CORRESPONDENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume I, Issue 37, 20 September 1851, Page 5

CORRESPONDENCE.

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times

Sir, —The Wellington Spectator of the 6tli September, in criticising- the public meeting at Lyttelton on the 14th August, publishes the following sentence.

" The opinion of Mr. G-odley seems to be reechoed by Mr. Fitzgerald, who refers very confidently to the Charter and Koyal Instructions to prove that the Civil List of the new Province must be QQOQI. On referring to the Charter, and the act of Parliament in pursuance of which the Charter was issued, it was stated that the Crown shall have the power of reserving from the revenues of any separate Province for the purposes of a Civil List " such sums of money as shall not exceed £6000." The amount may be less than £6000 but must not exceed it. It is a pity that those gentlemen who take upon themselves the office of public instructors, do not take care to be better informed on subjects on which they are prepared to speak so confidently."

I should not of course wish to occupy your valuable space by noticing any of the* mere opinions of that journal—but as this is a matter of fact, in which I am stated to have misquoted documents, 1 shall be obliged if you will print the following.

Extract from the Charter of 1846, yrinted at page 35, in the " Ordinances of New Zealand," &c, published by authority.

" 7: And whereas it is by the said recited Act further enacted that it shall be lawful for us by any such letters patent as first aforesaid to appropriate and set apart from and out of the revenues of any such separate provinces as aforesaid, by way of Civil List, for the maintenance of the administration of justice, and the principal offices of the Civil Crovernment, such sums of money as shall not exceed 6000/. by the year, in any one of the said sepa-

rate governments. "N"ow Therefore in pursuance of the said Act. and in exercise of the powers thereby vested in us, we do hereby appropriate and set apart from, and out of the revenue of each of the said separate provinces respectively, by way of Civil list, for the purposes last aforesaid, the sum of 6000?. in each of the said governments respectively, which said several sums of 60001. shall, in each of the said governments respectively, be appropriated and applied, and accounted for in the manner and form for that purpose appointed and prescribed in and by the said Institutions hereidbefore mentioned.'* c Your readers will now judge whether I /misquoted documents for the sake of supporting an argument.

I have, however, been informed that it is held by some persons that the clause in the Charter just quoted refers only to the provinces of New Ulster and New Minister into which New Zealand is divided by the 3rd Clause of the same Charter: and does not refer to any new provinces into which those provinces may be divided.

I shall be very glad to find that it is so, and that a Civil List of £6000 a year is not to be reserved in the province of Canterbury. But there is one fatal objection to this interpretation of the Clause. The Constitutional act of 1846 empowers the Crown to reserve a Civil List of not more than £6000 in each province by Letters Patent. By the act, a Civil List can be reserved in no other manner —it must be by Letters Patent, under the royal signet, Now the Charter of ] 849 is such " Letters Patent." If the clause I here quoted refers—in the words " in each of the said Governments respectively," —to the " any such separate provinces " which occurs in the preamble to the same clause, then it bears the interpretation which I gave to it. But if it refers only to the provinces of New Minister and New Ulster then there is no power whatever in this colony to reserve any Civil List at all in a new province, because there have been no letters patent issued giving His Excellency such power.

It seems to me therefore that a Civil List of £6000 a year must be reserved, or none at all. Should I however be mistaken, I must plead my inexperience in dealing with the strange political system under which I find myself unfortunately living; and to comprehend and appreciate which I must unlearn all the political principles and truths which are admitted as axioms in England.

I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, Jambs Edward Fitzgerald

To the Editor of the Lyttelion Times,

Sir, —In your Times of last week. I see an account of a Ball held at the Mitre Hotel, on the evening of Thursday the 11th instant, and there called a Bachelors' Ball. Now Sir, I should be glad to know what constitutes a Bachelors' Ball iv New Zealand. —We who are just fresh from Old England are not a little surprised at the way of procedure carried on here by an old colonist, sowing seeds of discord and separation, where alone unity, pleasure and good feeling, should prevail. Two days previous to the aforesaid ball, I and several others met on business at the Mitre, having previously heard of a Bachelors' Ball being contemplated, and fourselves intending to be present, much to our surprise, we were informed by the landlord that none were to be present but by invitation, and yet the following Saturday we were astounded to see it spoken of in your Times as given by the bachelors of Canterbury.

Now, Sir, we must exonerate ourselves from behaving shabbily thus to the ladies of Canterbury by the apparent small attendance— for we have too freely and too much enjoyed our Bachelors' Balls in Old England to be 'so apathetic and cold, as to be absent at our iirst Bachelors'ball in our newly-adopted country, but we should indeed be uuworthy the name of Englishmen, were we to submit to such a Colonial humbug. I am, Sir, Yours truly,

A Lovek op Unaximixy

[We insert the above letter in accordance with our custom. The "lover of unanimity " certainly seems to us to love it at a distance. A promote* of unanimity could hardly have used such strong language. For ourselves we did not hear till after the Ball that any difference of opinion on the subject had existed : and only regarded it as a matter to be regretted and ibigotten.]

PLAN OF COLLEGE,

Founded by the Canterbury Association in the Canterbury Settlement in Neiv Zealand.

The following is the scheme for the establishment of a College here, to which we referred in our last number. We shall give in our next the scheme for the administration of the Religious and Educational Fund. " This College is founded for the education of the youth, primarily, of the Canterbury Settlement, but with the view of extending its benefits as far as possible to the whole colony of New Zealand, and even more widely—to the British possessions in Australia and India. With this ulterior view, its plans have been framed upon a scale of proportionate magnitude, though it may be that want of adequate funds may prevent their full realization at once. They have been so adapted as to be capable of being executed partially and piecemeal, as means and circumstances will allow, it being the intention at once to proceed so far as to place the College in a state of efficiency for commencing its practical work. It has been founded in strict accordance j with the principles of the Church in New Zealand, meaning by that term, the Church there planted as a Branch from the Reformed Church of England, and holding communion therewith. One of the fundamental objects of its founders is to train up students in the faith and discipline of the Church, and in an especial manner, to qualify a body of clergy for the colonial ministry. Their aim is at the same time to fit young men, by a course of •uitable instruction, for the peculiar occupations of a secular colonial life, for which the greater part will doubtless be intended. Their plan embraces schools for the working classes,! to be connected with the College, and to be extended as circumstances may require, and means permit. Looking to the prospect of a rapid advancement of all the Settlements in New Zealand, the founders look forward, and as far as can be will provide, by their scheme, for the growth of similar Institutions, not merely within the limits of their particular Settlement, but elsewhere in New Zealand, which-fiaay^it is hoped, be united as one university. The College has been constituted as. an Independent Society, (which it is hoped will be incorporated by law,) to consist of a Warden, and not fewer than five, nor more than twenty Fellows. The number of Fellows, commencing at the above minimum, will be increased gradually, as circumstances may require. The appointment of the "Warden and firstibody of Fellows, to the number of ten, will be with the Founders. The future election of Warden and Fellows will be settled by the statutes. The Warden and Fellows may be married; but Fellows in case of marriage will not be entitled to reside within the College. The practical business of education will be carried on by and under the superintendance of the Wardens and Fellows, who will, according to their respective qualifications, undertake distinct departments. Should the College funds permit, it may be desirable hereafter to appoint a Head Master. The statutes of the College will be adopted from the best models of collegiate institutions in this country. The College will have full powers of selfgovernment as an independent community, subject to the rule of government prescribed by the statutes and subject to the visitation of the Bishop of the I diocese as Visitor, at such times, in such form, and generally subject to such regulations as maybe laid down by the statutes. All the funds of the College will be held for the general purposes, and will be applied in the manner prescribed by the statutes.. As a leading principle, the income and stipends of the Warden and Fellows will be fixed, and any surplus revenues will be held for collegiate purposes, such as the completion and extension of buildings, foundation of scholarships, and the like. One-tenth of the gross income of the College, whether arising from annual rents or profits, or from students' payments, will be set apart for establishing free nominations to the College, upon a plan to be settled by the statutes. The patronage of such nominations will be for a limited time with the Founders; afterwards. it will be settled by statutes. The benefit of such nominations is intended specially, though notexclusively, for orphans, and sons of clergy with limited means. The educational system will be divided into distinct departments. The lower department will be established on the plan of the great elementary grammar schools of England. In addition to the erdinary routine of elementary teaching, the course of instruction will, as nearly as may be, resemble that of Westminster, Eton, Winchester, and Harrow. It will include the Greek, Latin, and the most useful of modern languages, mathematics, history, &c. It will include, also, such other branches of knowledge, as may be specially su ted to the colony, and the future career in life of the students, and such accomplishments as it may be advantageous to introduce. Music will form one of the subjects of instruction. This department will be open to boys from the age of eight to sixteen, and though intended principally for youths resident within the College, i£ wilj be extended as far as possible to non-

residents. The upper department of the College will be adapted for young men farther advanced in age, and of more matured acquirements, it being the object, as far as practicable, to render this department as nearly similar as possible to Colleges in Oxford or Cambridge. It will include the professorial as well as the tutorial system of intruction. The Fellows of the College will be the tutors. Professorships (which may be held by Fellows) will be established as funds will permit. Public examinations will be held at fixed periods, and class lists arranged, upon which degrees may be founded, when (as it is hoped) the College shall have obtained the privileges of an University.>. The theological branch of the upper department will be expressly adapted for training up a body of clergy for the future service of the Colonial Church., It will be in general, though not exclusively, con-/ fined to students intended for holy orders. f The general branch of the upper department will be framed with the view of qualifying young men, not merely in the general branches of literature and science suitable to a refined state of society, but in a particular manner for the future occupations of colonial life. Physical and practical science, such as civil engineering, chemistry, and the like, will necessarily form important branches of education for such an object, and the course of instruction for the general class of students will be directed specially to them. It is the intention to supply as quickly as possible duly qualified teachers from this country. In a country dependent for its main source of wealth on agriculture, (an occupation to which the greater portion of the students will no doubt be designed) it will be requisite in any perfect scheme of education to devote particular attention to its study, both scientifically and practically. With this object it is intended to connect with the College a farm of moderate extent, the management of which, under proper superintendence, will become a practical school of agriculture. This department, however, will be confined to young men intended for an agricultural life, or who may make it an object of voluntary study. The Association have already given instructioni * to their Agent in the Colony on the subject of commencing a Hospital. The foundation of a medical school in the colony in its present infancy can only be as the planting of a seed. Yet desiring as the founders do to perfect as far as possible the outline of a collegiate scheme, which may be fully developed and completed in course of time, they propose at once to connect the hospital with the College, though as a distinct department, having its buildings detached, and at a distance. One of the Tellows of the college, (being a medical man) will have the superintendence of the hospital, which may be opened generally as a medical school, under proper regulations. In connecting the hospital with the College, the Association have the further object in view of supplying its religious wants, by placing it under the charge of the clergy, who will form the main part of the collegiate body. The upper department of the college will be open to young men from the ages of sixteen to twentyone. They will be required to reside within the college, or if elsewhere, then only with the special licence of the warden. It is intended to assimilate the system and discipline as nearly as possible to that of colleges in this country, as regards dress, &c. Attendance at morning and evening service in the college chapel will be enforced. The scale of fees which it is at present proposed to require, will be hereafter settled.

Besides providing in the manner stated for the class of students for whose use the college is specially designed, the Association have, from the following considerations, determined somewhat to extend their original plan. Amongst the many applicants for information as to the Canterbury Settlement, perhaps the most numerous class has consisted of parents and guardians of the higher ranks, wishing to provide a colonial career for youths, instead of preparing them for professions at home. Their general object has been to purchase land for the future benefit of the parties on whose behalf they inquired, but who were as yet too young to be entrusted with its management. In many instances the young men themselves appeared to present, as regarded character and ability, the fairest promise of colonial success. Their education, in the ordinary sense of the term, had been in general completed, and (being about to enter upon their future career of life) partly from a sense of the difficulties arising from universal competition in this country, and partly from natural taste, they have preferred the prospects of colonial life offered by the Canterbury Settlement, to the pursuits of professions at home. It has, however, been invariably felt in such cases, that in order to the success of a young colonist, it is essential for him to go through a course of practical instruction, not merely in the particular art or occupation for which he is destined, but in the general ways and habits of colonial life, a thing impossible except in the colony itself. But an obstacle has hitherto presented itself, in the difficulty in providing for the charge of the youth in the colony, for his education there, and for the guardianship of his property during his pupillary

state. The Association have been anxious to remove this difficulty, as far as in them lies, not merely for the class it immediately affects, but with a view to the larger interests of the colony itself; believintr as they do, that in no respect could they consult better for its future prosperity than by planting there a rising generation of men qualified, in point of character, family, and property, to take a lead in the administration of its affairs. In offering to as- I sume, in a qualified sense, the office of guardians / to youths who may, under the circumstances men- |W tioned, be entrusted to their charge,the Association' will, as far as in them lies, discharge the duties they undertake, and will provide the best means in their power for its proper fulfilment. With this object they intend to form a distinct departmeiyt in the college for their reception ; and they will make"* all necessary arrangements with those under whose government the college will be placed, for giving full effect to their views. The Warden of the College will, by these arrangements, represent the Association in the colony as the guardian of a youth committed to their charge. The young man himself will be subject to the ordinary discipline of the College, and will be at liberty to pursue and complete his education in the particular branch which may be suited to his future pursuits in life. The circumstances and views of these colonial wards will be various—depending on difference of age, health, advancement in education, and future prospects, and not unfrequently the object may be to secure for them the benefit of a well-regulated home rather than to complete their education. The Association are deeply sensible of the importance to a young man, especially in a colony at so great a distance from his natural home and his own friends, of surrounding him with those wholesome influences which can only be supplied by the refinements of good society—and especially of good female society. They cannot obviously do more than express in a general way their strong sense of the importance of this element for the right formation of character in early life, and their anxiety to supply it as far as circumstances will admit, though it is obvious that much must depend on the tastes, habits, and manners of individuals themselves. The Association will, however, undertake to ensure the hearty sympathy and co-operation of the future Warden of the College, and through him they have no doubt of being able satisfactorily to accomplish their object. The Association will also take on themselves, so far as they can, the guardianship of the property of these colonial wards. They are indeed precluded by their constitution from undertaking more than a moral responsibility in this respect—but in directing attention to this.fact, they wish it to be understood that this important trust is undertaken by them with a full consciousness of its weight, and with a determination to fulfil it to the utmost of their power. They will.appoint the best qualified person whom they can select in the colony, to choose and manage their, ward's land during the state of wardship; and through this responsible officer they will take'care that the land shall be turned to the best account either by letting or otherwise. Any rent or profit which may accrue shall be received and applied for the benefit of the parties interested, in any way which the parents or guardians may think best. As it is obvious that the success of such a plan must depend very greatly on the individual character and habits ol the wards themselves, the Association will exercise great caution in admitting them to its privileges. It will be their especial aim to guard against the introduction into a society (which to answer its true end must be in a degree select), of young men of ill-regulated minds, or whose tastes or habits may be an inducement to their friends at home to rid themselves of a troublesome charge. It will also be their object to discourage as much as possible young men whose characters or abilities may, from early spoiling or natural feebleness, appear unlikely to qualify them for a successful colonial life. The number will be necessarily limited, and will not at present exceed ten. The age of admission will be from fourteen to eighteen, though after admission they may t«main till the proper time for entering upon an inde • pendent course of life. The charge will be at the rate of 1001., per annum.

The Ship " Rani>ou>h."—The ship " Eandolph," Dale, commander, from Madras, bound to London via Mauritius, was lost on the 25th June, on a reef off Amber Island (Mapou). She had on board a cargo of Sugar for London a large amount of money, and 254 Indian emigrants, for Port Louis; nothing belonging) to the vessel could be saved. Mr. Scoct, an officer of the Madias army, swam on shore, but died a moment after reaching it from exhaustion ; two European sailors, nine men (immigrants), ten women and three children were drowned. The remains of Mr. Scott were interred with military honours ; —the garrison following the funeral.— Cornwall Chronicle.