CORRESPONDENCE

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIII, Issue 241, 17 February 1911, Page 8

CORRESPONDENCE

COLONIAL BISHOPS. To the Editor. Sir, —Among the many excellent and well-thought-out leading articles appearing in your columns from time to time, perhaps few of tliom supplied so much food for reflection as those on colonial bishops. Knowing as you do the mental attitude of thinking men towards the question, one is struck with the apparent respect and courtesy shown by colonial newspapers to the leads of the Church. It must, therefore, be very disappointing to you to find an intelligent churchman taking exception to anything you have written. No one ever questions the good intentions of those men. but transplanted as they all are from an artificial church hot-bed, impressed with the importance of outward forms and ceremonies, their minds stored up not with scientific and general knowledge of men and books, hut obscured with the mists of myth and dogma, no wonder they feel disappointed and unhappy amongst people accustomed to the free use of air in the lungs and healthy in mind and body. Let me mention one case. A few weeks ago! Bishop Wilson lectured in Christchurchl on mission work in the South Seas. He| said the natives (Solomon Islanders)! preached witchcraft, that they could I change stones into money, etc. The audience laughed. ; 'Do not laugh, my dear friends." the Bishop said, sorrowfully. "These people can do most wonderful miracles, but they are done l through the agency of the devil." One I may be pardoned 'for saying that men' who can believe in this* sort of thill" may be useful at Home, but they are out of place in the colonies.—l am, etc., • MAKUTIA I

TIIE PETROLEUM WORKS. To the Editor. ■Sir—Taking advantage of the excursion of the Norfolk and Durham school to the harbor on Friday last, I and a number of residents from the above districts paid a visit to the petroleum works. We were all surprised and pleased to see the progress that had been made and wish to thank the official in charge for hi.s kindness and courtesy in showing us round. The burning of'the oil and gas in (lie boiler furnace was really instructive, and in writing thus I wish to draw the attention of "country residents when on a visit to New Plymouth that they should not let a trip to the works pass by.—l am, etc., JOE B. SIMPSOX. Durham Road, 12/2/11.