CORRESPONDENCE JOHN PALMERSTON.

Press, Volume I, Issue 21, 12 October 1861, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE

JOHN PALMERSTON.

Communications intended for insertion must bo accompanied by the name of the writer.

"Oh Tcmpora, Oh Mores." To the Editor of ' The Press.' Sir, —Pray give us your assistance to remedy the unfortunate fix in which we are now placed in reference to Church matters at Kaiapoi, or rather the way in which our bo called Curate and Church-warden wish to over-ride the unfortunate Parishioners. What I am about to mention, incredible though it may appear, is still the fact. A month or. so ago,, a Church meeting was held here, by the sanction of the Bishop, to know whether the Parishioners would havo one or two Churches. By tho instructions of the Archdeacon, given in a letter addressed to the Church-wardens, it was expressly stated, that whatever decision was come to should be final, and thereby set at rest the unseemly disputes going on in Church matters. By a majority at that meeting, it was resolved that there should be a central Vhurcli, and that the site should be on the Colkge Property on the Inland. That resolution was submitted to the Standing Commission of the Synod, and confirmed, and sanctioned by that body. A month after a notice was given in Church that a meeting was to take place on Monday last, to receive through the Archdeacon the decision of the Standing Commission —observe tho dodge of tin's proceeding—why not send it by letter to the Church-wardens, and thereby avoid any further discussion on the matter. Because it did not suit the views of our Curate, it apjteara, who was determined, if possible, to set it aside. When the time arrived the Venerable Archdeacon read a paper, saying that the Standing Commission agreed to tho proposal of erecting the central Church near the School. Now in all common sense, and according to tho usage of all public assemblies, the business was of course at an end. The meeting was called only for the purpose of hearing the decision ; tin; notice calling it was only to that effect and in so many words. But what do you suppose our curate chairman did ? Why, in the face of several protesting against it, he actually allowed and encouraged Ins churchwarden to propose a resolution, completely upsetting every thing done before. Now, sir, observe the illegality and absurdity of such a proceeding. They all knew of course that it could not stand, and what object the clergyman in the chair could have, seems to bo a mystery, unless he wiehed to keep up to the last moment disunion and discord amongst his ilock. What can be expected if we have such a curate, and if such is the care that we are to have over our souls and church matters? The proceedings must go before the bishop, who must be sufficiently well acquainted with the proceedings of all public meetings, to know that no business can be brought forward, unless due notice has been given at the time of calling the meeting. Ho therefore has clearly only one course to pursue, and that is, to confirm the resolution carried by a majority at a duly convened meeting, and sanctioned by the Standing Commission. His Lordship cannot allow himself to be dictated to, in the manner we arc obliged to submit to. I may observe that a word was never allowed to transpire that any business wan to be brought forward. In fact several persons weiv distinctly told that none covhl, as the meeting was only for the one object of receiving what everyone supposed was to b>the ultimatum, or the final solution of our Church differences. The first meeting was called in fact for the express purj>os<> of deciding by a majority the long vexed question. The pn>vious meeting was publicly advertised, when it was supposed that the curate and churchwardens could carry their jMjint. When they found themselves in a minority they thought •■.<!- vertising was too expensive a proceeding for the parish funds. It was, in short, more expedient to keep the matter snug and. quiet, and get their own nominees present to endeavour to carry it all their own way. Yours. &c, DIOGENES. Kaiapoi, October .'lrd, ISO!.

To the Editor of ' The Press. , Sib,—Aβ two of the Government passengers on board the Royal Stuart, of London, we beg leave through you, to acknowledge with gratitude the kind treatment we have received since the day we got on board, up to this day. »Ye started from Gravesend on the 3rd day of July, and we were landed in Lyttelton on the Btn day of October. We had a very favourable passage all the way; generally a favourable wind, an<i not many rough days. The 4th and sth daysof September were the two stormiest day* we were moat fortunate in having such a careful, judicious, and humane gentleman, as Cornwal, and sober and orderly officers and and crew. We had a sufficient allowance of wholesome food, and enjoyed good health. Ihere was only one death, that of a young girl from consumption. We had no sickness on board more than slight colds, and we had six births. We have received great kindness from the agents, )>oth at Lyttelton and here, and we beg leave to tender our grateful thanks to the Provincial Government for their kindness, as we are m duty bound. Several of the immigrants are already engaged at remunerative wages, and our prospects are fair enough. We have not had sutncienttime to form anything like a correct opinion of the conntrv, but the soil presents a rich appearance round this district. I am, Sir, Yours most obediently, JAMES GRANT, DONALD GRANT, Constables on board ship Royal Stuart. Christchurch, Oct. 11, 1861.

Aie— "John Highlandman." An Irish Lord my John was born, Both Dulness and Done he held in scorn, But lie stood for Cambridge at twenty-one, My gallant, gay, Johk Palmerston ; Sing hey, my brisk John Palmerstox ! Sing ho, my blithe John Palmerton ! Let Tory and Radical own ihey've none To compare with my jaunty John Palmerston. Thanks to tact and temper, and taste for the trade, For twenty years in office he stayed, Let who would be Premier, it seemed all one, So his Sec. at War was John Palmerston. Sing hey, &c. There he did his work, for chief after chief, Till the Tory party it came to grief; And the Treasury Bench when the Whigs they won, Who was Foreign Sec. but John Palmerston. Sing hey, &c Since then years thirty and one he's seen, But no mark they've left on thie evergreen; Still the first in his place when Debate's begun, And the last to leave it is Palmerston, Sing hey, &c With his hat o'er his eyes, and hie nose in the air So jaunty, and genial and debonairTalk at him— to him— against him—none Can take a rise out of Palmerston. Sing hey, &c. And suppose hie parish register say He's seventy-seven, if he's a day ; What's that, if you're still all tire and fun, Like Methuselah or John Palmerston ? Sing hey, &c. How to marshal a House of Commons' fight, How to punish Dizzy or counter Bright, How Deputations ought to be done, Who can teach so well as John Palmerston ? Sing hey, etc. Agricultural meetings he holds by the ears, Through their facings puts Hampshire Volunteers, Or with Rowcliffe, takes up the gloves for fun, This elderly evergreen, Palmerston. Sing hey, &c He'll resist the gale, or he'll bow to the storm— He'll patronise Bright or he'll chaff Reform,— Make a shaft'xbury Bishop, or poke his fun At original Sin, will John Palmerston. Sing hey, &C. Of the Cinque-Ports Warden he's made at last, And fears of invasion aside are cast: There's never a Mounsecr son of a gun Can come over you, my John Palmerston. Sing hey, Sec. Since the days of the Patriarchs ne'er was seen A head so grey with a heart so green; And when, if ever, his day is done, There'll be tears from * Punch' for John Palmerstou. Sing hey, &c 'Punch.