should be submitted to one of her Majesty's principal Secretaries of State, for his approval or disallowance, and that reports of all proceedings of the corporation, as well in the settlements as in England, should be regularly laid before Parliament.

In describing the nature of the contemplated provisional government, we have intentionally avoided matters of detail which are still unsettled, and respecting which, therefore, it is impossible to speak with precision. But there is one question pertaining to government, which, though a matter of detail, involves the recognition of such important principles, and is of such great consequence to the prosperity of this entire undertaking, that we are induced to dwell upon it at some length-premising, however, that the following suggestions and remarks by a member of the Committee, profess not to state anything which has been assented to by her Majesty's government, but merely to express the anxious wishes of the Association upon a subject to which they attach the highest importance.

CHAPTER VII.

RELIGIOUS ESTABLISHMENT.

Importance of a Religious provision-In the disposal of public funds for this purpose, every denomination of Christians to be assisted-Religious provision as respects the natives both on British and native territory-Missionaries-Suggested appointment of a Bishop for New Zealand.

LOOKING still to the great principle on which the colony will be formed the removal from this country, not of persons merely, but of society-to provide for the religious elements of society is another important object. It is proposed to defray, from the common fund of the colony, the expense of erecting places of worship, and of paying the officiating ministers. According to a principle which is carried into effect in several British colonies-and especially in the Canadas, Australia, and our Indian empire, it is proposed that, in the distribution of this portion of the colonial funds, no preference should be given to any one denomination of Christians. Whenever a certain number of families, either in the settlements, or about to emigrate, should combine to form one congregation, they would be entitled to the means of erecting a place of worship-whether church, chapel, or meeting-house,—and to a salary for their minister. It can hardly be necessary to

point out, how important to the well-being and happiness of the colonists it is, that a provision for the religious wants of all, should be made a part of the original constitution of the colony. Such, therefore, is the basis and outline of the religious establishment that is contemplated; it gives a right to all denominations of Christians, whenever there is a sufficient number to claim a place of worship and the maintenance of a minister; and it gives to no one denomination of Christians any superior claim, in this respect, over another. And if the colonists were the only persons for whose moral and religious condition provision was required, an establishment formed according to the above outline, might be sufficient. But it will be recollected, that one main object contemplated in founding this colony, is to civilize, and christianize, the native inhabitants of New Zealand. Some further measure, then, is

necessary for this purpose.

In determining the best measure for this purpose, regard should be had, first, to the instruments already engaged in this humane enterprise; and secondly to the character and condition of the New Zealanders-their capacity for civilization, and general improvement.

New Zealand has for many years occupied the attention of the Church Missionary Society, who have several stations on the northern peninsula of the North Island. In some part of the country the Wesleyans likewise have settlements. Both parties have been and are at this moment zealously employed;

they have removed the first, if not the worst obstacle to the general conversion of the natives; and they furnish a class of experienced and devoted men, on whose aid and co-operation the colony may hope to rely in any scheme for the extension of those benefits which they have been so happily instrumental in imparting to their immediate neighbourhood.

On the other hand-and in direct rivalry, as it may be termed, to the labours of these missionaries -civilization of a very different description is making rapid strides everywhere through the islands. It is impossible to conceive a more revolting exhibition, than that of civilized men corrupting savages-enlightening them only to give greater scope to the worst propensities of human nature, and teaching them new lessons of evil; it almost realizes the idea of the author of evil and his fallen angels in their work of demoralizing the world; and it is not too much to assert that such is actually the state of things in New Zealand at this moment. There are from time to time casual visiters from Europe; the crews of trading vessels of the most licentious habits; there are convicts escaped from the penal colonies; and there are men, whose character is more degraded and fatal in its contagion than that of even the convict, men who are flying from the gaze of society, whose moral feelings they have so outraged as to be no longer endurable, men who, for the sake of freely indulging the most brutal appetites, are content to meet the savages half-way-to live as they do, to go to war with them, to marry with them,

to practise all the impurities they practise, and to become one with them. These, be it understood, are the principal agents now at work in civilizing the poor natives of New Zealand. What chance, it may be fairly asked-what chance, humanly speaking, have the efforts of a few missionaries, stationed on the outskirts of this wide country, in the race they are running with such reckless agents of evil? It is an awful crisis, for the character and everlasting condition of a whole people; but, let the subsequent statements of fact tell their own tale.

To enable the colony, then, to counteract the evil, and to follow up the good which is at work in the civilization of the natives, is the object to be considered; and so important and difficult is this object, as to make it absolutely necessary that the general superintendence of it should be entrusted to some one individual, disengaged from other pursuits, one of the highest station and character. It is therefore proposed, that the Crown should be authorized, upon application from the Founders, to appoint a Bishop for New Zealand, the colony defraying all the expenses. From such an appointment, so many advantages of different kinds are likely to accrue to the colony, that it would be a desirable measure, even if the colony did not assume the character of a civilizing colony. It will obviously increase its respectability, and may be expected to attract to it persons from a very valuable class, who would not else be likely to join it; and such an appointment may be expected to be even a channel of