The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-05 00:00:00

CANTERBURY ASSOCIATION.

Yesterday a very respectably and numerously at-
tended meeting was held in the rooms of the Canter-
bury Association at which many ladies were present.
The chair on the occasion was taken by
Captain SIMEON, who, in opening the proceedings,
reminded his auditors of the distinction between colo-
nization and emigration, and that the Canterbury
settlers went out as colonists, not as squatters. They
went to form a daguerreotype miniature of England,
complete in every respect in religious principle, in
education, and in all social influences; and only in-
complete in the reproduction of those vices which,
most unfortunately, crept into an old country, and
that pressure from without which fell so heavily
upon all classes of society here, from the highest
to the lowest. To carry out such a scheme as
theirs it was necessary that they should become ac-
quainted with each other while in England, and on this
account it gave him the greatest pleasure to see ladies
present, because it proved the superiority of the new
society which they sought to form. At the meetings
to promote other emigration schemes men only were
present, but their colonists regarded their wives as
more than their better part, and as giving the whole
colour to their dotnestic.enjoyment. The main point
which he had to submit to their consideration, then,
was twofold—the development of a scheme for taking
out the commencement of the main body of colonists,
to sail on the Ist of June, 1851.—(Hear, hear.) With
that body he trusted would go those who would take
the highest position in the colony, and the second
highest position in the Colonial Church. This pro-
posal would not prevent other ships sailing at different
times, so that colonists, when they went, would find
there people to work fur them at prices which were
not ruinous. The second object which they were
met to consider was with reference to an addition to
the privileges conferred on purchasers, in allowing
those whose land had been purchased by the agents,
and who were not pleased with the purchase, to be
enabled, under certain stipulated agreements, to ex-
change their land, or sell it, or add to it by a re-pur-
chase in the colony.—(Hear, hear.) Captain Simeon
concluded by introducing to the meeting
Dr. ROWLEY, Dean, and head of the Chapter of the
new Diocese of Canterbury, who also congratulated
the association on the presence of so many ladies. If
they could make their settlement an abode for highly-
educated and right-minded women, it would do for
men—for husbands, fathers, brothers, and lovers.—
(Hear, hear.) They bad sent out seven ships, with
the one now sailing, but hoped that before 1851 ex-
pired the labours of the association would be re-
warded by seeing many more ships sent out.—
(Hear, bear.) Something must be done to provide for
the large departure of colonists which was expected to
take place next summer. (The Rev. Doctor here
proceeded to read a lengthened correspondence which
had passed between Captain Simeon, on behalf of the
council of the society of Canterbury colonists, and
Mr. Alston on behalf of the committee of manage-
ment of the Canterbury Association. The purport of
these documents is embodied in the following resolu-
tion of the joint committees :
That the measures of both parties shall be so framed
as to promote and facilitate the proposed simultaneous
departure of a large body of colonists in the first week of
June, 1851. In the meanwhile every purchaser of land,
intrustlnc, the selection thereof to the Association, will
be entitled, on reaching the settlement either before or
along with the main body emigrating in June next, to
exchange the hind so :elected on his behalf for other
land to be selected by himself; or, if ho should prefer it,
to keep or sell such land, and, in any case, to purchase,
by paying fir it in the settlement, a second quantity of
laud equal to the first, with the same privileges of pas-
turage and prior right of purchase as by the present
terms of purchase are secured to all buyers in proportion
to their freehold purchases, It is to be understood that
the rights of transfer and nomination secured to pur-
chasers by the present terms of purchase will be in no
degree diminished with regard to exchanges or second
purchases in the manner above set forth.")
The Rev. Doctor then proceeded to say, that the
question had been raised, whether the Canterbury
Church had been made for the colony, or the colony
for the Church. lie said that they were made for
each other. If there were no colony the Church
would be nothing, and without the Church the colony
would lose its distinctive character, and only re-
semble those headless, heartless communities, which
were a disgrace to the country, and were of no good
to themselves, either in time or in eternity.—(Hear.)
All their efforts would be in vain unless they sought
for unity. They must cultivate those good tempers
which belenged to men who were really in heart and
life members of the Church.—(Hear.) They must
be kindly affectiuned one to another in brotherly love,
and they must get rid of that hot and fiery disposi-
tion which the right of private judgment, carried to
such a length in this country, produced.—(Hear.)
Lord LYTTELTON expressed his confident hope that
in all respects, civil, ecclesiastical, and social, in which
they desired that the association should be an improve-
ment and a model, every one of the principles laid
down by them would be carried out. It was his con-
viction that the idea of the colonists going out in
large bodies was one ~f the highest value, and ought
to be encouraged. He hoped that the contemplated
departure of a fleet in June would prove but the first
of a long succession of swarms from the native hive.
—(Hear, hear.) Alluding to the Church organization
of the Canterbury Settlement, he said, that the asso-
ciation thought it might venture to take upon itself
to fill up such vacancies in the Church there as might
seem practicable, end to send persons out at once with
the recommendation that their appoietrnents should
be ratified there by the proper authorities. As to the
question of local self-government, it was not less a
subject of anxious consideration with them now than

it was some months ago. It would be their business,
end his in particular,.to press that subject on the at-
tention of the Colonial Secretary and the Government
as early as possible, and he could not but believe that
they had improved hopes on the subject.—(Hear,
hear.) He anticipated that they would be able to
show an amount of progress made by the colony to
entitle them to a representative constitution as a dis-
tinct province.—(Hear, hear.)
The Rev. C. NV YNTEN read the draught of a dis-
patch addressed to Bishop S-1 yn, putting him in
possessiou of the ecclesiastical arrangements of the
colony contemplated by the association.

ADDERLET read extracts from two letters
which he had recently received from New Zealand,
and which he believed would be interesting to the
meeting. One was from Bishop Selwyn, who said
that he was preparing a plan of Church government,
by which he hoped to be released from the position of
a Church despot, a position which was as contrary to
his inclinations.as to his principles. The Hon. Mem-
ber then proceeded to pas i a Warta eulogium upon the
character of Mr. Godley, and to explain his views
upon the subject of colonization. He held in his hand
a letter from him to his mother, in which he stated,
on the authority of the best Australian and New
Zealand journals, that his opnicns " had touched a
chord in the better class of colonists." Mr. Adderlex
then proceeded to declare the deep personal inte-
rest which he took in the v. elfare of the settlement.
lied he not been fixed in England by ties which he
could not break, he would have had no hesitation him-
self in embarking in the enterprise. Many of the
labourirg class in his county, Warwick, were now
taking a then interest in the subject, and some had
already gone our. In conclusion he could only express
his hearty hopes and wishes for the success of the
Canterbury Settlement.—(Hear, hear.)
Dr. ROWLEY then proposed the following resolu-
tion :

" That the arrangements ma 1e for the simultaneous
departure of a large body of colonists in June, 1851,
give entire satisfaction to this meeting. and appear cal-
culated to insure the comfort and prosperity of those
who will form the expedition."

The resolution having been seconded was unani-
mously agreed to.

A letter was then read, announcing that the route
from Nelson to Canterbury was now open tor cattle,
after which a vote of thanks having been passed to
Captain Simeon for his conduct in the chair, the pro-
ceedings terminated.

SMITHFIELD CLUB CATTLE SHONT.—TiIIs popular
exhibition will offer increased attraction for vistors this year
The entries of stock very tar exceed any previously made in
former years, in consequence of which the committee of
the Smithfield Club have required the proprietor of the
Bazaar to provide the necessary ac ommodation for nearly
fifty more than the usual number of oxen, and a correspond-
ing enlargement of the space occupied by sheep and pigs.
The extent of the Bazaar premises has enabled this to.bes
done without interfering with the convenient arrangement of
the animals, while the extension will give greater facilities
to the increased number of visitors who may fairly be ex-
pected to view the exhibition. The list of exhibitors in the
cattle classes is again headed by his Royal Highness Prinee
Albert, the Duke of Rutland, the Earl Spencer, the Earl of
Leicester, the Earl of Hardwicke, and several other noble-
men entering the lists as competitors. The Duke of Rich-
mend andlir. Jonas Webb will contribute several pens of
sheep, and Mr. Fisher Hobbs and the Earl of Radnor will
again contend for priority of excellence in the porcine tribe.
In addition to the increased space to be occupied by animals
the agricultural implement galleries have also been greatly
enlarged, in order to afford room for the many new and im-
proved machines lately introduced to facilitate the sciissce
of husbandry. The committee of the club will mattOn.
Monday next to award the przes. The exhibition will be
thrown open to the public on Tuve:ay morning, and fini.ily
close on tee following Friday.
ATTr.MFTFD OF A PRISONER FROM COLD.
BATA-MELOg Pntson—Yesterdny morning a daring attempt
to escape troin this prison was made.* It a,,pears that it is
customary to allow the rrisoners to go into the yards for a
short time after rising for the purpose of exercising, and
during this period a prisoner, sentenced to a long term, con-
trived unobserved to leave the general muster, and go back
to the dormitory, front which by great stratagem he climbed
to the circular wiriowa, and having got out of one, he
scrambled to, the roof, making.liis way to another dormitory,
'to reach 'whichhe was 'ctimpeileer to leap. After which he
:1:A5-eel along other roofs; but finally fell dlitatide of about
.0 feet onto the top of seine workshops in the yard, and bor.
.be escaped without lots of life is almost a miracle. By this
'time he was missed from his place, and a search being made,
he was discovered near to thr spot on which he had fallen.
lie,was taken back with, we believe, some injuries, and v,lll,
110 avtibt, be vlV4ely watched fc,r the futnze.