The Lyttelton Times. June 25, 1853.

Lyttelton Times, Volume III, Issue 129, 25 June 1853, Page 6

The Lyttelton Times. June 25, 1853.

Late yesterday evening we received a Melbourne paper to the the 19th May, brought by the " Wanderer," which has been hovering off the Port for several days without communicating. This extraordinary movement has quite precluded our giving any large extracts of news. Intelligence from England to the Bth March reached Melbourne on May 19, by the "Shanghae" from Singapore with the overland mail. The " Hellespont " had arrived via the Cape, but the unfortunate "Australian" was nowhere.

The proceedings in Parliament have been thoroughly of a practical character, since the opening of the session ; and there is at last a prospect that the public business will be transacted without more waste of time than might reasonably be expected in assemblies presenting many diversities of opinion. This is mainly attributable to the fact, that Ministers command large and decisive majorities in both Houses, against which it is vain for faction to contend. Sume diversions have been attempted by Lord Derby, Mr. Disraeli, and Sir John Pakington, but they have ended in confirming the strength of the Administration, aud in demonstrating to the people the solidity of the foundations on which it rests.

Colonial affairs have occupied a considerable space in the debates. The question of transportation being finally settled in reference to Australia, another principle, of still greater importance as it effects the self-government of .the colonies, has been asserted in both houses of Parliament. This principle was established by the discussion ou the Clevjry Reserves Bill (Canada), and its distinct enunciation by Ministers, not only in reference to Canada, but also in reference to all colonial possessions, may be attributed to the opposition afforded to "that measure by Lord Derby and Sir John Pakington. The line of resistance turned upon the maintenance of the Protestant Established

Church by the Imperial Government. In surrendering the Clergy Reserves to be dealt with by the local legislature, it was contended that the Imperial Government had abandoned the Established Church, which they were bound by general policy and special arrangements to sustain. It was not denied either by Lord Derby or Sir John Pakington that it was wise and necessary to transfer the authority on local affairs from the Home Government to the Colonial Government: but it was urged that the case of the Church was exceptional. The best answer will be found in the vote of the House of Commons which proclaimed the independence of local legislation, and confirmed the policy of Ministers. The Turkish question produced from Lord John Russell a very distinct declaration of the views of Government. The faith of treaties, and the interests of peace, alike demand the preservation of the Ottoman Empire. To this point the administration is pledged. England cannot participate in the partition of Turkey, and any attempt to bring about such a result' will, in all probability, lead to a general war. Lord John Russell does not seem to entertain much hope of the maintenance of the statu quo for any lengthened period,. and evidently apprehends that Turkey will fall either through imprudence or sheer weakness. What course England will be prepared to take in that event must, of course, be governed by the circumstances under which it arises. In the House of Commons, Lord John Russell stated, in answer to a question, that Her Majesty's Government would be glad to see a communication established between the Atlantic and Pacific through the Isthmus of Darien. Up to the present time, the result of the election petitions, on the grounds of bribery and corruption, is, that five Conservatives and three Liberal members have been unseated. A meeting of the Australian Royal Mail Steam Packet Company took piece on the 25th Feb., at which a dividend at the rate of 5 per cent, per annum was declared, and the report, after a lengthened discussion, was adopted. The Right Rev. Dr. Wm. Grant Broughton, Bishop of Sydney and. Metropolitan of Australia, died on the 20th Feb., aged 64. Nearly a week of snow storms and boisterous gales has brought a long list'of casualties, and a great loss of life and property have been the result. Several accidents had happened to the skaters on the ice in the Parks in London. A fatal accident had occurred on the Great Western Railway, whereby Mr. James Gibbs, a Director, was killed on the spot, and another Director and passengers injured. The splendid old parish church of Doncaster, one of the finest in England, was completely destroyed by fire on the 21st February. The loss is estimated" at £100,000. A complete collection of the literary works of Napoleon (I.) is being made in Paris. It is not generally kuown that the Emperor wrote romantic tales in his youth, but such is the fact. France subsides into tranquillity as other States become disturbed. There is hardly a syllable of political news from Paris. The equilibrium budget has been at last settled, and Paris is busy with the details of a fete whicji is to be given at Easter to the Emperor a»d Empress. The '' Moniteur" is filled with disclaimers of proceedings ascribed to the Emperor by foreign journals, and the stream of affa is runs as smoothly as if there were no under current of agitation threatening to ruffle the surface. It is now understood that the Pope is t> crown the Emperor in person, and that his Holiness is to spend two months in the French capital. An attempt had been made to assassinate the Emperor of Austria. The assassin declared that he stood alone, and ample means were adopted to extort confession from him. With an inhumanity very rare in these days, he was subjected to a peculiar series of torture before he was put to death. He was flogged twice in the military fashion, and interrogated every hour. How his physical strength bore this cruel process is inexplicable ; but he was firm and consistent in his sta'ements throughout. It is not to be believed that assassination is oue of the means by which the Italians and Hungarians hope to achieve their ultimate purpose. The cholera was raging in St. Petevsburgh. Intelligence has reached Melbourne from India to the 10th March. There was a probability of speedy peace with Burmah, a high I Official being expected at Prome from Ava to I sign the treaty.

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times. Christchurch, 22nd June, 1853. Sik,—r|t rou would confer a favour on the Committed i»n Church matters by inserting the accompanying address to Lord Lyttelton in your columns—this week if possible; we are anxious for. the public to have the means of duly considering -the document in question, before they are called upon to attach their signatures to it. On behalf of the Committee, Your's obediently, Conway L. Rose, Secretary. To the Right Honourable the Lord Lyttelton, Chairman oe the Canterbury Association. .......

Mt Lord, —We, the undersigned members of the Church of England in the Canterbury Settlement, New Zealand, desire to expressto your Lordship the deep regret with whiclr'wei have received intelligence that the appointment of a Bishop of Christchurch is likely to beJ deferred for an indefinite time. ; :

Considering that one of the most prominent *eatiires of the plan originally contemplated by the Association was, the establishment in their new settlement of the episcopalian system of Church • Government in all its integrity, and that the confident hope of speedily enjoying the advantages of such a system was, to many of us, one of the chief inducements to select New Zealand as pur future home ; we may be allowed to express our sorrow that, although nearly three years have now elapsed since the foundation of the colony, scarcely any progress has been made towards the attainment of an object so ardently desired by English Churchmen at home no less than by ourselves, as indispensable, to the vigour and stability of the infant Church in this Settlement.

We think it would be irrelevant to discuss in this place. the causes of the delay which has hitherto occurred ; but we must not conceal from your Lordship pur settled conviction that the time has now avrived when any further delay in the appointment of a Bishop will be deemed by many persons sufficient ground for charging the promoters of the Canterbury scheme with lukewarmnessas;,regards the most important part of their eccleeiastical plan.. -We trust your Lordship, and the. many other frieuds to whom this Settlement is so much indebted, will forgive us for speaking thus plainly; but we are told by your accredited agent, Mr. Sewell, that all legal difficulties in the way of an episcopal appointment have long since been removed, that an endowment of £600 per annum has been insured to the Bishopric, and that neither Lord Grey, Mr. Justice Coleridge, nor any other individual to whom the plan has been submitted, has objected to the security, by which the regular payment of that income is guaranteed. Supposing this statement to be correct, we cannot help feeling that no adequate reason now exists for delaying the appointment a single hour- Therefore against the contemplated diversion of the Bishopric Fund towards meeting engagements of the Association with clergy and schoolmasters we desire to enter our most earnest protest. Not that, pending the appointment we so anxiously await, we cannot refuse to accept as a matter of necessity the proposed use of the fund in question, but we do object to any such use becoming in the slightest degree a cause of delay. - t Although we are by no means without hope that the result of any negociations that may/he carried on between the Provincial Council arid, the accredited Agents of the"'Canterbury' Association, will be satisfactory to Churchmen ;ih this Settlement, yet we need not remind yoiir Lordships of the difficulties inseparable from legislation on Church matters, or of the delay which, even supposing the issue to be favourable, must intervene before such a result can be attained. To make"this delay a plea for withholding from us the advantages of episcopal superintendence, perhaps for years, would, we believe, be one of the heaviest blows that could he inflicted on the Church in this Settlement: first and chiefly as regards the imperfection of discipline and feebleness of action which are inseparable from our present condition ; and secondly, because in the absence of a Bishop an efficient appeal.cannot, .we fear, be made, under the present pecuniary exigencies of the Church in the Settlement, either to the Colonists, or to Societies, or individuals at home. We believe these observations to be in no respect inconsistent with the fact that this por-

tion of New Zealand is still under the nominal supervision of Bishop Selvvyn, of whose earnest desire to serve us we are as thoroughly assured as of his inability effectually to do so. For it is. impossible for persons possessed of meal experience to be ignorant of the difficulties which render communication between Auckland and this Settlement uncertain even under the most favourable circumstances, and at the present time all but impracticable. Having been compelled to part with his vessel, the Bishop is now entirely dependant on the casual and rare means of communication possessed by other settlers; opportunities, the frequency of which has been considerably diminished by circumstances arising out of the recent discovery of gold in Australia. It is now eighteen months since the Bishop visited this part of his Diocese, nor have we the slightest hope of seeing him; until next summer. The facilities of communication by letter are scarcely greater ; in proof of which we may mention a remark made .hy^the.j -Bishop to his Commissaries at his last visit-to this Settlement, to the effect that although he should be happy to hear from them on all matters relating to the Church in the Settlement, it would, be useless for them to write tO;him on matters of business, since his frequent absence on distant expeditions through the other Island and the Northern sea, added to the difficulty of communication with Auckland, renders it improbable that an answer could be received in less than twelve months. Taking all these circumstances into consideration, we are, we believe, justified in respectfully imploring your Lordship to exert your powerful influence for the attainment of an object, which you, no less than, ourselves, have, vye are well assured, deeply and anxiously at heart. We have the honor to be, My. Lord, Your Lordship's faithful humble servants,

Tothe Editor of the Lyttelton Times. Harbour—" A piece of water with the sea, or with a navigable river or lake, having depth sufficient to float ships of considerable burthen, where there is convenient ' anchorage, and where ships may lie, load and unload screened from the winds." ':|;xf''- " '■'. '.'"V;M'Culloch, Commercial Diet. ' Sir^-—Wfieh I offered certain statements relative to tlie coast from Port Cooper north - , wards as far as. Cape Campbell, I did so because a reliance upon those made by a gentleman filling an important public oflice, would some day seriously endanger the, lives' and property of Her Majesty's subjects :—and because former employment in the service of the Colony entitled me to speak with an authority, to which one who had never even so much as set his foot upon any part of that coast could have no claim. Others may understand, but I do not, and can never submit to be guided by any rule of conventional " courtesy" which, in the face of an unpardonable perversion of fact, enjoins the silence that implies assent. To make truth so extravagantly subservient to politeness is revolting to the ideas of right and of duty in which Englishmen are educated.

Whoever wishes to do so, is welcome at my.house to inspect a duplicate chart of the mythic " Port" at Motunau, and of the coast-line from Cape Campbell to Double Corner. During the winter of 1850, when employed under the Lords of the Admiralty and the New Zealand Company on board H.M. steam surveying sloop "Acheron," I assisted, with naval officers of high repute as marine surveyors, in drawing up that chart. If not already published, it shortly will be, by the Hydrographic office, —ah authority to which the British public, I believe, usually allow some weight. In the summer of 1849-50 (not 1850-1, as stated before by mistake), in an open whale-boat, steered by a very experienced, and cautious as well as truthful man, —who had ' whaled' from every station between Timaru and Cape Campbell,—l surveyed the whole-..coast line from that Cape to Motunau. I jlanded in, and examined minutely the Harbours, so called, of Kaikoura. Amuri, and Motunau. The year before I

assisted Captain Stokes, R.N., in the survey of the Waimakariri. I have six times crossed in a boat (but not without much watching for opportunity) the bar of Motunau River, which I have also crossed on foot at the mouth, barely wetting myself above the ankle. I made on the spot —as every surveyor, mindful of the serious consequences that will result from his errors and inaccurate reports, is sedulously careful to do, —the closest enquiries as to climate, winds, facilities of ingress and egress. The information I obtained by personal examination and gathered, in pursuance of my duty, from the lips of numerous trustworthy ' old whalers' whom I met at the places mentioned and elsewhere in this Island, I gave briefly in my letter of the 14th ult.

The public, with these facts before them, must 'decide whether the information supplied by the gentleman first referred to, arid by the person he calls to his support, ought to be taken, at the value at which they themselves rate it, or rejected, not because valueless merely, but because positively dangerous,—as will be proved when it comes to be tested by geographical facts.

When Colonel Campbell first arrived here I did, as he states, supply him with "information as to the Coast from Port Cooper to Kaikoura." It was very different, indeed, from that which, after a lapse of nearly two years, has gone forth under his sanction. As my honesty has been directly impeached, I am compelled now to state that I gave him all the detail I could, after referring to old memoranda. He had unreserved access to, and I believe a tracing of, the chart referred to. I spent a weary time in fruitless endeavours to disabuse him of the idea which he, " in the first instance," brought with him that a convenient Harbour existed at Kaikoura. No notions, therefore, of a couitesy so unheard of as to seal a mail's lips whose duty it is to be outspoken, could excuse my preserving a culpable silence.

Ample proof of the extreme unsafety of the coast and pretended harbouis in question, is afforded by the notorious facts: Ist, that coasters can be induced solely by ve.y high freights to take in or discharge cargo at them; 2nd, that they are very rarely resorted to as places of refuge; for we again and again hear of vessels, after having passed to the Southward of Kaikoura and Motunau, being compelled to bear up in S.E. gales for Cook Strait. It is thus evident that little reliance may be placed on the letter evoked in support of the dangerous misstatements which it was my duty to notice ; added to which the letter itself contains the grossest inconsistencies.

As for the " port" of Motunau, to any one who knows the locality, the "500 ton vessel" in it conveys the idea of a predicament so utterly impossible, that only the equally impossible one of a " whale in a butterboat," can supply a parallel for it.

I will only further observe that by a coaster is not usually understood any craft the size of a Deal boat with a deck on her. Nor is that a harbour, in the ordinary acceptance of the word, which, like Sumner or the Waimakariri, boats cannot enter or leave for several weeks together; any more than a ledge of rocks and a kelp patch, from under which vessels must " shift in time" for safety, constitute a good anchorage or convenient shelter.

In the ' Canterbury Almanack' there will be found a correct account of the coast to the Northward. It is from the pen of Mr. E. Jerningham Wakefield, a most painstaking and discriminating collector of information, and one accustomed thoroughly to sift it before giving it out to the public. A gentleman is now in the Settlement who, so late only as February last, surveyed Kaikoura and examined the coast Southwards

as far as Amuri, and who will confirm my account of it.

The necessity of clearing up beyond all doubt questions raised as to Geographical and Hydrographical facts, will I trust procure for me the indulgence, of your readers, in pursuing thus far a subject which it will be idle in me to recur to again.

Gentlemen who have stations on the coast and have unfortunately too much reason to know the difficulties of landing supplies and sending away produce, will probably furnish an account of the many casualties that occur to shipping, and of the losses they sustain thereby. I subjoin a statement tendered to me by the oldest merchant at Lyttelton, arid remain, Sir, Your's obediently, J. W. Hamilton. The " Perseverance,'* 82 tons, was nearly lost off Motunau in the wool season of 1851. Taking in oil twelve months ago at Fyfe's (Kaikoura) station she had to slip and run, leaving an anchor and all the cable behind. The " Wellington," 54 tons, after taking in about one-half her wool, was obliged to run from Motunau, and did not return to complete lading for ten days. The whale,boat taking tho wool on board was three times capsized. The " Agnes and Hannah," 14 tons, about eighteen months ago, was wrecked off Motunau. The "Palmer," 10 tons, twelve months ago, met with a similar casualty. The " Fairy," 10 tons, in February last, was. twenty-one days taking wool from Gore's Bay, put back three times, lost a valuable whale-boat after four days endeavouring to land it at Motunau; her dingy, which had been left there, and which it was intended to take on board, remains at Motunau to this day. The sum asked, within the last three for a coaster to call on her way down at a place on the coast between Cape Campbell and Motunau, and merely take one passenger on board for Port Victoria, was 807.

The following claims have been sent in to the Resident Magistrate to vote for the Province of Canterbury :—for the Town of Lyttelton, one hundred and thirty-three; for Christchurch, one hundred and twentyeight; for the Christchurch Country District, two hundred and fourteen. We have no particulars as yet of the claims to vote for the Akaroa district.

The half-yearly inspection of the Lyttelton Church Sphools took place on Wednesday and Thursday, and we are happy to state with entire satisfaction to the Inspectors, who notified their approbation in the School attendance book. After the inspection on the latter evening, an ample supply of cake, buns, and tea was given to the juveniles, who did ample justice to the treat. The Committee-of the Lyttelton Colonists' Society met on Wednesday evening, when it was suggested that the Society should, from the commencement of the Ist July, be placed on a new footing : that the subscriptions to the Reading room and Library be in future 2s. 6d. per quarter, and to the Reading room only, Is. It was carried by the Committee, and Wednesday evening next appointed for all the Members of the Society to meet, and such other persons as might be desirous of becoming members, in order to iVame rules and regulations, fix the terms of admission, and appoint officers,for the ensuing year. The Society of the " Ancient Order of Foresters" is, we understand, advancing.in a most satisfactory manner, and numbers amongst its members Mr. Tancred, Mr Wakefield, Dr. Gundry, and others of standing in the Colony. Its funds are in a highly prosperous state, and have increased considerably owing to the healthy state of the Society.