is designed to accomplish three improvements in the government of the Church of England, namely to make the enforcement of Ecclesiastical law in cases of discipline less expensive; to make it more direct and speedy; and to make each decision a rule for similar cases, so as to prevent as far as possible, renewed litigation on the same point. It proposes to establish an Ecclesiastical tribunal -in every Diocese for the adjudication of such matters. If this tribunal condemns the practice complained of, it is to be disallowed at once; but the clergymen thus restrained may appeal to the primate. For the necessity of some new effort for preservation of the faith of the Church, the Archbishop gave startling proof in the Upper House. Whether this can be done by the Archbishop’s Bill, which would enable the Church of England in the mother country to do what the Church of England in the Australian and New Zealand Colonies — being happily free from trammels of an establishment —has already done in her Synods, that is-, to set up a tribunal which can deal promptly with offences against doctrine worship, or morals, remains to be seen. The Bill is said to be supported by the Government; and the leader of the Opposition, the late Premier has spoken against it as a dangerous measure. It is not likely, however, that the political parties in the House of Commons will, on a question of Church legislation, rank thertiselves under their respective leaders. Many- supporters of the Government.will probably oppose this bill, and among Mr. Gladstone’s political adherents many may be found voting contrary to his views on this question. In the Church it meets most indignant opposition. The Scottish Patronage Bill, though also opposed by the late Premier, somewhat inconsistently after the part he has acted in the advancement of the work of disestablishment, and freedom of Ecclesiastical action from secular interference, is not likely to be resisted either in the House of Commons or in the Church, with anything like the vehemence evoked against the Archbishop’s Bill because it deals with a matter less directly touching the innermost shrine of the Church. The recollection of the effect which patronage had, in 1843, produced in rending the Church asunder, together with the hopes of reunion lately declared in earnest expression by leadingmembers of the Established Church, will go far to make even those who are attached to Patronage willing to concede a great deal for the good of Scotland. It may, therefore, be fairly concluded that the great controversy which since 1711, the year in which the Patronage Act was passed, agitated this Church, and which has originated various secessions from it, is now approaching a decisive settlement. This bill confers upon every separate congregation in that communion the right to choose its own minister.

The weather being favorable no less than four coasting vessels called here and at Awanui within the last fortnight, to land and receive cargo : and our local traders have been consequently kept unusually busy, for several days, in receiving supplies and shipping produce for Auckland. The Pretty Jane having ceased calling at Awanui the whole of the trade of the district is now carried on by sailing craft.

The punt not having been yet placed on the Waiapu the difficulty in the way of crossing that stream is still as great as ever. A punt has been constructed for the ferry, some two months ago, but it would appear that the native who undertook toperform the duties of ferry-man objects to use it on the ground of its not being capacious enough. The punt seems, indeed, too small for the work for which it was designed; and whether this is the fault of the builder or that of some one else, I know not. Probably the matter will bo settled one way or another when Mr. Winter pays us his next visit.