UNKNOWN

'i!; ■ 'l' " :M'--r:i:!...-:;ii..|-.j _ |. v t ,. ,• . ■ oloSiiro fcfcfcVel.... in.ii,,-. '.'",■.■ i';'".'■''.. ,' ■'[. ;V'.' .V?' 1 ' thru: his \-..V» 1 iA,.■l'V'll I trust clint y,-,ii -~;;; :,,. ... ~;.' ','' .'';"' "'"... ' I', it pill>li..-a.tii)li :;,r-,.., J ..i;,,.,.'".'. : •'?'.'■"'''! £112.1, ■'.':.- !."••'• '*>■ petition bo lij.s Ex-joUfcuoy the Governor, praying His Excellency, for the reasons therein stated, immediately to call together the General Assembly of New Zealand, and to adopt other measures to prevent Parlia ment from being hurried into taking any step for abolishing Provincial Institutions in these Islands, or from authorising their abolition, until thp preliminary constitu '•"-"vv< st?«v.:! ivAV3, in tht i'irst instance, been taken. I beg that you will give the prayer of this petition such support, or that you will obtain for it such support or signatures as you may think right. Any recommenda tion iv favour of the prayer of the petition coming from yourself, as the Superinten dent of so important a province, and, as such, the representative of so large a pro vincial constituency, must carry great weight with it. In this part of the colony we are a very scattered community, so scattered that I have not attempted to obtain signatures to the petition. I feel that if what I have stated is of no importance, that then no number of signatures ought to give it weight; whilst if it is, as I believe, of vital importance, that then the matter contained in the peti tion, and not the number of signatures I might have obtained to it, is in truth what all candid men will consider. But under any circumstances, time so pressed as to admit of no lovsp delay for the purpose of obtaining snrraf/iires. I should be glad that this peti tion should, if possible, be published, as I do not wish to take any important step in such * r-viHj!' wibhout my fellow-colonists know •'... ;•:■.]. it lam doing.—l have, &c, ' G. Grey. • ". ~„ 0 M^~..,-, of tQe

Province of Auckland.

• ■■' ■■. . ■ > .4 .It LO, .

•. ": Excellency the Governor of New 7 >h 1 '.:.:■• .■<■■•• your Pxc< ' ncy, ;"':.•: :;?- uefition of Sir George Grey, . ;.:.'- :: A Kiwau, respectfully repre ae .- ■.• ':\.. ■■ ■. ■ '~":■■, :•■■: ; ',■-■■'•■ ••:. ninh-a the Governor :-.■ ■ i :•■>■■ ■ : -'•.• .". •' ', to exercise r- '•:■•:'•/_ •'■.■.• V .■„'/.•:, Uf.jJV-nvJ "II s '..v Z-iV. :':••!" !.■'•; ■».-..' 'V.iv, '• J .. ... ' . ". •■*'.. . .■ ■■...-■ •'. .■■; •- -i b-, ■ ii.- ''r- -V ! IDT _ -~:,< ;--.uo: .-s.i.'l. :.■..<>•.- ■ ■<! ■ ,- ~ ,- ,:,:,...,' l uh,:m:::' in >'.:.■:: :of .i..:cv- of t J;w-ii:t»£i<:Ht, :tuci i>i" th- ■- -ii ■• ..■;>! Liiwi-ti-v, o: Lho ;■-»;,:•■ ■- this .:-.vi<;uy, a-i«l woald. in yi'U: j.»tscitio:icr!s ocliot, be imiti'u! Ji-;-! Majesty's doruiiiioii.i. : Tliat the Now Z-aland iiopre.-i^nr.iuivo | Cou:;titat:on Act t*fttablishwd in Nuw Z-:-:i!aud j ;i C*j7JHtitutiuti of four tiatatt-d —the Crown or its <.*f>v«riKir, > L^gislativy Council, a Flouao ,m ftepr-HOuUlives, and- I'iovincial Go/ern.'u'uiiUs. Hiesc ure all cr'.'.'it.iyusof the -ri.!ii> Act f.i Ptrliuinc-nt. The} b.uw uo powovs but .lueh aa thtv derive from thui Act Thoir povrern aro till ctirofully b.ilauoed. Th«y form onu rchole, whicb ia Lho Llepr« aantativij Govarumeut <^! this com try. That the Govercor is bound by h\n duty to protuct a&ch of these «.: )t.atea in the 'jxei- cise find onjeymont of their _ ri;;jpeeti^ powers ami priviltigtis : that be is for wuic <toi4 respoa^ible to the General Asaombly, ■-.: ! for H-jrafi Act» vopo, • i'»l- t > the Provin ■:'■>.) GoVcrntasDt ; arul that no advice given to him by oue or more of these estates vvill justify him in attempting, directly or in directly, to deprive any other estate or estates of existence, or of powers, or of pri vileges which the Representative Constitu tion Act assures to them. The fear, and that for obvious reasons, would always be that that Legislature which least truly repre sented the people would strive to destroy those bodies which were most truly repre sentative and independent. That at the various elections for the Gene ral Assembly, the people of this colony have for many years past returned members to the House of Representatives to exercise the powers conferred upon such repre aentatives by the New Zealand Repre sentative Constitution Act, and no other powers, nor could the electors confer any other powers upon them; and any other powers which such representatives may exercise, or claim to exercise, or may have exercised, and all acts at any time done or now about to be done in pursuance of such assumed powers are and always have been absolutely null and void, and of no effect whatever. , _, That by the said New Zealand Represen tive Constitution Act most valuable privi leges, rights, and liberties were assured to the subjects of Her Majesty residing in these idands by the establishment of provinces therein, and of a Provincial system under which they are allowed to elect their own Superintendents or Governors for a term of four years for large districts of territory, in some instances exceeding in extent what are regarded as important British colonies. That any parent in these islands may thus hope to see Ms child, if a deserving man raised by his fellow-colonists to a high and useful ofiice. A worthy object of ambition I also opened out to aU, wMch fact cannot fail in process of time to exercise a most im portant influence upon the character of the SSTof New Zealand, from whom, as being mafcine their own laws upon all local sub- SS without such laws being sent home for £sSKSAK£SSfKJ A9St Wyunder the system of Provincial Government, a large portion of thepopu lation ox these islands is trained to the 4«. cussion of political questions and to the ex ercise of political functions, whilst many them I arc being educated* m the art

' " -'' 1;i-'-- '-'.'UIiUJIS IIOItIUOSIHI .;! I { •am rl.io ;t;iuro\-;J '? ih~r' C-'l '■V'" TS a' I l i',^iiviii:ii«!t, whit-i a ptivV-efc siiummtc-e is * ■,'"■,,'■''•'' •''■■■'• lD'j spirit fii tn<; population j ,';.,.,;.'.%' t '~l'/,, t'I '■- u '-•''■"' -'t'lUi-; yAt-.ii to ;in\ I Tim. •■■..,. ;.,.«;,;,.,.,, r^.iV^itl.y snptaU i ■■ '<■ h -.i-.,-.,,! all nations.-111,1 , 1 all nines | been perfectly hiieeas-sln] ia this :ouutrv. 1 That, under us innuenee, p-.-. ■•..[•.<■ (■•.■..:-> m;in- j munities hav<: p-own up, W;,,m, I-;.! . ( .i;< ; ,. : ;./ j increased in p. sml.-itio.'i, wv.'ilth, :n\d eti j lighteninent. Tin-.! ia-st and ■tcmeiinH.-i, up- \ palling difficultly iiuvt- b..-ea ms:t aiid ovt'i-- j come, and thai; gcut-iaJ uGiiix<uttui.'iii and ; well-doing prevail. That your petitioner hoped that this federal system might have helped to solve; many of the political difficulties of the future. That haply hereafter the whole English speaking race might have been welded toge ther in some such federation, and a degree of peace, prosperity, and commerce thus insured for mankind, such as no previous age of the world has witnessed. That your petitioner sees every person of the Russian race convinced that their country is marching on to a great future, which they have before them. The same feeling prevails in the United States of America. The |Ger man and Italian-speaking races are federating into separate great Empires with a view to future progress. The dependencies of the British Crown alone appear to be utterly 1 neglected, to be formed by degrees into isolated communities, . often with questions unnecessarily created between them which are likely to give rise to future disputes. In some instances they are absolutely aban doned. For them no future is opened out, and your petitioner would dread to see a federal system abolished which, he trusted, offered the prospect of a solution for these difficulties. Indeed so successful had the i federal system proved in this colony, that it was adopted in Canada. That it was ordered by Her Majesty's late Government if possible to be introduced into South Africa, although they had up to this time been opposed to that measure, and that the Governor of the Cape colony has recently stated that, if that Government had been allowed to re-unite the whole of South Africa when it might easily have been accomplished, lie would have had very little apprehension for the future ; but, as it ii, he is afraid federation is still far in the distance. That the before-mentioned privileges and other rights confirmed to the inhabitants of New Zealand for watching and controlling the public expenditure, and for guarding against an unjust and partial alienation of public lands, by the scrutiny of a, local fruely-eleoted Legislative body, arc of the greater value to them lie cause in the General Assembly of the colony, which is composed of three estates, a Go vernor, a Legislative Council, and a House of Liepres atives, which form of Legisla ture was imposed upon this country by or n It an U:t of Parliament in which its mi i iii'i'i:!'; wore not represented, the Crown • ■■•i-.-v: .-■: t(j itself the right of nominating ;.n. out uj* thu three estate* nfsuch Legisla Inn.', viz., thij Governor and the Legislative Council, t!ti; memlici., o( which body are nominate! by the Crown for life. Tha^ your •[<••titiun.il' ati-.1 his fellow-colonists are thui ouly directly represented in one branoh of tiii-1 -aid ' .egistlafcure, and are sub i.ct-vl to a Constitution repugnant to that of Great Britain. That the frown derives no advantage from thi l>ower of nomination being reserved tc •. For it has here no rights or privileges u> protect against popular encroachment, :m»l can but have in view to secure the weltan and preserve the affection and attachment of its New Zealand subjects, and that this power of nomination reserved to the Crown, really obliges the Crown to identify itself with parties in this country and to ;ive its aid in party strife, which must result in its becoming ultimately obnoxious to some portion of its subjects in this country. That your petitioner believes that the entire freedom the inhabitants of this colony enjoy, in the election of their own Superin tendents or Governors and in their own Provincial. Institutions, and the means they thus possess of rewarding eminent public men, are of greater value to them on account of the steps recently taken by the Colonial Department to reward the public men of this country by the creation of two new honors, each of which, both in an Imperial and Colo nial point of view, is open to serious ob jection, and one of which being repugnant to law and constitutional usage, and apparently in violation of the New Zealand Represen tative Constitution Act, is probably void and useless. That an attempt was made to introduce into Great Britain an Upper House only in small part similar to the Legis lative Council established here, and that such proceeding was declared to be illegal, was strenuously resisted by a large majority in each House of Parliament and by almost the entire nation, and was abandoned as being unconstitutional and contrary to law. That the Crown having been made by Act of Parliament the nominator of two estates out of three of the General Assembly, the British Parliament is to a certain extent re sponsible for the acts of that Assembly, and ought therefore to continue any protection to weak and truly representative bodies of Her Majesty's subjects against the encroach ments of such Assembly, which Parliament has hitherto afforded to them, and that Her Majesty's advisers should therefore be care fully guarded by those who represent Im perial interests in this country from uncon stitutionally, hurriedly, or without full information taking steps in this matter, as their doing so must involve them in serious Parliamentary difficulties. That for the better preservation and security of the rights and liberties of the ■ people of this colony, the British Parliament j enacted that the General Assembly should j only have power to constitute new proyinoaa j in New Zealand, to altar tha bovrndaeios of existing provinces, and ia mako laws respect ing the election of members cii Provincial Councils, and the powers of such Coun cils and the distribution of the surplus revenue between the several provinces of j New Zealand. In other words, that body which inasmuch as two out of its three estates were nominated by the Crown, whilst part of the remaining third estate was in various ways brought under the influence of the Crown or of those holding the powers cf ! the Crown in this country, could only be said to represent the people of New Zealand in a remote and imperfect manner, was by special enactment restrained from destroying or attempting to destroy those bodies which, together with their elected Superintendents, did represent the inhabitants of New Zea land w the most perfect, complete, and

;hi;i «aa :i vviho and necessary precaution, ;r- j ; ihe -.-eiy independence of the-latter bodies]; .vas ruui'jsi ecriatn ix- ->-.--'U \\\- ill-will o: :•■ \ nor,, v-'..w-ri,/: Ix .tv -■■■j .-"iiaoii-a.t3* coiii-fciSatol \ 'trd-:." I, i.iii«..\.?tol Pavii naent, \ enjoyed am h:r Vroyhuuxi !i)«ritution.s, ,-our 1 petitioner arid m;uiy oi his felkm-colonists j hflvc aulufltrioiwly' r«i..l quietly omtijiotl | themselves «ith their nv,n pursuits, a.iul i havo taken no part in political affaii-s. fUAi fcho Geueral AssembK of New Zea- I land Ikis, howevoV, proceeded to coii.sider the question oi: the abolition <--\' ili;1 5 nrovinoos in Ihe JCrrM] !;1. -i Icf "\"tiw '•'•■■■'•■ S iauct, iui'i x-.> pass resolutions and to take ' iitlu-i- steps iv relation thereto, vvhich, if car- ] yiod out,"your netitionoj believes will result j ::n thy fc(jtal abolition o; tlic Myatem of Pro vincial Government throughout New Zea \ %7ZZ ..,„, ~,,,,,, | iruuriiiod thlii i-hi ['rmniei' ot Ll:o nolony lias J L'foeniily gone to Eri^ianfl and thai cue or j the cbjecbi ol •■u./h jA-ocotalin" on his p.ii-t is :<:■ r-udciivouv to f'litaiji :Vi :!icorafiun by till; j Now ZejJand enabliny ':'■ i< nUAisi; i.rhW' in | X HOlij t;r ;li j.)ai'fc, ui:o OXibtiil^ j./ii;\iiioi:j3 illill Provincial Governments in New Zealand, That the Imperial Government, which lias so many weighty duties to discharge, ought not to be drawn unnecessarily into interfering in a local question of this kind with an im portant colony, and that every good subject will strive to keep Hor Majesty and Her Majesty's advisers clear of such questions. That the British Parliament ought not to be led without due warning, without the full knowledge of the people of this country, and without the several and separate Pro vincial Governments being first heard, to pass an Act which would destroy complete representative institutions in this colony, and would, therefore, greatly augment tho responsibility of the British Parliament to the inhabitants of New Zealand, for the consequences which may flow from the mea sures of the General Assembly. That the only manner in which your peti tioner and his fellow-colonists can become aware of the representations already made, or about to be made to the British Govern ment to induce Parliament to alter the New Zealand Constitution Act, and of your Ex cellency's recommendations and suggestions in relation thereto, which must have a very important influence, is bj^ all the papers connected with this subject being laid with out delay before the General Assembly, ac companied by explanations from the present Ministry. That unless such information is at once afforded, it will be impossible now to devise and take measures Li time to prevent Parlia ment from hurriedly taking a step which it would certainly hereafter regret having taken, and which, if taken, would create a feeling between this colony and Great Britain which would ultimately bear ill fruit. That your petitioner believes that there is no instance (unless it has been accomplished by tyranny or by a revolution) of independent freely-elected Legislatures, established by law amongst an inoffensive and industrious people, bemg swept away without the con sent of each of such Legislatures, ;;nd conse quently of tliuse whom they reprcsoni hav ing previously been obtained by an Act passed by itself. That any Provincial Government that might in that matter abdicate its functions would probably only do so upon condition of the whole New Zealand Constitution being re-cast, so that tho General Assembly might be composed in a manner rr>ore consonant \vit,h popular rights and English feelings, at the sane time stipulating ui,on an equivalent fur rights resigned, and for losses pastandpros pective. That your petitioner would there fore deei;i any attempt to induce Parliament to lend itself without full information and without th-i consent of the people of tho pro v mcc-, having been previously obtained, in a lawful and constitutional manner, to any plan for the destruction of the Provincial Institutions now enjoytd by th« people ot tlna country an wrong, av iv breach of public faith, >uui a* a bad public example to the whole Empire, That your petitioner therefore humbly hopes that your Excellency may feel that it is your bounden duty to your Queen and ! country, no less than to Now Zealand and j the Provincial Oovernmenth, to whom by | law your Excellency owes independent duties, to prevent Parliament from being surprised into an Act so fraught with momen tous consequences for the present and future of the colony, and for its relations with the Mother Country, by at once summoning the General Assembly of New Zealand to meet with the least possible delay, in order that all necessary information may be afforded to the inhabitants of this colony. That your petitioner humbly prays that your Excel lency will be graciously pleased so to sum mon the General Assembly of New Zealand. That your petitioner further prays that a copy of this, his huinblt petition, may at once be transmitted to Her Majesty's Go vernment, with a respectful request that it may be laid before Parliament. That your petitioner further humbly prays that yoiir Excellency may be pleased imme diately to send a telegraphic message to Her Majesty's Government, pointing out that at the present time there is no person constitu tionally or in point of law qualified to nego tiate or communicate with Her Majesty's Government on the subject of the abolition of the Provincial Institutions of this country, and that any negotiation for such a purpose at present entered upon would be an illegal and unconstitutional act on the part of both parties to such, a negotiation, in violation of the rights, liberties, and privileges assured to the people of Now Zealand by the Act giving a representative constitution to this colony, and an unnecessary public error, as there are proper and constitutional means of settling the whole question. And your Excellency's humble petitioner, I as in duty bound, will ever pray. j (Signed) G. Grey. Kawau, October 14, 1874.

ALLEGED MURDER AT KOHIMA RAMA.

ADJOURNED INQUEST. The Coroner's inquiry into the cause of the death of the native girl, Henareata Tapuni, was resumed in the Freeman's Hotel at 2 p.m, yeaterd^y.—Hani te EurawhrJkak&re wka, daughter oi Ngarowhaj said : I know i dacsaaod and tha piisoasr, I remcrcber last Tu&aday night. I then went to ioo'k for tlic j deceased. It w&a dark at the time. I went I up the hill towards Pirika's house and saw both Henareata and prisoner together on the road leading to our house at the point. De ceased and Newton were sitting down on the ground. Newton was in a kneeling position, and Henareata (the deceased) was lying on the ground with her head between Newton's knees. I did not speak to them, but sat down at the side of Newton, a short distance from him. He saw me when I sat down, and said to me, " .V hat are you doing there ? —get up and go away." Henareata did not speak; she was groaning. I could not see distinctly, on account of the darkness: 1 went away, and as I was going he said to me, "Go and get Kerehi; make haste." Kerehi'

Sorm; time artor parting with Ntnvtou LOurc I , and I went doiVJi to Hopihana's house. V\ a\ \ •<■■ p' '.I) oatoh J'iriku uuel lloiy.rep.ta. V- k.-r. ■• _ v.v L>ot (.-itwe to iiie house liuro said "Go \ we -'it !ii and-.lut'u struck •. Tuatch 1 , wanted. H.-narentu £>.> -.m, luiin-.-with .ne, '>".t ( NVwtun uoi iio'r .eniainuigMith him. , ! rhon cnnif" oui ot tk<.- housed Left L NV-wiui. FUuiiVro;it.-.. ;i i 11: }->^ri 1m the h.,-n*o. After my ie^viug tnc ?—:-■•)' 1 stw :v:-.n-tai and Jtuiitu-oate ;.v. X •:■'■'■! ljor.sfc. T!i.;,i ■,*.:, yn lasl Limo . -r,<- ! li.a- :div.\- -K.oivi.ii ■A.- i i l ,.^'l : [ =,-,.< *,!>« ? fiitlioi1 of Uic iocoaic-a, 1 f«;ui'ij^:tiv 'Tin: ; day evening h\st. I^^m-oh cahik* ■ ... : ! house that nviming, and ■iscrain-u ■'■ '■ t Sfenarenta, 1 snid go and Itn,::. in !m kit ukeii. Li« wont to lock for- her. ! *r .< n; ' i ;.i little git'l iia'.)iccl llene <;onihit» !;o n* ■ ;--<"i < tuiliftg :r»e that iiuiia-runta tvii.s dead, i ~ '«" ! i,f-nu >7ewtou calling to ma,saying tlu'it Hejir.- I L-cata was doad. ! went tv tkc house, taut | found Hoiiiiroata dead. 1 did not i/(-;.r LxVw- ! ton sny tiliat i;o had noi; atvaols deceased ■ Init | sb.t: sva.- smitten-byUod. ! iaado :; r-uaoiuunt j Lot-hat eil'-.ct ix-foro slie'.Xtitivo Assossora. i t do lioi kiiv>\v iii.'ii itcceastttl aict with iiw 1 deatii, —Rohcri T'.rauh&n, :• dou-efcivo j c-Hioer, .-.iopr-scd t»-- in-rcst of Lhe i iVrisoJiei at.'KoliiUitViJiitifi .;•»: :;-■>;. i auii evmeiiou ass to Liiy position ol tho locality Heni pointed out to him as liaviug seen deceased and prisoner sitting.—Charles Goldsbro', M.D., deposed : 1 have made a jiosi-'inorfem examination of deceased. J be lieve the body to have been dead for nearly a weak. The body was so blackened by de composition as to render it almost impossible to say how deceased came by her death. The witness described minutely the coiu-<<c of the examination, and concluded by saying: I believe that death was caused by physi cal injury or violence inflicted, upon the neck, producing the rupture of the liga ments between some of the joints, and con sequent injury of the spinal marrow. The result of such violence would be, I should think, instantaneous paralysis of all parts below the seat of injury, and speedj' death. A violent twist of the neck would cause the injuries described. A fall might occasion such injuries, but it must be from a considerable height. — The prisoner was asked if he desired to make any statement. He said he would, if de sired to. He was then told that he was not obliged to make a statement, and he reserved his defence. The coroner addressed the jury, who, after retiring for a few minutes, returned a verdict of wilful murder against the prisoner Newton. The prisoner on being told of the decision the jury had come to, that he had wilfury murdered the deceased, said, " I do not know that I killed her." The prisoner was then committed by the coroner to take his trial for the wilful murder of Henareata Tapuni at the next criminal session of the Supreme Court,

DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Ttib seventh session of the New Zealand Diocesan Synod was inaugurated yesterday, and commenced with a special service in St. Paul's (Cathedral) Church. But few of the laity \rere present, although the im portance of the occasion might have warranted a large attendance. The hoar of meeting was, however, somewhat inconve nient for members of the Church engaged in business during the day. After Z\h\ Living stone, the organist of the church, had played a voluntary, the following members of the sacerdotal body came from the vestry and took their seats in the choir of the church, viz. : The Lord Bishop, the Venerable Arch deacon Maunsell, Dr. Kinder, and Messrs. Bree, Lush, Gould, Hall, Dudley, Nelson. Lloyd, Otway, Brady, Taylor, and B^ker. The Rev. Messrs. Burrcwes and Hansard were also present, although they took no par1 in the proceedings. The service consisted oi reading various portions of Scripture appro priate to the occasion, and in offering up prayers selected from the Liturgy of the Church oi England. In this the Bishop and several of' the clergy partici pated. Hymn 193 was sung, the Te Deuut mid. uL.c _,ici_n<- Creec chanted during the service, and tho whole concluded with an appeal to the congregation tc deposit their offerings in the plate in aid of the ex penses of the Synod. The -iuio'jzit, how ever, which was collectc :. v 'aa but . .mall. Aftfv the gcnjxiu service iixcre was a special celebration of fcit< Lord's Supper, of which forty-five cl<=.:ioaJ said lay brethren partook.

I AFTERNOON SITTING.

The Synod, held its first meeting at the Bishop's library, Parnell, at 3 p.m., the Right Rev. Dr. Cowie (president) presiding. There were present:—Clergy : Archdeacons Maunsell, Pritt, Dr. Furchas, Revs. Bur rowes, Bree, Bates, Brady, Dudley, Gould, Hassard, Hall, Kinder, Lloyd, Lush, G. Maunsell, Otway. Laity : Colonel Haultain, Colonel Nation, Dr. Home, Messrs. Adams, Cochrane, Doonin, Dyer, J. Gordon, Harris, S. E. Hughes, J. D. Jackson, Kirkbride, Luke, R. B. Lusk, B. Maclean, Martelli, Martin, McKinstrey, Nolan, Pierce, Power, Tisdall, Upton, Vickers, Williams, Yonge. INAUUURAL ADDRESS. The Right Reverend the Bishop of Auck land then delivered his address, and in his opening remarks referred to the fact that the seventh Synod of this diocese, which met for the first time that day, would be called upon to consider questions of almost greater con sequence to the well-being of the Church of this ecclesiastical province than any that have been dealt with by its six predecessors, a resident minister to the Patea district, in which our people have until now been visited only at long intervals by clergy of our Church. Mr. Kennedy has received a cor dial welcome from those to whom he has been sent to minister ; and this Synod will not cease to take an interest in his work, though we may think it right, for the sake of Patea, to concur in the resolution of the General Synod, for the transfer of that district to the diocese of Wellington. 1 instituted Mr. Hassard to the cure of souls jin St. Matthew's parish in July, and as Pre | sident of the Synod I welcome him to-day to his seat in our Council. Since the last session of the Synod I have had the pleasure of opening a school-chapel at West iSTewton, for the convenience of our people living on the confines of the parishes of the Holy Sepulchre and St. Matthew. In this building, named the Chapel of the Epiphany, services are held on Sundays and other days by the minister of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, with the regular assis i^iiCG 6i Mi\ JloLci't O'CaU&ghrji! Mr^z, am of Llio Lj rsadsrt. cf "jh.o -pzrlzh, r^d Slid GJC&SIt/iiijl S.iw 01 301-jt. Jj. oil<2 C-c'gy C_ J. —1.- ---land. Segalia? SuncLy servios^ lissvc -Jso ' been begun in another district of the same t extensive parish, the Whau, where the Rev. William Taylor holds the temporary appointment of assistant minister of St. Sepulchre's. The Synod will be gi-atified to learn that our people at Mauku have com pleted their parsonage; and that I have appointed a resident minister to the impor tant district of which that settlement is the centre —namely, the Rev. Ezra Robert Otway, who, for nearly four years, dis charged faithfully and zealously the duties of itinerating minister of the Home Mission. The districts for which we are now most urgently in want of ministers are those of Wangarei, Mercury Bay, and the country between the, Wade and Mangawai. For these !

:u.-L><,'e.s Lljorc tire not id present suitable | rleryyiaefi ottering themselves; and th> | \ *:.ian<lhig C-oninuttec nil! not be able '>i|, .v.u\-::v,ic:' 'Aic. stipend ot one clergyiiiajri m \ - iu'.d'tii.n to those \vho are o.o\v pai r<tfy'*m; uv | Uihuxi b;y Hit f:uul, unless ilie mission re- | ; ccives more Libeva! support t'roin our !K;opio|i tluvinghoul the uic-csu. The ordinary in-1 j •■■;);■; of •;:.• fund ia diiviveil chietiy '■■'•■ ni tSc I oif'i . ii-nvs of r-,\ c c"\:grm&i:; oii^ cn^tributed j •; ,-i, two '• 'ly-vs ■. •'eh i ■ i.v ; f.m'i v.'hsn onel ■ .if thfw-dayw ..■■-..•v..ii./ to be wet, at; on thej! ];lsi '■c..:>i'V!!. 'cht. ' leans .-? the disposal of! tbe Sr;:.mijn» CoinmiHt;: for tJ.is nnportsmt I ,vd:l '■■■:< sTcriouKly >.H...fted. This -rarely ."■• !ii '. ■: U, be "the osise ■ an.-, it -/ouirl - r v ■■■ •■' O! .io.;!' out pc 'p!' -|.h'..;<Mit;hiN auder- : il ii 'i o.::ij" - r!.j>ort.'voat( l''. i,c objent of t)ie ! . >is~ioj"! liamr ?.'.•;"■■ :1 ''"he tnmistra fci-.' . -<: viv- ;." . . ::i. Lht: •• ,vt', .' settie.', ,i. tl. p'.,';-v, ;ii£>,nets ••/ iso '.uc-:rte, ; A.ii ■ i-vioii s i-.'uiedj' is, for c; c'h toi-c'regatioi' 1 ;.. .... ■.;;■.■•.■:.■'tec- r 'j tliia v'.ir.1' .ij ;vr.;vo.r.l sum,! hoi '!■ ;-' in ..•':.-t.-.viiu thati ii.-^it bi cnskiovoA j tin-. lutiii. -ii:-"1 fsl-o.i-.jgc upoi. the mc-ra ■ll -lii? n,:;i:TfT, :iH.I t( !• ;,d--r- tf v- VK?:,T:g flt tin! iiiqK>sn] '..i !•■. St-ti-.u 1 • iiy Ou: p-.HiCr ic.?£ Uic -■■..■.■!."■■!' tile inifi-iii :- bj «..u ■ ining H\; \ v.:i ,(.? ■ : i-c-gLJitr xuliEC-i-ibtv- ■-. i)n- nn.;l 8;. | long its the sum available for this work is \ grektiy dependent oil tke state of tht. vreafner on tyro Siuidty:- of tbc year, the Synod will be liable to the ioj.ic.ai I- wfcicii We have how to bear, namely, th.it one ci ; our people, after many years' residence in the colony, has been ministered to by our clergy almost for tnc first time in the con demned cell of the Auckland Gaol. An in come of £600 for the cvarent year is needed to meet our present engagements, and extend our work in the three districts specified by me. The Maori Church continues to afford grounds of rejoicing to those who car- for the souls of the native race of New iiea land. Since our last session its staff of clergy j has been increased to nine, by the ordination j in March of Eruera Hurutara Te Ngara, at! Waitara, in the province of Taranaki, j for that district. During the same interval j new churches have been opened by me at ■ Parengarenga, in the extreme North, Wai- j waroa, near Mercury Bay, both of which were built with funds contributed by the Maoris of those districts. In other kaingas oi' the diocese also churches or school-houses are being erected, at the cost of the native tribes ; and an increasing desire for the edu cation of their children is shewn in many districts of the diocese. My last communi cation from the Rev. R. H. Codrington, the head of the Melanesian Mission, is dated August 11, and was written at sea, off Ambyrm Island in the New Hebrides group. The new schooner was then on her way back to Norfolk Island, after a very prosperous voyage to the Solomon and Banks Islands. The missionaries had been much encouraged by finding the schools established by them in some of the islands, extending themselves by means of native agency, —a sign full of hope for the future of the mission. The inhabitants of the islands had everywhere shewn friendliness to the members of the mission staff, and readiness to let their children accompany them to St. Barnabas' School, Norfolk Island. I regret very much to add that since the date of Mr. "Coclrin.wton's letter, the mission has sustained a very great Las by the death of Mrs. Palmer, one of the most devoted and helpful members of the staff, and the daughter of one of the senior and most esteemed of our clergy. In conclusion^ I would congratulate the Synod on the satis factory progress that is being made by the Pension Fund, the object of which is to enable our aged or infirm clergy to retire betimes from positions of labour and responsibility. At the same time I would express a hope that it will not be long before every congre ini-ion in the diocese may see its way to set 'apaffc the offertories of the first. Sunday of November in. each year for the purposes of th-i fn ml. in accordance with the recommen dation of the Synod. By no other existing means ooi our people so euVtually improve the position of the clergy asi by aug.nenting by offertories and by rrivatt benefactions, the L'er.sicn I*V.nd of the diocese." —Dr. Home moved, "That the thanks of the Synod be given to the president for hij address, and that he be requested to allow It to be printed."—Carried. APFGIXTMEJNT.S. The Key. Mr. Burrowes moved, and Dr. Home seconded—" That the tf,«v. C. M. Nel son be appointed Clerical .Secretary to the Synod.—Mr. Nelson declined on the score of failing health and parochial duty.—Mr. S. E. Hughes moved, and Dr. Home seconded— "That the Rev. Mr. Otway be appoinfed." —Carried.--Mr. J. Gordon moved, ana Mr. Dyson seconded—"That Mr. D. Jackson be appointed Lay Secretary. "—Carried.—Mr. G. P. Pierce moved, and the Rev. Mr. Lush seconded—"That Dr. Goldsbro'be appointed Treasurer."—Carried. HOURS OF SITTINGS. It was resolved that the Synod sit daily at 4 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday excepted), and adjourn at 6 for three-quarters of an hour (for refreshments); also, that the sittings close at 10 o'clock, unless otherwise ordered by the Synod. STANDING ORDERS. Mr. S. E. Hughes moved, and Mr. Gordon seconded—" That the standing orders of last Synod be those of this Synod."—Carried. REPORT OV STANDING COMMITTEE. The Rev. Mr. Lush moved—" That the report of the Standing Committee be read." —Mr. Jackson read the report, of which the following is a synopsis : — Report of the Standing Committee of the Diocesft of Auckland, for 1873 In accordanco with Clause 12 of -tatute 111. of the Diocesan Synod, the Standing Committee lay before the Synod the following report: — Local Btshopkip Endowment Fund—The capital of this fund, £1075, i% with the exception of : £2 10s 0.1, paid as Sinking Fund during thepist year, j invested on mortgage and bond. The income for the . year ending June 30, 1874, was £98 19s 6d, which sum i was paid to the Bishop of the diocese.. Hosus Mission t'ud". The receipts of this fund to June 30, 1874, were £594 9s 2d, viz , £100 fr..m the Bishop of Lichfield, iSO irom the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, and the balance made up by VI cesan contributions; the expenditure, includ ing a repayment of £85 0s 9d, and £75 advanced to thoißev. F. Gould (in accordance wi h resolution 5). was £737 Is 3d. payments were made during th« j ear towards the stipends of trie fo'lowitig clergymen:— Rev. P. T. Baker, Wairoa, Kaipara; hey. U C. Brady, TeAwamutu; Rev. H. M. Kennedy, itinerat ing clergyman; Rev. F. C. Lloyd, Hamilton; Key. R H. Mitchell, Wangarei; Rev. E. R Otway, itinerating clergyman; Key. T. Scott, Coromandel: Rev. W. Taylor, for servicf s in the Great South Road district. Since the close of the financial year grants have been made from the fund to the following clergymen:— Eev. 11 A. lls.ll, Howlck;Eov, H.JD. B. la; ssryioes in L;-3 CxiO-t -eu'.h Kcf.J DlatM3t; ..u-2 ;c Mi", Hawlotij lay reader ci Maa»,n.lxarc-2fS.. - daaatlna | his alw&yu "besn sr.ado fromtM-" fuaa towards -:tz\ building of Si. Luke's Oiim cb, Mount Albert. The t committee think that some explanation is required ' from thorn of the large amount of avrenrs due to the Central Diocesan Fund at th« close of tue financial year, and also of the apparent excess of expenditure OVi r ncome. It lias been customary hitherto to debit i each district with the contributions to stipend due from it on the last day of the quarter, viz., the day on which stipends are paid to the clergy, so that, out ot the j large sum of £335 0s sd, so-called arrears on June 30, 1874, £251 6s 8d only became due on that day, and cannot therefore b- strictly considered arr ars. To prevent a recurrence of this apparent indebtedness on the part of the districts, it has been determined tha^ in future the contribution- shnll beco i>e due 'n th first day of each quarter. It must also be mentiound that the decrease in the mc me of th« Ho c Mit-si n Fund is only apparent: there has in fact been nn in crease of £66 10s 4d in the sum rn.-ert by donation s and collections, of £32 19s Id in the offertories, and a total increase of £105 13-* lid during the vast year, che diacrt-pancy lia.-. bet-n caused i.y including ii. t c i • - ncome of the previous year all recoipta; viz., repay-'

•ten* . o.i R-cccitat o' advances, £100 withdrawn fco:u Ixcd dopo'it. *c : whilst, the incoino of the ycn.r 1873 ---;-i. v];.. £434 &i 2d, omy inaludes suras actually col ■:il:u .d dariug thai period to the Homo Mission OiociKHAN Encdwjiesi and L'vvn i\:si\ —The iicciiic of this fund for clv, year r,si'.ing June .'.10,1874, ixc'asive of the balance on.fuiy 1, 1873 (^29 lVs), v/na £l;;l2sSrt. The expenditure was ,fc£so 7s iM. The \:<( fl annual charges r.pon tins fund were .£llß ICM; bur. • • this lias nov,' bsen added 625 proarciuiE for the in iirancft of Bishop's Court and the Cathedral Libra y r •_ conscfjUf.neo of an ;•.;<;..lvd from ill? jjitheilra! trustees, in whom the property is vested, :bist they were unable to eoutiime the payment. The ronuniltoe have also, during the pust year, defrayed ■ut of this fund the tt'ffvren c b twecn the cons, of thu Prayer-books, purchased in coniulianne with the reso ut.ion of the Synod, an ! the jumrealised by thoir sate .&.., j;!C ft; 3d. A grant of il3o Las ic&n inarle i.ovv rds Ihe Mauku parsoiuujfi Kiicorcrnrrort by the nid thus given, the pc- pic of that •:;i:-hrici 1 n,vc built r. ueat parsonage, and h&ve fiiso undertaken to fence !-.ho land nnd put if. amlcr f.r*»s. A uilnistnr is nov r.widnrt iv. rhiU ■.■•."itr- i.t a large asm in^iortant dis trict. Pauoci'ml Bstbowmevt Ffso.—l'he incomes for .-.h ■ year f.iiding .Hme 30, .187-1 inclusive of the balance )•! Jiu; ; lt>7?- i "!"•:■: j.]k C-K'/j was *;SGO 10s 5Jd; the ■j>p'vi(ii !i"r. was s:^! 1 Os Sd. ■)icr;ifHi.}: StATis'.T'rri.— The committee wish to divi'.v t.'.e .-liißiuiir; of the parochial authorities to the not -siiy of furv-^rding to the Secretary with gre&te: v,-. !'L."it.. •" •^tnrnsfroin which c!ie statistics to ho is-Tt-l bv.?ore ;!•.( :f.r.era! sj'uod are compiled. Frc": raa:r, :un eh ::jd retun>s-}>';.veboeii received. "( vv r '~;/:•;. vk.' -Tiiß ciruulntioiiof the Church ■■:■-.■•.■ ■■■ h;, --v\ inrrtissad i (ii-0 copies per n.on'.h, a nuf'i!' -i !.;*ji -ag'^r tr air.^.3 .'.i sol■-:■■..[..peniug. 'S:>£ • i-;r -:U ;::. h:,--';^ .r, •■.}?>•'.'. v *iutc that oviug ohisilj to .',;■.) .(■■:■': f coHk: ing the subscription*, t'.-en is a di.^ <>. *>s>s ... ■ for priut'.ag the paper. l : .<rr.nA. •. Trust BoakD.—The following appoint mi nts ha .o been made during the past year :— larnnki Ircst: W". A. Thorpe, vice C. J. "Wilson, .resigned, Han.::1 on I'p.rsoiiage Trusi fnew Trust): A. Cox, P. Les'ie, b. ™. Seddon. OneaungaTrust: A. Buekland, J. H&bci. MclanesUn Trust: T. Kis->ling, vice H, S. iMcKellar. Cathedra! Trust: S. E. Hughes, vice H. S. McKcllar. U-c-esau Trust; W. 8. Uoohrane. vice J. AY. ■ re^ce. —Mr. G-. P. Pierce moved, atid the Rev. Mr. Lush seconded--" That the icport be re ceived. "—Carried. DIOCESAN CHORAL ASSOCIATION. The Rev. Mr. Nelson moved—" That the interim report by the Executive Committee of the above Association be read.'' —Carried. —Mr. Jackson read the report. —The Rev. Mr. Nelson moved, and the Rev. Mr. Hassard seconded —"That it be received."—There upon a desultory discussion ensued, as to the propriety of introducing the subject to the notice of the Synod, in which Archdeacon Maunsell. Rev. Mr. Nelson, and Messrs. Lusk and Pierce took part. The latter gentleman contended that the report v, ras putting in '' the thin end of thu wedge" as to a discus sion on the comparative merits of various hymnals, and would evoke feeling which it would be wise to leave dormant. The motion .was lost on the voices j a division was called for, with the following result : —Ayes : clergy, 13 ; noes, 7. Laity: ayes, 10 ; noes, 18.—The President declared the motion negatived. PAPERS. The President laid upon the table reports on the following subjects : —Diocesan Pen sion Fund, Diocesan Statistics, Melanesian Trust, St. John's College Trust, Tamaki Trust, Cathedral Trust, Native Schools Trust, General Church Trust. THE PRESS AND THE SYNOD. Mr. Gordon called the attention of the Synod to the fact that during the previous session reports of the proceedings of the Synod had been furnished to the Press by the secretaries, but on this occasion he was glad to observe the reporters present.—The President stated that the change referred to by the speaker was owing to a communica tion which he (Dr. Cowie) had forwarded to the editors of the local journals. The Press representatives were welcome, a^d he -was pleased to see that 'cr^y had responded to his invitation. The Synod then adjourned until to-day at 4 p.m.

ORDER PA.PER FOR TO-DAY.

The Bishop : " To nominate eight assessors for tha Bishop s Court, and to move that me --ynod do concur in such nominat on." Uev. O. M. Nelson: To ask tlie- President—in statute 15, General -^yuod, sec i, i» laid down tha qualification of lay -Synodsmen ; to this Synod have b>en returned those who do not fulfil the ti-.nus of that, qualification Who are te be considered responsible lor the return of .dsineu not qualitied in turms of the above statute V Mr. Gordon: " That the P.esMent be respectfully requested to lay on the table a copy of any special forms of prayer the Pri ate may have dr<iwn up fur adoption th.oughout the provinces. ' Mr. UosijoM; '"That the Stan ing Committee be 7,-ecuested to furnish to the .-^yuoci a si&temeut she^u* ; the duties the Secretary to the Hooi.> i&iß.»iori has to I perform." ) Archdeacon ALiUNsKLt: ''That a cnnjmiit.ee be. appointed to examine the accounts and reports of the several trust properties iv this diocese, ai-d t" consider the practicability cf consolidating thu vari .us Trust Boar s into one or more Boards; said comm.Use to I consist of the Biehup, Rev. Mr iuriowes, 0 >loael j Hau tain, Messrs. T. Kissling, G. P. Pierce, and the riiover." I Arohdbacon Mauhskll .: " That a committee be : app inted to conaiier the vi!.! entitled, "The Statute ! to limit and d tiiib the powers jf tlie Uene.al Syuod,' ! and tha aai i conimitcee to sit during the f eces-ii and j to repert t< the 1) oo&ian Synud at its next sessi.u; sud coinuiittee to consist of the bishop, uov. C M. | Nelson, D.. Kidd, W. H. Ei-sliug, S. E. llush.s, and the mover." Mr. BRoiiit;: " Resolved, that this Synod gives its ! formal cnusent to the resolut.on of the CJenerai ynod, a:id that thti district b.tween the P»tea and Tipo«a Kivers on thy: \\ est Coat ba considered part (f the I dioce-.i; of Wellington from and after tbe pit-sent sea i siou oi this Synod." j Mr.v. P. Pierce: "To ask the President to !ay on the table of th« Synod a return shew.ng the amount subscribed by ihe diflfer«nt dioceses towards the Fire Insurance Kuud, distinguishing promiums and inte rest " Mr. J. D. Jackson: " To ask what is the reason for ! the delay in the issuing a writ for the election of a j Synodsman Mi supply a vacancy n tlin representation iof -t eei'.-). One unga, and tlie district uf JSorth I Mauukau." ■ Mr. 8 E Hughes: "For le-ive t> amend Statute : 11. as stated in report of Standing Committee."

POLICE COURT.—This Day.

(Before Gr. Yon der Heyde and 0 ohn Cosgrave, Esqs., Justices of the Peace.) PILGRIMS OF NIGHT. Elizabeth Kilshawyin rags, was fined 10s for being drunk last night; Eardolph McGrinty, a miserable old man with an i immense red nose, was fined ss; Martin j Lestrange, William Fisher, William .Robinson, ! and John Fairlull, were fined in the same j amount for the same offence. John Collins, i for being drunk and disorderly, was fined 10a and costs. Maria Lysagt, the mother of a young family, was sent to prison for seven days, this being her third offence within a short space of time. MOONLIGHT QAPERS. Colin Campbell, alias Lord Clyde, of Kil marnock, was brought up on three separate charges, viz., for being drunk in Wellesley street last night, for assaulting Constable Walsh, by tripping him up and throwing him down, and splitting his trousers, thereby damaging them to the amount of 16s. Prisoner, a smart looking young man, acknowledged that he must have been drunk, as he had no recollection whatever of assault ing Const able WalslijfGr whom he sntortained a profound respect j a£& if lie oplis tha cccstabls'e troosera ko was vary, very aorry. Sergeant-Majoj Pardy informed tha Bench that the assault was but slight. | The Bench, having considered the offences, fined Colin 103 for being drunk, 20& for tripping the constable, and 5a and los for the outrage upon the Government trousers. Margaret Sainsbury, an old woman, and a very old offender, was charged with using unwomanly language in Symonds-street on the 14th inst. Prisoner made no reply to the charge. Sergeant-Major Pardy said that the woman was a complete nuisance to the neighbour hood ; her language wa* anything but polite. Maggie shook her he id violently, and was subjeeied to a fine of 40s, or fourteen days, but preferred the repose oi Mount Eden to parting with two notes.

rWi*V.> s *:y *-: ;; £