SKETCHES IN PARLIAMENT.

Wellington Independent, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2735, 22 September 1868, Page 7

SKETCHES IN PARLIAMENT.

The following extracts are taken from "Special Parliamentary Notes," which appear in the Nelson Colonist of the 11th and 15th instant : — But the grand humbug of the House, the disgrace to the legislation of the last year, is the Maori contingent. Mr. Russell is a half-caste, and I believe cannot speak Maori, and was sensible enough to propose the other day that the Maoris might be represented by Europeans. Ministers, no doubt for a very good roason, opposed this and the motion was lost. I shall here tell you an iucident that I witnessed yesterday. I was walking along the street with a member of the House, when " General " Mete Kingi came out of a clothing shop, where ho had boen getting attired in a blue coat and vest with brass buttons. He said he had seen me in Wakatu, and shook hands with my companion and myself, ! pointing in childish glee to his new coat and waistcoat. After some palaver, and shivering of the hands J in Maori fashion, with a stamp on the ground, ho said to the gentleman who accompanied me, " Makee me the lend five hfiren." "Ka hore the money, I have not a shilling in jny pocket," was the reply. What then did this Gonoral do, — this chief of the noble native race, thia one of four of the aborigines whose i votes are given to make laws whioh shall bind a quarter of a million Europeans ? In the open street he proceeded to feel the pockets of the gentleman, o'utßide and in! In downright astonishment, I ejaculated, " And this is the material to which Mr. Siafford is indebted for his majorities, this, and Gaol Commissioners, and grateful friends !" Heaven help the country where such things are possible, and where you find Ministers first lending themselves to the creation of this ignorant and contemptible kind of legislator, and then using him as the means of mis-governing the country and upsetting its constitution. I saw this same Mete Kingi last night sneak up to the Government bonoh two or three times, and address the Native Minister in exactly the same abject-h'ke manner as he employed when asking for sa. Whether or not ho was trying to negotiate a loan I do not know, nor whether he got it or not ; bub at nil events the Ministry know the value of tui'se colored members, and are not likely to allow trifles to stand in the way of any influence they can exercise over such legislative material. I have heard that all four have been honored guests at tho table of the Native Minister, whose "pure love and affection" for the race is proverbial ! Respecting the debate in Committee on the evening of Tuesday, Bth inßtant, when Mr. Fox censured the | Government for over-issuing £43,000 of Debentures, occasion is taken by the writer to make the following remarks : — Mr. Hall, tho Postmaster-General and Acting Colonial Treasurer, followed Mr. Fox. He made a lame defence ; in fact, it could hardly bo called a defence, for he admitted tho illegal ovor-issue ; barely attempting to justify it, except by tho allegation that j it might have boen "an indiscretion" to have issued in ' excess ; but then, he added, the money could bo employed for something else. It could pay off i Treasury Bills. Mr. Stafford was wrathful in tho extreme. Ho had looked b} r no menus pleased all the evening previously. In angry voice, he accused members of attacking Mr. Fitzhcrbert in his absence, and in a contemptuous, scornful way, said " How tho small men of the House, who now attacked Mr. Fitzherbort in his absence, would, were ho present, shrivel up if he but. looked at them. Ido not include Mr. Fox, for he is bold enough to attack a man in his presence ; but it is the smaller clogs of the Houso who have yelped at the absent gentleman." After this choice insult to tho Opposition, — an attack which could have been returned with tenfold vigor and i truth against tho trained poodles and mongrels who | fetch and carry for the Ministry, and look out for ' the kitchen stuff— ho said, "Not'one ofthesoporsons, could prove that Mr. Fitzherberfc had raised more than the sum authorised by tho Act ;" and he contended that the whole question rested on tho meaning of the word "raised," arguing that it was susceptible of meaning that if the Act authorised the raising of £1,114,000, it really meant tho issuing of debentures, not only for that sum, but also for all the costs, charges, and discounts to which the operation may •bo subject ! This is a second edition of tho attempt of Mr. Fitzhorbcrt in conjunction with Mr. Stafford to rai?o £2(50,000 beyond tho three-million loftu, which attempt was defeated and abandoned, as Mr. Yogel forcibly showed in tho speech with which he sxiccecded Mi*. Stafford. Before closing, Mr. Stafford, changing his tono from one of bitterness and anger, grew solemn, and strove to bo impressive. I thought him only turgid, but then I may be prejudiced ; still, when he warned the Houso in softly solomn tones to beware of bringing accusations against Ministers as to money matters,— when ho assured lion, members that such accusations damaged the credit of the Colony, and recoiled on the headß of those who made them, I could not help thinking that it would be far hotter and wiser for Ministers to give no cause for such accusations • that, if they kept faith with tho House and the country, and observed the law, there would bo no grounds for such accusations ; but when Ministers are guilty of illegal dabbling in loans which they had no right to raiso, — if they falsified tho true intent of an Act of Parliament, and obtained monoy they had no business to possess, breaking tho law, as Mr. Stafford did when ho presented £100,000 to Auckland Province, without the. authority of Parliament; — it struck me, as I thought of theso things, that hon. members would fail very much in their duty to tho country if they did not fearlessly and vigorously point out such Ministerial misdeeds, careless of the hollow eloquence and personal insolence by which men, angry that they wero discovered, strovo to hide their faults, and to intimidate modest men from speaking, lest they should bo called " small men " to be " shrivelled " with a look (!) or " smaller dogs that yelp !" Mr. Stafford appears to have a great capacity for making men hate him ; nnd I thought, as ho ground o\it the harah terms he throw about him, that the time would arrive when the insulted members would have their revenge. Mr. Stafford appears rather attached to the canine simile when speaking of tho House of Representatives. He talks now of "small yelping dogs-." it will bo remembered that some years ago, referring to tho House in 1864, ho declared ho never saw a more " spiritless, hang-dog looking set." In spito of hifi own "alabaster brow," no ono, who saw how he looked when— with a scowl thereon, and a look in hie angry eye that showed he would havo "shrivelled" up Mr. Vogolifhecould— he fairly retreated before tho stinging sarcasms of that hon. member, would havo given him Beauty's palm at that particular moment. . , I should have said that Mr. Trayors preceded Mr. Stafford. That legal gentleman liad declared that the Government had " insulted the intelligence of the House" by thoir improper manipulation of >he finance, and deceivingthoHousoaboutit. Without naming him, Mr. Stafford, in the "dog" speech, g.tve a few liard words to Mr. Travers, and ho seemed to feel them too ; but as his memory for events* is by no means defective, possibly Mr. Staffbrd'will haVe cause to regret his language. The Premier has tho faculty of ovorawmg sensitive mou who way not bo, apt speakers, and may be afraid of ridicule and his biting tongue, and unscrupulous systom of .statement. . ■• An instance of tliis was to bo found in ft debate Bomo tmio ago rcspeothig tho appointment of. a. reporting staff for "Hansard," ns it is willed. A set of reporters wore sent for from Australia., -inoy wero, as a rulo, not quite equal to the position, and with one exception havo all disappeared ironi. the gallery as Hansard men. Some .'discussipn^tpofr, place on tho subject, and flovuwwAnt "?<"< "" ' ' ' *■' •'""■■ -k!-!,;''; •;■ - us'--: 1 ;:!)! trv?M •'> i" v!r ' '

lecidedly that the Atu ■ <■>■•• briintil.afterallthefomierit- ■■..''.;; ' '■ uid refused to not. Oneinefin- C ihftt statement; and told tht I f • year's staff had not been ,wi ' refused. Mr. Stafford flatty co: ■■•<-■ . declared his information (which! hand) to be wrong, and repeat^ ; : as he. himself had atated it The' " shaken in Ks belief, and did not 4> put down by the direct assertion o " gamed his point and quashed the «:s • . Premier was quite, wrong, and his right -„ the. men had.wo* been writt^ refused to act !,.. , — Bold direct assertion like this h, .. of the hon. the Colonial Socretaj* • confidence of a speaker who lai desire to say nothing except what* -s only, fearing that either hißre|pj,«tio: or that facts might be diffeMil, a^ i to him, he, scrupulously v. people take his silence/for sti^inv fearless assertion on the other sigj:' but the trick is jußfc as honest;anfl • horse-dealer to pass off a bSrab • hack, as being a good sofuad rj^aps •• . ■ recollection of ft sample of this pe>-<i Premier, who when lastMn Ne ••.,. large audience did. the same "thr .. same groundsj with reference i assertions of bis own — also erron< . to-be-forgotten subject of bis savi . occasion too, he gained his point, ;<i neutrah'sed the fact. But these • ] advantages; for they cost far D'<v. worth, because they produce j •<■ and are apt, from a sense of injuf v truth, to rankle in men's minds. I return to my subject and w . ; ' back with me to the gallery d Committee, under the chairman*-: ■ who, when he speaks to the Hoy Maori, German, French, Latin, i • and Hindostanee, Chinese, Sans'; MaxMiiller spells it with a"! Aryan; Turanian, Polynesian aught I know, — anything in fact ' he confessed he cannot speak wit' from results, I should say he wai he rises the House is cleared Club" of interminable speech una Well, about the debate. I thir that Mr. Yogel succeeded Mr. S 1 once accused of treating the Hoi ings were a. race to bo won by jo . . I think I shall try to throw : i what took place. To me the see play, except that the feeling il •: with melancholy. A PABUAMENTABY PEI >.. Dramatis Persona, Mr. Stat. -;• ; Yogel (who suffers from deafnesl \ , Mr. Yogel : There has been ai ; ' debentures, a wiitulj?versteppinj| '■: borrowing powers conferred by ; ' ' will not say discreditable anc disingenuous attempt on the Colonial Treasurer [Mr. Kail wi House as to the actual feats of .«• conduct, and that of the same ir the Ministry with the Three Mill great discredit on the Colony. [Mr. Stafford here threw a 1 • glance at Mr. Yogel, who was sta nearly opposite the Ministerial be? Mr. Yogel: The hon. the c makes a gesture of contempt. He to doing this while I am speaking; errors ; but let me tell the hon. ger nothing for the opinion he may oni • for his contempt either, and lot me that gentleman is so peculiarly com had the choice of two ways, one a ( course, and the other open, frank; . I believe he would take the former [Mr. Stafford here scowled w. spoaker.] Mr. Yogel : The Government 1 incurred liability for £43,000 withot the Colony. [Cheers from the oth~stage.'] Hare the Government th I say they have not. [Exit Mr. Stafford, qniokly, at Mr. Hull moves uneasily in his se Mr. Yogel : The hon. the Pc shaking his head ; but I'll prove Mr. Hall (sharply) ; I did not all. (Laughter.) Mr. Yogel : Oh ; but I'll proyr •: laughter.) I'll prove that the oikand was illegal. , [Mr. Hall springs from his .see r Mr. Yogel, as if he were about, to, turns suddenly round and Jfyctyby ii\ Mr. Stafford. The I^.ative Minist •:■ and the Defence Minister (Colonel i ; the sole occupants of the Minisw as far apart from each other as p - from comfortable.] Mr. Yogel : Ministers choose,! • am speakiug unpalatablo truths, a because they think they have a ra: , i to enable them to do as they p need pay little attention to th« '.v forward. They may go out; but* a where Ministers so going out ha earshot, and have even placed tt wall; (laughter,) and I shall Bup so now, , Here terminated this little sc not almost a sin to make compari Ministers and those who at presc . tinies, I should say that the, t" c: what the English people and th. :» said regarding Ministers who coi i; 1 ing out from the presence and &)■- * contemptible opponent. Howet . Several other members spoke,; i ■••" was past eleven o'clock ; and th| » that the re-modelled finauoial s^r 'w on after that hour. At laet t 1 o question as moved by Mr. F05f3.,..t, chair, aiid declared that the •" l!f >y "' was a cry of " Divide " from the ' 'p\ the division bell was rung. , Mr;, i 1 o: there was no wish to take a diy ..-:,.!! man said a call for a division. I > i ho must proceed. The doors yti ': :• tion was again put ; and^^ain i the " Noes" had it. No eIU wosi Opposition ; b\it Mr. MenTn, a M " Ayes have it," and all tho meft . out into the Government lobby^J exhibit theii- forces, nor tpM ' eubsidiary point. Mr. Carletdf| and Mr. Reynolds to act.'as; ' - declined to' do, roplyjng to -J ' ',' chairman,— tho latter that hpdj ■: spoke on rt» 0 ? c .'* w «*. : f^» "■ Parkersfl^ that , he •-' , lefttlieobir, and appealed, to • ; j asgumedlus-seft^andthequeßfa^ ' *.* jj ero another pomt of oijdej -.ivs '■■■ asked whether, the Speaker bfii-^v.- ; the Houso thereforo not w \" should not now be opened. T| r-^ as he had taken the chair to do: ?■■ •■ >\ originafceol in Committee, %'waf .v If House was still in Committee..' -"'.vvs hereby record my dissent, j^l' 1 . &'■>s worthless, ns I am not up,ij| uiv'.> Practice and Precedents,— ajj<| c.>.ij«i Speaker knows these thingffS i-'-stKi 1 know little or nothing 'abouUiv a ; 'ut the principal of comn|pa..B| 1 ; i ;■■•> •«'-J---because, in the first place, the ;u:(c'Vj;« Committee while the Speakej ,'-. ••: •".: secondly, the object would hai r ctioit | David Mbnro, who was m the! - -a* /» i not have assumed the chair, at a' 1 , ■ >v?nj as to thepbwi'B of,,tho ch;i.:'!Mh, ».■ should at the vflrkt. ha>e : l#e»i -:sxc-. ■•'-< Roynolds/and .PaS^r. , As. £j -, v. ; '„.-■ Com^teesleft.thechau:^^!' &-:-!>svj:i IVJr. Speakof r .^ereXoj^i'Vif/vri-'.' far. .i, and'therefore #9^^>#i ".av^/Tnv Of'courße.l%^|^e^|§^W. ?->i : >■',■ .''"Mil: *;,.3 r ' ft •sye<'?uonl3, Mnv«^!> £ ;,.l-':-/nc to JHylde. , M.-,<.-u-, vp'msir h}«:.il<T f ,<"t ; .i Mi }

Watbb Spppiy. — We understand that the Tan*- »ir in tho war of the G-e»«ral Government igs is completed and in operation. Its r capacity ie »f moat 35,000 gallons, and there lly suppl/ to that extent. Once in every -four hoars at least this large quantity can ■ red i"* o this immense cistern — which is the '. i nk thti> the Cook's Straits cable came out '],<» supply of water consumed by the .\< J Government buildings, G-ovomment. •\, and Museum, is estimated at about 5000 per diem, and every day there muat contly be a waste of water equal to nearly ■i gallons, The surface of the water is •t feet above the level of the beach, >v the sum of £400 pipes could bo laid along the beach as far as the Union thus affording a never failing supply of ivhero it is most wanted, namely, to houses d together on small plots of ground. The pipes to the houses would bean additional i, ,but it would not bo much. In a sanitary f view this waste water would be invaluftlay we not hope that the Town Board lsider it to be one of their duties to enp to utilise it. eland Harbor.— Tho Harbor Master at - ad publishes in the Gazette, a notice to rs announcing the discovery of a sunkd sand bank in the vicinity of North iuckland Harbor, and that a red buoy has •laced on the East side of the said rock. « of veseels are at the same time cautioned approach too near the Western shore of igitoto channel. p Duties. — It is notified in tho Gazette persons selling stamps without a license )le to penalties of £20 for each offence, .t the license of any distributor of stamps ■ ■ :• : gor receiving more than the value of the rill be immediately cancelled. y- ■' i? Inspector. — The office of Sheep In- .•(-■• for the Wanganui-Rangitikei district has yjicant by tbp resignation of Mr M'Donald. resignation of William ii of his appointment; pf Justice of the of AJan BaiJlie, of We appointment of of the Auckland Gold Jrfcldp f and of : -odie, of his appointment of cjepk to the Whangarei, have been accepted by hie ey the Governor. ;ET. James Pateeson.— This gentleman gazetted an officiating minister under •iage Act, 1854, and we wish him every . i this department of his labors. . liYHOUTH Roadstead.— The last Gazette •emarks on and sailing directions for the of New Plymouth. It also gives the •■; • ?d at that port. u?er Exchanges. — The Government ht in a bill to enable exchange newsgo from one newspaper office to another This is a boon to many newspapers. RESS AND THE GOVERNMENT. — The i correspondent of the Neio Zealand :ite.»': — " The battle of the press is still lit out in committee. I should rather : . . battle of the anti-press party, because ■ ts of that section do all the barking. been signally defeated so far, although . the libel bill is not yet determined. I good deal on the subject already, but ort of literature springing up which is ste than anything you will see in the •■-■ ■ : >ress. You will be surprised when I .t Government clerks holding sinecure : the correspondents of Government ughout the colony, and the writers y tho Government to give a sessional ) the defunct Advertiser. I would " ■ )f my readers understand — those who . c of political honor — that tho days of • •■'■'.■ ought to be past. That free, fair, ly, courteous discussion ought to be •> ■ political life." The above corrcspon■r. tho tvuth. It is ft notorious fact that Jillon, who holds the sinecure office iille, and is also employed as a general wed to occupy the time for which the s some £250 a year, in acting as a — — spaper reporter and telegraphic correspondent ie interests of the Ministry. The thing is a strous job and glaring scandal. We trust i the estimates are under consideration, that louse will refuse to vote Mr Gillon's salary, has been explained how it was possible for o perform the duties of his ©ffice when nine-•-■'3 of his time has been passed either in a •' >aper office or the reporters' gallery. Wellington to Lose the Patent Slip ?— eople North are very anxious that Auckhould bo made the Port of call for the ia steamers, to their own advantage and nifest detriment of the service. Of course jno chance of their getting it ; but, in the me, they are talking of buying tho Wellingent Slip. Mr George, who is now up North, n informing tho Southern Cross that, if a Id be found in Auckland, and a company for the purpose of carrying out tho work, propared to sell the material at consideri than cost price, and would accede to erms of payment. On this the Cross 'Wo trußt that our Auckland capitalists c some steps towards ascertaining the ty of such awo?k being carried out here. •pportunity not to be missed. If arrangero to be made to purchase the concern, j of the plant and tools could be at once from Wellington, and eight or ten ;■■ rould see in Auckland harbor a patent We of accommodating vessels of the anage that trade in the Southern hemi■enness at the Front.— The Wanganui ates that tho p.s. Sturt brought from '■■■'■■■ \rge quantity of beer, spirits, &c, the j ■■■-•-•■• nng all closed. Since it is impossible, ! ial law, to award punishment sufficient \ from getting drunk, the authorities 1 no other alternative than to keep .■ ■ • n the men, when tho men would not ? drink; so the action may havo "• •; to preserve discipline. But the ■■; ■ Ul havo to compensate those who 7 the illegal, although necessary ation, however, may be fouud d than chronic mutiny through v* an Old Taeanaei Settler. — The Herald records the decease of Mr James Yems, >ne of the earliest Taranaki settlors. Mr Yems ias been engaged in business for many years, and •iiß sudden death on Thursday morning last cast I gloom over tho whole community. Tho ranks jf men who shared in the difficulties of tho first peara of settlement in Taranaki aro now being inudually thinned ; but amongst them thoro was n^-^ne^ mpj^^dghly esteemed, or who will be niore'kmdiy remembered than James Yems. A Disgraceful Case.— Lately in Auckland a gentleman who hod occasion to go down by the Wynyard Pier observed three children lying on the beach below high-water mark, the water at the time partly immersing "thebt. bodies. On going down to them he found to his amazement and grief that the three of tuora wers insensibly drunk, and unable to move. The eldest of them vas not more than eleven yeara old. Prompt measures were taken to save the children from their perilous position, and restoro them fvoin. the effects of the alcohol they had imbibed, though ■wejuriderstand that yesterday one of thorn w^ BtUWery unwell. It appears they had raised tin inouej Ijeween them, and purchased a bottle a brandyind had drunk the spirits raw, the whol< bottle-full. Death op Hoei Kingi.— The Wanganu Merald thus refers to the death of tin's aged chief The aged and venerable raugatira, Hori Kingi, wai a warm friend of the colonist, and exercised £ noseriul sway over tho Wanganui tribes, in favo]

A Bravb Ma».— a u»««~ .••---■. the Armed Constabulary, arrived hero on Saturday morning by the Sturt, having been wounded in the recent engagement at Ngutuotenmnu. > Mr O'Brien was one of the rear guard under Lieut, ffastiugs, and we believe was one of the few brave men who out of sixty, persistent y showed fight during the retreat. O'Brien tolls us that after the force had retreated about a mile, the Maoris preyed 60 hotly upon them, that it became absoutelv necessary to make a stand behind somo fallen trees. It was here that the gallant Lieut. Hastings, while encouraging his men, was shot through the bowels, and crying, ''Oh! Gx>d, pray"- J foil flat on his face mortally wounded. When he thus fell, O'Brien was close by him. The position was held for five minutes longer, when tho fire becama so hot that the few brave defenders were obliged to retreat without the opportunity of carrying off either Lieutenant Hastings or Corporal Russell, the latter having been wounded in the back. Had the rest of the men shewed fight, it would have been perfectly practicable to have carried off the wounded. The painful fact, however, is, that tho bulk of the force were panic-stricken and refused even to fire on the enemy. ThusithappenedthatHastiugß,whiloßtill alive, was left to the brutality of a merciless foe. It is not true, as previously stated by Borne correspondents, that Hastings was carried by the men until he died. At the moment when O'Brien and the last few of the force, were compelled to retreat, Hastings lay groaning on the ground, and ! Corporal Russell who was shot, vainly called upon his fellow countrymen to carry him off, adjuring them to do so, because he had a wife and a helpless family depending upon him ibr support. Private O'Brien could not single handed do anything for either of them, and was unable to obtain a single man to assist him. It will be remembered that O'Brien was one of the four bravo men who held an angle of tho redoubt at Turoturomokai when that place was surprised. Ho and his three comrades for more than half an hour held their own against a mob of infuriated Maoris, who having killed Captain Ross and nine of the garrison attempted in vain to dislodge them. The conduct of O'Brien and his companions completely redeemed the cowardice of those who on that occasion became panic stricken and fled. Tue Westland Nominee Superintendent. — J. A, Bouar, Esq., Chairman of the County Council of tho County of Westland has been I vested with all fchp pawwf! of Ms Excellency over the Westland Gold fields, The Reported Alluvial Discoveries.— Tho Thames Advertiser of the 14th inst. says :— -The rumors of alluvial diggings, which have been industriously circulated during tho last day or two resulted in the despatch of two rather numerous parties yesterday in search of tho new Bl Dorado. One of the parties, comprising some 20 diggers, left in a cutter for Mercury Bay, and another for Coromandel, both of which localities are snid to be the places alluded to. Until we hear further reliable news, however, we refrain from commenting on the rumors. Mete Kingi and Me Bulleb. — We clip the following from the Wanganui Herald of tho 15th inst. : — " Mete Kingi a few days ago ' rose in his place 1 in tho House, and demanded Mr Bullet's dismissal. He said our Resident Magistrate was unfit for his office j that ho was ' bad* and, in fact, that if the Government did not at once remove him some serious calamity would take place. He did not deign to bring any particular charge, but since we are acquainted with the nature of Mr Buller's offence, we will supply the omission. When Mr Paetahi was last in Wanganui the Kupopas were just preparing to go to the Front, and among them was the son of that exalted Rangatira. That the youth might exhibit in his person the dignity becoming tho son of a great chief, it was necessary he should carry a good sword. A goodly tempered blade, gilt, ornamented, and handsome, was found to bo in the possession of a gentleman in the town, and Mr Pnetahi was desirous of acquiring it. The price was stated at £10, and tho sword was handed to the chief to take it to Mr Buller, who waß to be forthcoming with the needful. Mete walked up to tho Court-house, presented the sword, pronounced it kapai, and requested Mr Buller for the £10 to purchase it, but this gentcraan could not see the lien, and refused to advance the money. Mete was inexorable, and even insolent, and Mr Buller made a proposal, calling a number of natives who were present to witness : If Mete would promise before them all to pay the money back when he received his honorarium as a member of tho Assembly, Mr Buller would lend him tho £10. To this Mote objected, and said he had got to pay the money he received as legislator in some other way. Mr Bullor then refused to advance the money, awd Mete worked himself into a tempest, threw the sword at Mr Buller's feet, and said, that when he went down to the Assembly he would get the Government to dismiss him. This is the whole story, and it affords a good illustration of the ideaß that impress tho Maori representatives as legislators j they are perhaps no worse than many pakehas, when their legislative efforts turn on the pivot of No. 1. The late Me Canning.— lt is stated by the correspondent of a Nelson contemporary that the late Mr Davis Canning who was killed in the fighting on the East Coast, had juat received a legacy of £3,000 from home, and was about to be married, having purchased some land in Hawke's Bay, when he was thus cut off. He was struck by two bullets in the breast when charging upon the natives, gave his rifle to the nearest man in tho ranks, and then fell dead ! Bishop Pbeet on the Anglican Church in Victoeia. — The Bishop of Melbourne has addressed a long letter (tho first of a series) to the Argus, on the position and prospects of the Church of England in Victoria. His Lordship's epistlo closes with tho following ; — " As respects fche Church in Victoria, I have no fear lest its laity should ever tolerate the ritualistic practices which now prevail to bo great an extent in England ; but I do fear lest, by the introduction of clergymen holding the opionions from which those practices have emanated, their confidence in its ministers should be impaired, and either a large secession or a disruption should occur among us. A letter, received by the recent mail from an old friend, who has never been connected with any party in tho Church, confirms mo in thiß apprehensions. He writes — '" One hardy knows what to think or say in these extraordinary times ; but I am sure that they are full of anxiety in all questions relating to church and state.' Then, after referring to a charge which had just been delivered by tho bishop of Worcester, ho proceeds :— •' One result of this uneasiness in tho Church, caused by those advanced parties, is that the people (many of whom have little vital religion) think it their duty to watch every act of their clergy, to take every possible opportunity of connecting them with the advanced party, and raising a cry ugainst them. For instance, you would hardly beleivo that in the case of so sober a man as myself, tho arrival of the marble for tho steps of the communion table.' — his church, a very fine old building, is in pi-ogress e>i veatoya* tion— ' should bo seriously spokon of as blocks of marble to form tho altar" In fact, all trust in the clergy seems gone, and every act is viewed with suspicion. May God preserve His church through these anxious days !" Gbevillb and Co's New Boat.— A beautiful new boat has reeonfcly been built by Mr Jjoraax, ot iialmain, to the order of Greville's Telegram Company Sydney. The boat which is to receive tbo very appropriate name of « Telegraph" is specially intended by her enterprising Swnor for use on those exciting occasions to tho newspaper press^when tho most strenuous exertions are put. fourth \o mako first delivery in Sydney, and especially at tho Government Telegraph Office, for transmission to Melbourne Adelaide, Brisbane

Tire special sorvioes in connection with tho opening of the new Wesleyaa Church in Mannersstreet, were continued on Sunday last. There were three Bervicos. In the morning the Rev. G. S. Rishworth occupied the pulpit, in the afternoon the Rev. R. Ward (Primitive Methodist) preached; in the evening the Rev. William Morley, of Wanganui, delivered an excellent sermon from the text " Lord, what wilt Thou have me to do ?" In tho treatment of his subject, Mr Morley, applied the question to individual cases, and pressed upon hia audience the fact that every Christian ha 9 a work to do, which can not be delogatcd to any other being. Mr Nicholson, presided at the organ ; and the choir, led by Mr Touts, acquitted themselves admirably. Collections were made after each service, in aid of the building fund tho proceeds being £42; this together with tho result of the donations on the prerious Sabbath will make £125, contributed on this special occasion. ' TEA AND PUBLIC MEETING. On Monday evening a tea meeting was held to which a large assembly did ample justice. This was followed by a public meeting, which was exceedingly well attended. Dr Bennott, Registrar General, occupied tho chair, and after a few happy and appropriate remarks, which were frequently applauded, called upon the Rev. W. Kirk, the Superintendent of the Circuit, to read the financial report. From tho report it appeared that' £1090 had been subscribed towards tho erection of the Church, and that a debt of lomo £1300 was at present owing. Tho Rev. J. Patterson then came forward and was greeted with loud cheers. We regret our want of space prevents us from giving a report of his eloquent address. The Rev. J. S. Rishworth followed, and during the course of an eloquent address he was frequently applauded. Ho said if only 400 members of the congregations would subscribe Is or 6d per week for the purposo tho debt on their beautiful and comfortable place of worship would soon be wiped off. The Rev. Mr Morley, from Wanganui, next addressed the meeting. He congratulated those present on having dedicated so fine a building for the Lord's service. When any great material undertaking was accomplished a banquet was given to celebrato the event ; and inasmuch as the soul was of more importance than the body, they had still more reason to celebrate tho completion of a building set apart for the worship of God, and the spiritual instruction and consolation of the people. He referred to the old raupo whnre in which the Weslcyans first worshipped, then to Hunt's store, and the old brick building which j had been destroyed by the earthquakes in 1858. Those " old identities" who could remember those ! days would rejoice at tho erection of the spacious building in which they had then assembled. He referred to the war raging in this district, but there was another war going on in which they were all personally interested — the battle of good againft evil. Another question was agitating tho public mind, and that was finance. This was a question which also concerned the Church. Ho believed thoro was a glorious future for the colony, and he was strengthened in this belief by the orection of sanctuaries like this for the worship of the living God. A collection was then made. During the evening tho choir discoursed some sweet music, which was highly appreciated by all present. Want of space and time prevents us from giving a more detailed report of this interesting gathering.