MEETING OF PARISHIONERS OF ST. MATTHEW'S.

Auckland Star, Volume III, Issue 638, 27 January 1872, Page 2

MEETING OF PARISHIONERS OF ST. MATTHEW'S.

A crowded meeting took place last night as above in St. Matthew's School-room, Hobson street. It was an adjournment from last Friday, at which time the report presented by the vestrymen had been " referred back" to that body on the motion of Mr. J. Davis, to reconsider or j expunge a clause setting forth why Mr. I Charles Taylor had been dismissed by the Vestry from the mastership of St. i Matthew's school. The Eev. David Jones took the chair. The minutes of last meeting were read and confirmed. The Chair- j man informed the meeting that the Vestry j had met since last Friday, and had decided upon making no alteration whatever in the j report presented on the evening of that day. He would therefore call upon Doctor Hooper (one of the Churchwardens) to again read the report. The document showed the affairs of the church generally to be in a very healthy condition. The fund for erecting a stone church within the parish now amounted to upwards of £4000. Mr. Burtt moved, and Mr. Williams seconded the adoption ot ; the report, when Mr. Doonin moved, and Mr. Fleming seconded, a series of resolutions, having for their object the " better governance of the future meetings _oi ; parishioners held in this parish, which were passed. Mr. Doonin stated that his object in carrying such a motion was to prevent if possible any disorder such as Lad already taken place at their parish meetings. Mr. J. Davis in speaking to the original motion, proceeded to make some irrelevant remarks in reference to Mr Taylor, his dismissal from the boys school, the conduct of the Vestry, and the language used in the report reflecting upon that young gentleman, when he was reminded by the chairman that he must confine himself to the matter before the meeting, viz., the adoption or otherwise of the report. Mr Davis then went on to repeat that the language used in the report was calculated to seriously injuro Mr Taylor, and that in characterising him (Mr Taylor) as a bad teacher the vestry had gone beyond its province. He denied haying said that any of the vestrymen were liars. He had said that the report contained falsehood, and said so still. Mr Taylor enjoyed the confidence of Mr O'Sullivan, and that was a sufficient proof that he was a good teacher. The speaker then moved tbat " the report be not received by the meeting." Mr J. C. Morrin seconded. Before the chairman put the amendment, he made some strong remarks in reference to the introduction of personalities by Mr Davis, and proceeded to say that some mistaken persons in the parish had endeavoured to make a martyr of Mr Taylor, and that no one—not even the report before the meeting,—had said that he" was a bad teacher, but that he was a bad disciplinarian, and that the school, when under his control, had been in a state of bad discipline amounting almost to insubordination. The meeting must remember that, there were two schools under the same roof, and that the work of the one could not be stopped by the noise and bad conduct of tho other, which was actually the case. He had hoped that this matter would have been discussed M^^^aTiiao^o^^^WJSS* much cheering, the numbers being 27 against 23. ' Mr Vickers read over and explained the church acaounts, which showed a debt of £50. They were adopted as presented. Mr Jerome Cadman, having given notice at the last annual meeting, then propo "d the abolition of the pow rents, au! the introduction of the voluntary system, in a speech, extending over half an hour, wherein he quoted copiously from church affairs in the old country. Mr, Dawson seconded. Mr Burtt in a few telling remarks combatted the statements of Mr Cadman, and illustrated his arguments by revealing a few extraordinary facts in reference to tho government of the Auckland churches. Mr Fleming followed in the same strain, and said that he considered Mr Cad man's motion premature. He agreed with the voluntary principle, but this was not the time to bring it forward. He would move " that the consideration of this question be postponed until the next annual meeting." Mr Cucksey seconded. Before the amendment'was put, Mr Cadman claimed a right of reply, and did so, expressing his opinion that the opposition to his arguments were " croaking," and nothing better. He should move the same resolution next year and the year after. He believed in the voluntary principle, and equally believed that in a few years tho Church of England would be disestablished. The amendment was put and carried unanimously, Mr Cadman voting with singular inconsistency in its favour. The election for parish officers was then proceeded with, and resulted in Messrs Burtt and Williams being appoointed as churchwardens ; Messrs Cater,. Fleming, Doonin, Cameron, Upton, J C Morrin, Brigham, Hooper, Henderson, aud Thorne, junior, as vestrymen; and Messrs Nolan and Dickson as auditors. The meeting then unanimously voted the incumbent £50 a year addition to his present salary, which the rev. gentleman duly and suitably acknowledged. The usual vote of thanks terminated the proceedings.