"FREEDOM OF RELIGION SOCIETY."

New Zealander, Volume 11, Issue 960, 27 June 1855, Page 3

"FREEDOM OF RELIGION SOCIETY."

Ox Monday evening, a Public Meeting was held at the Odd Fellows' Hall, convened by the Committee of this Society. The Chair was taken by W. C.Daldy, Esq-, and the meeting addressed by Messrs. G. Vaile, J. Gorrie, J. C. Firth, VV. Rattray, R. B. Shalders, and Rev. T. Hatner, on behalf of the Committee, and by the Rev. Mr. Reid and Mr. Howe from the body of the Hall. The immediate object of this Society is to resist State aid for educational purposes being expended through the denominational ministers, and its views were expounded at considerable length by the various speakers. One of these speakers, the Rev. T. 1 lamer, having alluded to the fact of the Educational Committee of the Provincial Council having founded their report on the evidence of two Wesleyans, one Episcopalian, and three Catholics, ami having made the allusion in such a manner as seemingly to leave the impression that these denominations were somehow or other answerable for the result of that report, viz., the voting of 1000/., to be expended by the various religious bodies in the Province, Mr. Reid, as one of the Wesleymis alluded to, rose to sneak in explanation. Not being allowed to do so, except in support of an amendment, the rev. gentleman proposed an amendment to the effect that the meeting adjourn until the subject be more fully before the public, and took the opportunity of exculpating himself from any knowledge of the intentions of the Council, he having simply given his evidence, and done nothing further in the matter. The amendment was put and carried, and the meeting adjourned, with the understanding that it should resume the consideration of the subject on the following Monday, or an early day. The meeting was well attended, and the question is evidently one that the public feel a deep interest in. In our next publication we shall give a report of the proceedings. In the meantime we publish the memorial, as read by the Chairman, which it is intended, at next meeting, to submit to public approval, and which conveys a good idea of the objects of the " Freedom of Religion Society :" To the Honorable the Menders of the Legislative Council and House of Representatives of New Zealand. The Memorial of the undersigned Humbly Sheweth, — That as citizens and electors of the Province of Auckland, your petitioners are deeply interested in the educational status and advancement of then own families, and of the families of all who, like themselves, are or may become entitled to the ptivileges conferred by the British Constitution on this Colony. Your petitioners are aware that, while by far the majority of the entire population are not only able but willing to provide for the education of their children, yet it must he allowed that some, either from inability or indifference, remain uneducated, and it is that this exigency may he met that your memorialists now address your Honorable House.

Tl.a your tr.e-no ialists would p cmi r e and as being j v:t»! to tlie whole question, ihai they a e eonf=c : emiI ously arid resolutely opposed to all State grants for i the support of religion in any degree or form, or for : religions or denominational education. Thai, -vithout entering into the i tiails of the I tion, your memorialist!? would beseech vonr Ilonour- | able House to set apart funds from existing endowj ments, or" from grants made foY education 1 ?) purpose*, or the erection of school-houses, or for assisting in local efforts for the same, and for affording some measure of support to a superior order of teachers, tilleaeh of the schools becomes self-sustaining ; the schools in all cases to be conducted on commercial, scientific, and unsectarian principles/ and managed by elective 1 jcal hoards. That your memorialists pray your Honourable House that funds may be set apart for the above purposes, connected with such appointed agencies, with principles for their guidance as will be, in the judgment of your Honourable House, moit likely to bring those children under educational training who at present, either from inability or indifference, are not making use of the existing means of education. And your petitioners will ever prav, &c. Inquest.—On Monday an inquest was held «f. the Victoria Hotel, before 11. J. Andrews, Esq,, Coroner, on the boJvof James Bruce, Steward of the ship Rock City, who met his death under the circumstances detailed in the following evidence. Captain Cubbins of that ship, sworn, I saw deceased alive on Saturday evening lost, about half-pa<t 0 o'clock ; at daylight on Sunday morning, I missed the long-boat from astarn of the ship ; the steward was also missing; I concluded that he had gone away in the long-boat, which had been nearly full of water for several days previous; on Sunday T made search for the long-boat; in the evening I called at Captain Burgess (the Pilot's) house, and inquired if he had seen anything of a ship's long boat; from information I received there, I accompanied Capt. Burgess about 9 o'clock on Sunday night, to the island of Ran git o to; after searching several creeks we found the long-boat on the rocks; the deceased was lying down in the boat; he was quite dead ; there was no water in the fore part of the boat, where the deceased was lying at the time; we removed him to our boat, and brought bim to Auckland; I know no reason why the steward should wish to leave the ship ; there had been no quarrel with him ; no one else was absent at the time ; there were no oars in the boat; he always appeared satisfied with the ship. Isaac James Burgess sworn, deprstl: I am ITarhour Master of Auckland ; on Sunday evening about half-past 7 o'clock, Captain Cubbins, of the ltock Ci'3 T , called at my house and inquired if I had seen a ship's long-boat; my brother having seen something like a boat in the morning drifting towards Rangitoto, he thought it was a canoe, as we saw a man paddling it ; I went wi hj Captain Cubbins to RangitotO, where we fjund the boat; the deceased was in it; he was quite dead; we conve3 r ed the body to Auckland The evidence of Captain Cubbin having been confirmed by two other witnesses, who were sent for to the ship ; and Dr. Lee having deposed to there being no external mark of violence on the body, the Jury returned the following verdict Found dead in the long boat of tiie Rock City ; cause of death, exhaustion. Death by Drowmkg.—On Saturday last, a man named James Coleman, in the employment of Major Matson, met his death under the following circumstances. Deceased and a man named Thomas Teal, of Turanga Creek, were sailing in an open boat off Tarnaki head, when about 2 o'clock, the boat was upset by a sudden squall, and both men immersed in the water. For some time, however, they clung to the boat, but Coleman became so much exhausted that he was obliged to let go his hold. H>s body Wsince been recovered. Teal was saved byVo»nrrfc Maories, who providentilly passed nenr thespot some time after the accident had occurred. The cause of this melancholy event is that to which such occurrences are generally attributable—the very dangerous practice of making fast the sheet of the sail.