Original Correspondence.

New Zealander, Volume 3, Issue 174, 29 January 1848, Page 2

Original Correspondence.

To the Editor of the New Zealander. Sir,— ln looking over some late numbers of the Adelaide newspapers, I have been partic larly struck by the frequency of Reports of Meetings for Religious purpose!, and especially by the relative rank or position of the persons who usually take the lead at tho»o conventions. At a meeting held 22nd November List, to celebrate the anniversary of the South Australian Auxilarv Bible Society, Ifindthatno less a personage than the Judge of the Province filled the chair— -that the Colonial Secretary took an active part in the proceedings—thut certain Members ol the Legislatire Council participated— and, besides the Clerical gentleineu who occupied the platform, and whose bubiuess it was to be there, thac the surrounding pews were filled with respectable individuals of diffeient denominitiom., and the body of the Wesleyan Chapel in which the meeting was held, by at least four hundred pers >ns. The resolutions were such as mi^ht be expected from an assembly so numerous and enlightened and the result of their conven ion may be properly regarded as being not less useful to the community, than creditable to every individu il concerned. This Socie y is now but in the second year of. its existence, and yet, from the Report of the Committee, it « ould appear that up to the period of meeting, above ekven hundred copies of the Holy Bible had be jn dispersed among the previously benighted inhabitants of Southei n Australia, and that the Society had been enabled from the prodeeds of subscriptions, and sale of religious works, to discharge, not only their debt to the parent Society in England, and every other debt, but to remit to that parent the cumpararively munificent donation of fiity pounds sterling, as a convincing earnest of gratitude for past assistance, and of future exertions for good. What a contrast does our state in New Zealand at the pre=ent moment preient to this promising position of affairs at South Australia 1 Herb we find no JuJge, no becretary, no influential placeholder of any degree, tcarcely a Member of the Council, or upper class sort of person, coming forward to aid the beneficent few who have already done the initiation, in carrying out any kind of public association for moral and religioui purposes. Look at the Auckland Auxiliary Bible Society, for example — the Mechanics' Inatuute — the Tee-total Aisociation — who are the prime movers in, the real supporters of each or all of these ? Not the nominal patrons, not the class of peisons whom superior education, and pecuniary mews, might rea-onably le rt d one to expect would be foietuoot in jnomutmg suc<i associations, but the middling classes of industrious and zealous people who have discernment to appreciate their political advantages, and the patriotism to strive to secure them. Highly as this is to their credit, I am sorry to be forced to admit at the same time that it only renders the extreme apathy ot those upper classes, the* more inrxousable. It is to he hoped that such « reproach will soon cease to be gsnerul, and that our feiv iafant philanthropic societies which at present with difficulty breathe a precarious existence, will not lonj? want the stimulating aid which it is lamentable to have to say, it essential to thur vitality. I am, Sir, your constant reader, PHILANTHROPOS. Auckland, Jim. 27, 1848.

To the Editor of the New Zealandcr. Sir, — I douht not but you, ns well as myself and the rest of our fel'ow-colomsts, have welcomed with kindly feelings the Pensioners who have arrived amongst us. There is something in the very ntme of «(t ijld soldiei that commands itspecl, and you cannot

look upon a veteran, who ha» borne the brunt of many a hard won field, and upheld the weal and honor of old England, through long years of hard servitude, without feeling a seme of gratitude towards him, becausa it really is his due ; and if theae feelings be called forth undt r ordinary circumstances, in our individual case, they will begieallyaugraenied, when we consider that the men of the New Zealand Fennble Force have come amongst us not altagether free fiom the expectation of having again to ropport tho honor of the British armi, in this our adopted country, and on our behalf, to fight for our wires, our little ones, and our household gods. Lit us then extend to them the right hand o.' fellowship, and help them in then-n<-w chnrnct-r of colonists when we can : but while we do all this it behoves us to be alive to our own happiness and health. One of the transports th.it has K-ceiitly arrived, the Clifton, has been sadly visited by sicknessi and death has preyed upon many of her vnsuengers on the voyage out: diseates of no trifling nature, but tIuMC scourges of the human race, typhus fever and the small pox— and these too up to within a veiy recent period have existed, even if they do not exist now. Knowing, as every oae does, bow easily these dreadful diserders are communicated, I must say that I am surpr si-d and alarmed that the authov.ties have not taken more effectual means to prevent the possibility of their reaching the shore, by placing the vessel in quarantine or otherwise. How deeply should we all deplore the dreadful devaitaiiou that would ensue if such disorders were once to take hold of the Native wee ; what they have hitherto suffered from the introduction of European diseasrs, would be nothing in comparison to tluse plagues ; let us ask as a right then, or let us ask at a favor ot the authorities that be, that as they ■value their own pence of mind, as they value the blessing of health and the welfare of th« Co'ony, to adopt fiomc rigorous mciuurcs to prevent thete disorders hii!)g brought to the shore. It may not be probable that such a dreadful event will take place, but it re«ts with them to remove not only probability, but possibility, It is too late when once it is done, and prevention is better than cure in all things. I am, Sir, jours, &c. HIPrOCRATirS.