THE ALBERTLAND GAZETTE. OCT. 1, 1863. THE TOWN LANDS.

B"? a resolution of the Settlers,, the Trus^ tees are empowered to sell it their discre tion, 75 acres of the Town Laricjs; 25 acres lying near the Government • Reserve in £ and 1 acre lots at the rate of £10 an acre as Town Land, on condition that the^pur chaser shall either become a resident on it, or put up a house worth at least £20, within six months of paying his deposit;, and 50 acres lying furthe:: back, in 2, 3, 4 or 5 acre lots at the rate of £san acre, as Suburban Land, on condition that the purchaser shall clear the whole of it, and cultivate at least one fourth within twelve mouths of paying his deposit. This reso lution, though opposed rather warmly by two or three individuals, was adopted by almost the entire body of settlers as;soon as the Town lands came into their own possession. Tbe aim and spirit of this resolution are easily seen. Our effort from the first bas been to lay the foundation of a, real not nominal town ; and we labor for this by facilitating the settling down in our town of those who either feel an interest in our Settlement, or may think it worth their while to come amongst us. Whilst we have studiously: avoided trumpeting the excellencies of Port Albert and raising1 a factious and short-lived fame, we have de termined to remove every difficulty out of the way of those who, cherishing any af fection for the pla,oe, may think to, make their home here. It is very probable that some of the land jjqwselling on the above conditions, might

realize a much higher price if put up to public auction in Auckland; but in that case it would fall into the hands of specu lators, who might probably leave it un touched for the next 10 or 20 years, and the good their money would do the settle ment would be outweighed by the obstruc tion of uncleared land and the consequent cramping of the development of the town. It is but right that the price should be lowered to those who are willing to submit to these conditions, while the conditions themselves ensure that the sale of the land shall give life and vigour to Port Albert. No distinction is herein made in favor of Albertland settlers. We merely ask that the purchaser of the land shall contribute something besides his mere purchase mo ney, ( which he may one day receive back tenfold,) to the progress of the place. That is, we ask him to help in raising the value of his own property, instead of leav ing it entirely to us to multiply tenfold his investment. All who come to dwell among us with such designs, we heartily welcome, come whence they may, and bear what name they may.

! In fixing these conditions, we had all due regard to their probable practical working. We compute that a man with a small household, devoting half his time to the cultivation of 3 or 4 acres of Sub urban land would soon obtain a subsistence from it; the remaining half of his time he could profitably devote to his own calling, it'being generally supposed that a town resident is something more than an agri culturist. Were a shoemaker for instance resident at Port Albert, he might very well maintain himself by devoting half his time to his own trade; the cultivation of a few acres of suburban land would be so much clear gain in money, pleasure and health. The same may be said of a blacksmith, and,two or three other trades, for which thera is at present a demand. We do not see how the framers of these conditions could better have consulted the interests of Port Albert, and of all the holders of land in its vicinity.

ilt has been thought by some Albert landers in Auckland, that they should have the option of the purchase of some of these lands, but without theimposition of these conditions, but we are not prepared to say how such a requisition might be met until it is formally made, as it has not lain in our path at all to consider the question. Doubtless an easy solution of any diffi culty attending it would be found, suppo singl their desire were not merely to make a profitable speculation in our lands. This we should not expect from an Albertlan der. If he is assumed to have a special privilege of right in the Albertland settle-?, ment, he is of course on the same ground and to the same extent, assumed to have a special privilege of responsibility to it. Rights without duties have no existence. We will hot however, for one moment doubt, that every genuine Albertlander will be desirous. to cojnt.ribute to tile place/ as far

as he may wish to speculate mA C • Yfe will only add:now "thatittie sale is ' still in. progress,, and that f some of .the oc cupiers will ■ shortly bec(Dme|,posses&ed of ■ the freehold;

THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

We have heard of an objection to our aim at realizing the one undivided Church.which as sumes importance not so much as an.objection but rather as ari illustration of the ignorance of religion that prevails among its professors, and the extent to which that ignorance may create the discords of the church. It is said, by the objector that men cannot be expected "to change their religion " in coming out to New Zealand. What ideas can a chnstian have of Christians who can speak of "changing his religion." Religion may be viewed in either of two aspects, or both; as obligation arising out of our felt relation to God, or as the inward realization of that relationship in. all its spiritual bearings. But in either of these aspects, how can a man speak of chang ing his religion ? As well might he «peak of changing his God. "We expect a man's reli gion to change 7iim, daily, and hourly; and surely if religion be a sense of duty arising put of the nearness of God, it must impart an. inexpressible sacrednesa to every human act, orif it be a profound inward sense of oneness with God, it must, to an equal extent elevate andennoble human existence, and in either case will powerfully change the man; but the idea of the man changing it is as remote from our thoughts as is the idea of his regulating afresh the arrangements of the solar system. How then can the objection arise? Clearly from an ignorance of this character of real religion, and a confusion between religion and its forms. The outward forms of religion can be changed. But the individual *church we seek after, is not sufficiently dependent on. external forms to need any change in them. " It is our desire rather to cherish diversified forms if they can minister to spiritual life; and by no means to attain a uniformity. And surely if religion be the sublime, yet simple thing we have represented, its one hallowing spirit may pervade a body of disciples, how ever varied in their observance of external forms; and every form will be deepened in ■ its meaning and worth by the presence of that sacred orieness which suffers none of these external things to disturb the pure love, which is.the one sure sign of our^divine discipleship.

PUBLIC MEETINGS

Settler's Meeting.—On. last Market day there was but a limited attendance, which may be partly accounted for by the absence of several who were then working at a dis tance. Mr. Judd was called to the chair, after which the Minutes of the last meeting" were read and confirmed on the motion of Messrs. Edger and Worker.

After a conversation it was resolved (on account of the limited attendance,)

" That the question as to the formation of a Board of Management be postponed to next meeting." —Worker and Judd. , Dr. Bell reported that no reply had yet been received from Mrs. Steel respecting the libra ry books, Mr. Haines had promised to send those he held but had not yet done so. The Secretary stated that he had written to Mr. Eussell, explanatory of affairs up here, and also to the Superintendent, asking1 for work for those requiring it. He had received a reply from the former^gentleman, but as ther*

THE ALBERTLAND GAZETTE.,

2



NOTICE is hereby given that in case the following persons neglectto fulfill1 the Conditions on which all allotments are sold in the-town of^Port Albert by the^ dates respectively affixed to their names siny deposit money paid will be forfeited and they will cease to have any claim on puch Town Lands. Samuel White, Sept. 28th, 1863. Samuel Trobe, Oct. 1, „ James Derness, „ 31, „ Captain James, „ „ „ George Shaw, „ „ „ Wm. Everett, Nov. 31. „ Wm. Worker, „ „ „ J. Beecroft, „ „ „ H. Little, „ „ „ C. D. Cray, „ „ H. Watts, ~; „ „ By order of the Trustees, SAML. JOHNSON, Secretary. 3Port Albert, Sept. 3, 1863. r ■ PUBLIC NOTICE. ALL Applications for land, " Town, " or <f Suburban," in Port Albert, must in future be made in writing, through the Secretary. By order of the Trustees, SAML. JOHNSON, Secretary- Port Albert, Aug. 22,1863. •■•/•■