The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1879.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 295, 21 October 1879, Page 2

The Wairarapa Daily. TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 1879.

A somewhat remarkable leading article appeared in the New Zealander of the 13th, •which, judging from its sentiments and style, might almost have been supposed to have been written or dictated by Sir George Grey himself. Every sentence smacks of the great Mogul excepting the penultimate one, which looks as if it had been inserted by another hand as an apology for the article to which it was attached. If the ox-Premier has really taken to leader writing, Mr Henry Anderson must look out for his laurels as the champion writer of colonial journalistic extravaganza, The article referred to makes the usual reference to future millions for whom New Zealand has now to provide, and proceeds to attack Sir Hercules Robinson for unconstitutional practices, and insinuates that it is possible for New Zealand to override the authority of the Governor of die colony, and to establish precedents which are not provided for by the constitution of either this or the mother country. What the writer means it is not easy to discover, but we take it that its object is to show that while the Hall Ministry should be impeached for any unconstitutional practices, the constitution itself should be modified or abrogated to suit the Opposition. That while the constitution should control the Hall party, the Grey party should control the constitution. We shall for the future read the New Zealander with added interest if, as we believe, its leaders are inspired by the great proconsul, and apologise for a statement we made last week expressing surprise at the reckless assertions made in the leading columns of that journal. Sir Hercules Robinson, who is generally regarded as the model Governor of the Australasian group, is to be written down preparatory, we presume, for the good time coming when we shall have in New Zealand a happy combination of democracy and unlimited monarchy. His Serene Highness the Landgrave of Kawau is, we presume, making ready to take his proper place as the Unlimited Monarch of the Britain of the South. ' Why tarry the wheels of his chariot f maybe asked, when, as ho boasts, the representatives of the colony are already bound to them. The answer, probably, is the inconvenient presence in New Zealand of an able British Governor! On this Governor the war is to be waged, and so we get inspired leaders in the New Zealander. Sir George Grey is an ambitious man, and probably nothing less than supreme power will satisfy him. Having been kicked off the constitutional ladder, he must climb by an unconstitutional one. What his end and aim is it is difficult to discern. Is he to be ' Lord Protector,' or President, or Khedive of New Zealand? Perhaps the latter title might suit him, with Macnndrew as Grand Vizier, Sheehan Chief of the, say Palace, and the Editor of the Chrouicle as bearer of the bow-string. If precedents are to be introduced into New Zealand unknown to the English constitution, where are we to stop, and what will the country come to 1 Though deposed from piace and power in the House of Eepresentatives, Sir George Grey claims by outside influences to be able to rule the colony, and it is a serious question to what extent he can exert such influences, and what is his ultimate object in appealing to them.

A correspondence has taken place in our columns lately on the position of St. Matthew's Church. It is pretty obvious that the affairs of the church are not altogether in a satisfactory position, and the reason is not very hard to discover. Some three years ago a gentleman was appointed as Curate who entered upon his duties without previous experience. Instead of being guided by the experience of the senior clergyman under whom he was stationed, instead of taking counsel with the members of his Vestry, who had for many years been earnest and valuable supporters of the church —and we might mention the names of Mersrs J. Y. Smith, J. Bennett, and the late Mr Bannister—he introduced innovations which were not acceptable to the leading members of the congregation, and so estranged them from the church. Any church, to be efficient, must be conducted in accordance with pnblic opinion of its members, and it is simply because for the last three years St. Matthew's Church has not been conducted in this marner that it has been unprosperous, We venture to assert that it never will prosper till it is brought into harmony with the wishes and views of churchmen. The present Incumbent has had to be his own treasurer and his own canvasser simply because he could not command that amount of lay co-operation which was necessary for the due conduct of the church business, There is too great a tendency among ministers in the colony to dabble in secular duties of this character, and to ignore the real clerical work .which it is incumbent upon them to discharge, All over the Wairarapa there are indications that the

Church of England is losing instead of gaining ground. The long-continued illness of the Rev A. Knell must necessarily affect the progress of the church in the Lower Valley, but at Masterton the reason is plainly a position of antagonism between the Curate and the leading churchmen ot the parochial district,