THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out faciam." DUNEDIN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 3.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 1051, 3 May 1865, Page 4

THE Otago Daily Times. "Inveniam viam out faciam." DUNEDIN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 3.

In the Provincial Council yesterday, the Speaker took the Chair at two o'clock. In reply to Mr Clatoott, the Provincial Secretary said lie was not aware that any difference of opinion hetween the late City Commissioners and the Government led to their resignation. Another Commission would be appointed forthwith. Mr Maeandrew's motion, expressing the opinion of the Council that the officer formerly in charge of Taiaroa Lighthouse should have been continued in that office when the control of it wns transferred to the General Government, was carried, with a verbal amendment. Copies of the minutes of Council and correspondence in reference to the petition of C. It. Swyer were laid on the table. On the motion of: the Provincial Secretary, the House went into Committee on the Resolutions on the Land Question, which the Provincial Secretary introduced by some genera) observations, pointing out the difference between the views of the late and the present Executive. On the first resolution, affirming the advisability of consolidating the various Land Acts and Resolutions affecting the Province, nn amendment was proposed by Mr Stiiret, that in order to simplify the Land R'.'guhitions, it is desirable to raise the price to 30s an acre, without conditions of purchase or any restrictions. Afier a lengthened discus- " sion, the amendment was lost. Other amendments proposed were negatived, and the Resolution was carried. The second resolution, excluding tho incorporation of the Land Sales and Leases Ordinance, in the Consolidation Act, and the third •* affirming the advisability of continuing the present system of Hundreds, were carried. The 4th resolution, prescribing the conditions on which leases of runs may be renewed, was proposed. An amendment by Mr Burns, that the .. leases should be offered at auction, was negatived. An amendment by Major Richardson*, providing that twelve months prior to the expiration of a lease, a part or the whole of the run should be offered to the occupier, subject to prescribed conditions, was carried ; as was also a suggestion by Mr Vogel. , After some further debate on one of the sub-clauses, the House resumed ; and at halfpast tea o'clock adjourned to two o'clock to-day. An official deliverance from so eminent a prelate as Bishop Selwyn,upon the position and future of the Church of England in New Zealand, must be of interest not only to the members of that particular communion, but to all who attach importance to the innumerable questions, social ami political, with which the church as an ecclesiastical organisation and a director of missionary enterprise has come into contact. The status of the colonial branch of the Anglican establishment is in many respects peculiar. It is essentially a volim tary institution, dissevered from the State, but it has not been without its influence upon the policy and current of public affairs. At this moment a spectacle is presented in the neighboring City of. Christchurch, which many an English Churchman would exult to see repr6duced on the ancient soil of the Mother Country. Possessing a proud hierarchy which takes precedence of the old nobility of the land; with, a score of eathc-

dral cities, and with a corporate estate yielding an anual revenue of sojiie millions; numbering amongst its adherents the Sovereign, the nobility, the great bulk of the landed gentry, and a large mass of the general population ; the Church at home has yet no distinct system of Government, and presents what must be in the eye of its own adherents, the twofold ano-

maly of being legislated for by a body to whose ranks are admitted enemies and dissentients, as well as friends—and of

having the laity entirely excluded from even such machinery of internal discipline as the church possesses. The full play given to Synodal action in the Colonial Church, is a circumstance that serves to strongly distinguish it, as an eclesiastical system, from the parent Church. In nearly the whole of the Australasian Colonies, this feature has now been introduced; and whilst in England the project for the revival of Convocation, has been received with extreme jealousy by liberal churchmen, the establishment of Synods in the Colonies—comprising the three estates of Bishops, Priests and Lay delegates—is welcomed as the most desirable and successful of all church reforms. In none of the colonies, however, has a synod hitherto met, accompanied by circumstances equally imposing in an ecclesiastical sense as that now being held. It is presided over by undoubtedly the most eminent prelate on the Colonial Episcopal Bench, and attended by not less than four suffragan

bishops. The third meeting of the General Synod opened at Christchurch on the 27th ult.— an interval of three years having elapsed since its last session. The proceedings are reported at a length only possible in a community where no other contemporary matters of local interest call for record. The address of Bishop Selwyn occupies more than seven closely primed columns of Tha Press. We are only able to summarise it. The Bishop feelingly reviews the history ot the Church during the past three years, and recognises " the salutary lesson of disappointed hope." At the date from which

his retrospect commences they were

"cheered by signal mercies"—the consecration of Bishop Patterson, the ordination of native pastors, the harmonious

working of the Diocesan Synods, the cessation of war. All these suggested thank-

fulness, encouragement, and indulgence in bright and cheerful hopes for the future. Now the Synod met in sorrow rather than

joy. The war had been renewed and had acquired a bitterness unknown before. The native mind had been poisoned by the perversity of a i'ew misguided men. The belief had been inspired that the missionary clergy were the "agents of the

Government in a deep laid plot

" for the subjugation of the native people." Tt resulted that the congregations of

the Church had melted away, and the advice of the clergy had been disregarded. The natives, under the influence of exasperation at the continuance of defeat and

loss of friends and relations, had become reckless. "The feeling grewamongst them " that they would abandon the religion "of their enemies and set up one of " their own." Such is the genesis

Bishop Selwyn gives to the Pai Marire fanaticism. lie continues :—" An im- " postor from Taranaki placed himself at " the head of the movement. Pretended " miracles, unknown tongues, inspirations " from heaven, messages of angels, were " alleged as usual in support of the

" imposture. The delusion " and reached the East Coast.

spread New

tribes were to be startled and over-

" awed. A leader of inferior rank de- " manded of the people of Opotiki the " sacrifice of their own missionary. No "other life was touched of the many white

men who fell into their hands. It was a

" murder of fumiticism. You have all " read the details of the outward work- " ings of the mystery of iniquity. Join " with me in recognising the linger of

God, working with hidden wisdom, yet

" evidently in love." These trials and martyrdoms, over which men mourn.Dr. Selwyn maintains are really the evidencesof divine favor, and the promise of future success and victory. Similar seeds of promise have been afforded by the Melan esian mission, which has also bad its trials. " Two "youths full of promise have died of " wounds received from the natives of

Santa Cruz."

Among the causes of sorrow which try ;he faith and patience of the Church,.

the Right Rev. Prelate gives a prominent place to the " defection of the native con-

11 verts." None of the native pastors have shown any sign of yielding to the delusion that has spread so widely ; but it has to be " admitted that many native teachers

"in whom the missionaries had great " confidence have fallen away." Reminding the members of the Church that

their trust is not in man bat in God, and

" that he will not suffer his work to fail," the Bishop leaves the subject of missionary operation and proceeds to discuss the domestic affairs of the church.

The returns from the various dioceses as to the state of the congregrations are spoken of as not of an encouraging character; but the Bishop observes—

': The work of building up the Church in a new country must be gradual." He assigns many causes for the deterioration of the religious v»rinciple in an im-

migrant population, and recommends hope and prayer for a Letter coalition of things. The state of the country settlers is referred to as a source ot great anxiety. The pbysicial conformation of the country is unfavorable lo the settlement o£ a large population in convenient townships, and to the enjoyment of regular religious privileges and institutions. The population is scattered, and when the present race of settlers, who have been trained in religious ways die off, what security Bishop Selwyn asks is there, that the native English youth will not fall away from the faith as the Maoris have done ?

These matters connected with the fruits borne by the Church, and the losses sustained by it as a religious influence, being briefly disposed of, the bulk of the Bishop's address is devoted to a consideration of the constitution of the Church as a quasi political institution, or rather to the perfecting of a machinery for its internal economy and the consolidation of a competent governing authority. In view of certain movements which have been made for an alteration in the system at present established, Dr Selwyn says:—"lt falls upon " me as the senior Bishop of the New Zea- " land Church, and as the recognised Pre- " sident of thi3 Synod, to warn you against " dangers which may lie in your way, no " less than to guide your deliberations in " the right direction. It is no assumption " on my part, but the simple fact, which " no one, I think, will deny, that no person

" can have more complete knowledge of

" the whole subject of our Constitution " than myself. It has been my endeavor " to test our system at every stage of its " progress by the standard of Holy Scrip-

" tare, by Ecclesiastical History, Law, and " Usage, by reference to the opinions cf " the most competent lawyers both in " England and here, by the Laws of the " Mother Church, by comparison with " the Church Constitutions in the United

" States and in other Colonies, and by an

" appeal to the whole body of the mem- " bers of the Church in every one of our "settlements. To these may now be " added the test of seven years of actual " experiment, during which two meetings " of the General Synod and twenty-four "meetings of Diocesan Synods have been

' held, without the discovery of any

" serious flaw or defect to impede the free '■ working of the system itself, or of any of " its parts."

The whole of these test 3 are applied in

the course of a lengthened and elaborate argument in vindication of the present constitution of the Church. Out of the action taken by the Diocesan Synod of Christchurch, the only serious practical difficulty has arisen. The property of the Church in New Zealand, being vested in three distinct bodies, the Diocesan Synod of Canterbury as representing the " Canterbury Trust property," have held

themselves at liberty to separate from the General Synod, if at any time they should

think fit to do so. Such ia the view entertained, the Bishop says, by the clergy and laity of Canterbury; but he cites resolutions passed, to show that the southern portion of the diocese of Canterbur}', including the two provinces of Otago and Southland, do not concur in the claim thus put forth for diocesan independence. Much of the argument following, having reference to the management of the Church funds, is of a technical character. The real question raised is, whether the claim of a separate diocese to deal independently with ifs own part of the general Church property, and in this matter to sever itself from the General Synod, is to be recognised as part of the Church Constitution of New Zealand. It is a question involving too many intricate considerations to be even explained without the devotion of considerable space to it, and is, indeed, only of interest to that limited class of churchmen who trouble themselves with ecclesistical politics. Bishop Relwyn's views are strongly in favor of the maintenance of the authority of the General Synod, and the restriction of the authority of Diocesan Synods.

Dr Selwyn reconciles himself to tha

" voluntary compact" which is the only basis on which Synodal action in New Zealand is founded. In Victoria and ia Tasmania the Synod of the Church of

England is a body constituted byAettof Parliament, whose enactments have the force of law in the internal economy of the Church. The Bishop of New Zealand says, in the conclusion of his address:— " As for our basis of voluntary compact, " that also must remain, for the " highest authority has decreed, that we " can have no lswful existence, nor exercise " any lawful authority upon any other " ground. This is no hindrance to the

" attainment of the highest standard, for " if we all agree, then the ' saying which " pleases the; whole multitude' becomes

" the voice of a united Church. For my- " self, I have no wish to be a theoretical " metropolitan over a vissionary body of " obsequious churchmen, I have not " found much spirit of submission to " metropolitan authority, no, not even at " Christchnrch. The experiment ha? "been tried in South Africa; but the " documents which I lay upon the table "■ do not lead ms to believe that it has " resulted in the establishment of unity " and peace. If lam asked to be your " Primate on other terms than I am at

" present, I must know how many of xny " people wish for the change. And 90 we " ** " come' round again to voluntary compact "after all."

We continue to receive painful additions to our information as to the damage done by the late rains and consequent floods. A farmer named George Farmer, residing on tho Peninsula, who rents a piece of land from Captain Nicholls, states that at 3 o'clock on Monday morning ho was awoke by his wife who said that water was coming into the tent and in hastily getting up and going outside, he saw that tho land above him was about to fall in. He had just time to rash back to the tent and save his wife and child, when, about half an acre of land fell, completely covering his tent, vegetable garden, and everything belonging to him. A very severe loss has been sustained by the unfortunate sufferer. Amongst minor instances of damage, we may mention that n large portion of tho river wall at the Botanic Garden was washed down, carrying with it a part of the footpath. Other injuries were sustained in other portions of the grounds, which were partly flooded. Tho water which had accumulated at the back of the Octagon, in Moray Place and Stuart street, was yesterday drained oft, so that preparations were able to be made for the reoccupation of the cottages and shanties which had on Sunday last to be hastily abandoned* Gcorgo street is now clear. In Kattray street throughout the day men were engaged in carting away the "'debris which had accumulated. This work could, however, only be partially effected, and immense quantities of slush still remain, which it will be difficult to remove until it has hardened. A public meeting of persons interested is, we notice, called for this evening, at the Melbourne Hotel, to appoint a deputation to wait on the Government, with, a view to tho adoption of effective measures to prevent the recurrence of a similar catastrophe. At an early hour this morning rain again began to fall.

At the Resident Magistrate's Court yesterday morning, the prisoners Ellen Anderson, and William Ford, were again charged on remand with having been concerned in the murder of a Gorman named " Charley," ia High street, in March last. The evidence taken will be found at length elsewhere^ When the case for the prosecution was concluded, the prisoner Ford asked to bo remanded in order to give him an opportunity of consulting his lawyer, who was not ia Court, as to whether he should call evidence. The prisoners were then remanded for a week.

An advertisement appears in another column from the lessee of the Gas Works, explanatory of the caiiGe of the dcluy that hits taken place in resuming the supply of gas to the city.

The Special Jury Cause, Morgan v. Pollock and Another was concluded yesterday ; the jury finding for the plaintiff—damages, XIOO.

The nomination and election of a member to represent the constituency of Parnell in the General Assembly, in thcrcom of Mr R. G. Wood, resigned, took place on Thursday, 20th April, at the Old Supreme Court House, Auckland. Two candidates had been in the

field—Messrs R. J. Creighton and H. Coolb— lian ; but the latter retired from the contest bsfore the day of nomination. Mr R. ,T. Creighton was declared duly elected.

The Princess Theatre was comparatively hinly attended last night, notwithstanding

the attractions provided. Perhaps this was owing to the darkness of the city, in couscquenee of the non-resumption of (he supply of gfis, combined with the muddy streets. Miss Gougcnhcini appeared to advantage in the comedy of the " Husband of my Heart," and was well supported by Miss Dolly Green and Miss Cassy Matthews. The new ballet of " Alliance," by Fraulcin Fannie and the Leopold Troupe,and the athletic performances of the Wieland Brothers followed. The entertainment concluded with the farceof A.S.S. This evening the comedy of " Nine Points of:the Law" will bo performed, in which MissGougenhrim wilt appear as Sophie Smytho, a young widow. The Ballet and Trapeziare performances will he repeated.

Interesting intelligence is to hand respecting the proceedings of natives at Poverty Bay, in respect to the Pai Marire Superstition, which we are compelled to hold over for the-present.

The "Southern Cross" of the 20th ult.. announces that the "rope-tying" feat, as practised by the Davenport Brothers in England, was successfully performed by a Mr Litiman, at the Prince of Wales Theatre. The performer is represented to be a. newarrival in the Province.