The Wellington Independent Tuesday, October 1,1861. THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND SYNOD.

Wellington Independent, Volume 1671, Issue 1671, 1 October 1861, Page 2

The Wellington Independent Tuesday, October 1, 1861. THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND SYNOD.

The third Annual Synod pf the Church of England in this Diocese, terminated its sittings yesterday, having . commenced them on Tuesday j last. To those who specially take interest in the welfare of this section of the Christian Church, it must be highly satisfactory to learn, that the President was enabled to record a steady progress in the working of the system for its internal government. We are not aware how far this may be said tobe the case in other Colonies, but whatever may be the difficulties in the outset, the necessity for a system of Government diiferent to that which prevails in England, must be obvious to all who consider the different position which the Branch Church occupies in the Colonies, to what the Mother Church does in.; the old country. No perfect system oi" government can be at once introduced into any Society, civil or ecclesiastical — defects will appear in practice which do . not exist in theory, and it is only by applying the test of experience that a constitution can- be, made to work , completely. The members of the Church of England will probably be a long while before they fully work out a system of self

of the hank, with a good depth of water, and heing a straight channel, there is no clanger. No difficulty again occurs—excepting various snags strewed about tbe river— but all having good channels between them, uutil arriving at a narrow passage between rocks— about a mile above the Pomahaka— where the current is very rapid, and would require every precaution in steering a vessel through it. At the lower end of tbe island, at Mr. Archibald's station, the channel is narrow, on either side of an extensive flat of shallow water ; aud about one-and-a-half miles above Mr. Archibald's house another danger occurs requiring the same precaution as above. The channel is rocky close to the east bank of the river, very narrow, and current rapid : nothing then impedes the navigation until arriving at Messrs. Allan and Oliver's station, from which point to tbe mouth of the Tuapeka, there are a great many rocky inlets, but having good channels between them. About one mile above tbe Tuapeka there were found several specimen's of quartz, apparently with gold, on the banks of the river. Proceeding another mile beyond, the river is veiy rocky, having good channels between the rocks. Tbe j river then, for ten miles further, is altogether free from any obstruction — at which point it was not practicable to get the boat beyond, there not being a sufficient depth of water for it on any part of the shallow extending right acrtss. The Pomahaka~"is navigable two-and-a-half miles from the entrance— at which point there is only a depth, of two feet water, extending across the river.

The depths of water in the main channel, in the different parts of the river, are as follows— from the entrance to the Ferry, not less than seven feet, many parts no bottom at ten feet; from the Ferry to ; twelve miles above the Tuapeka, not less than six feet, many parts no bottom at ten feet ; in all the veiy narrow difficult channels, no bottom at ten {eet. The liver, at the time the above soundings were taken, was one-and-a-half feet above the winter level.

The rates of current at the different points, are as follows— at Mr. Shaw's, one-and-a-half knots per hour ; at the Ferry, two knots per hour ; at the Tuapeka, four knots per hour ; and at Moa Nui Island, four knots per hour.

The foregoing particulars will show to your Honor the practicability of navigating a steamer (of the dimensions already stated) on the river at this season, when the waters are low — and that for a distance of about forty miles from the entrance.

The desirability of placing a steamer on the river must be apparent to your Honor, presenting an easy communication to a great extent of fine country, and reaching to a point within eighteen miles <ot the Tuapeka Gold Field.

I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, Wm, Thomson, Harbor Master,