. New Zealand rulers and statesmen from 1840 to 1897 . together confine himself to the spiritual interestsof his uncivilized flock when civil wrong seriously injuresthose interests. For instance, there is no doubt that inNew Zealand a widely-spread and deeply-rooted feeling inthe minds of many native tribes that subjection to civilrule would despoil them of their lands and make themslaves, caused a great falling-off from Christianity and gaverise to partial insurrection. Under these circumstances,it was not only the right, but the duty of missionaries toprotest against the policy which, in the
. New Zealand rulers and statesmen from 1840 to 1897 . together confine himself to the spiritual interestsof his uncivilized flock when civil wrong seriously injuresthose interests. For instance, there is no doubt that inNew Zealand a widely-spread and deeply-rooted feeling inthe minds of many native tribes that subjection to civilrule would despoil them of their lands and make themslaves, caused a great falling-off from Christianity and gaverise to partial insurrection. Under these circumstances,it was not only the right, but the duty of missionaries toprotest against the policy which, in their opinion, tendedto bring about or intensify such consequences. Of course Bishop Sehiyn 13 it is presumed that the protest was made under a duesense of responsibihty and within the due Hmits of dis-cretion. Bishop Sehvyn was not one who would shirkhis duties ; he was no common man, and his mind wascast in no common mould. His great characteristicswere force of will, zeal, eloquence, courage, and moralheroism. His main defect was an impetuous temper,. Bishop G. A. Sehvyn. which occasionally made him dictatorial and felt it his duly to protest against Earl Greys instruc-tions in 1846, which he, in common with nine-tenths ofthose who have read them, interpreted to mean confisca-tion of native territor}. He also remonstrated, in i860and afterwards, with those in power, on the causes of, ashe believed, a mistaken and fatal native policy which 14 New Zealand Riders and Statesmen originated and prolonged the Waitara War. The ex-pression of his views may now and then have been insome respects intemperate and unreasonable, but everyallowance ought to be made for the nature of the man,the difficulty of his position, and for the strength of hisconvictions. He was no selfish critic ; he spared noefforts and personal risk to save life and to restore peaceand good-will between the two races. Generally, withregard to his character, it must be owned that his greatabilities, his
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