DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 435, 4 November 1875, Page 2

DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Wednesday, .November 3. The President took his seat at 4 p.m, and opened the proceedings with prayer. INSPECTOR OP SUNDAY SCHOOL^, The Synod resumed the consideration q| the following motion by the Rev F. Knowles —“That the Church Property Trustees be requested to place at the disposal of the diocesan education committee sufficient funds for the travelling expenses of an inspector of Sunday Schools.” ... ■ . The Dean suggested that the words “ Church Extension Committee" be substituted for the words “ Church Property Trustees,” and that instead of “ inspector” it should be “inspectors.” Archdeacon Willock said that at the end of the year there would be a deficit .balance of £2OO in the Church Property Funds. If the money were voted the trustees would have to say that they had not the money. Rev Canon Cotterill said that it was very improbable that the “ Church Extension Committee” would have funds available for the payment of the travelling expenses of inspectors of Sunday schools. Rev F. Knowles said that after what had fallen from Canon Cotterill, he (Mr Knowles) felt disposed to press the motion in its original form. The motion was negatived on the voices. ALLOCATION OF REVENUES OP CHRISTCHURCH RESERVES. Mr Malet explained that the resolutions he was about to move were founded on the report of the select committee appointed to recommend the allocation of the revenues of certain Christchurch reserves. He begged to move—- “ 1. Whereas £IO6O was expended in the building of the original parsonage of St. Michael’s, which was then the parsonage of the whole parish of Christchurch ; and whereas after the sub-division of the parish the sum of £553 was expended on the erection of the parsonage for St. John’s, apd £634 on that for St. Luke’s, and at that time (January, 1868) the value of St. Michael’s parsonage may be regarded as not more than equal to the grants made respectively to the other two parishes, the Synod is of opinion that the three parishes at that date (January, 1868) may be fairly considered to have started on e(|ual footing as to participation in the revenues derived fron; these reserves.”

Rev E. A. Lingard said that the reserves alluded to in the resolution were the “ original Christchurch Parsonage reserves,” including the reserve in Cranmer square. The motion was agreed to. Mr Malet moved —“2. That whereas the outlying parts beyond the town belts were only temporarily attached.to the parish of Christchurch, the Synod is of opinion that the benefits of these reserves should be con* fined to those parts of the original parish of Christchurch within the belts,’ The motion was agreed to.

Mr Malet moved—” 3. That from the first day of January, 1868, the parishes of St Michael’s, St John’s, St Luke’s, and the parish hereafter to be formed, of which the reserve in Cranmer square shall be the centre, shall participate equally in the revenues derived from the reserves.” The motion was agreed to. HEATHCOTE CEMETERY. Rev G. J. Cholmondeley moved—“ That the Heathcote cemetery be placed under the management of a Board, to consist of the incumbents of the parishes of Heathcote and Opawa, and four members, two to be elected annually from among the communicants of each parish by the vestry of such parish within six weeks after its election. Such members to remain in office until the election of their successors. The senior incumbent to be chairman of the Board, and to have an original as well as a casting vote.” With respect to the last clause, stating that the senior incumbent should have an original as well as casting vote, he had merely followed the example of the Christchurch Cemetery Board. The Dean said that he was bound to oppose this resolution to a certain extent, in accordance with a memorial which he had received from the parishioners of Heathcote. He (the Dean) was in favor of the senior incumbent being the chairman, but he was opposed to the chairman having two votes. He also objected to placing the management of cemeteries in other hands than those of the incumbents and churchwardens, as introducing a new principle, contrary to the precedent hitherto adopted by the Synod. He would move an amendment in the first part of the resolution vesting the management of the cemetery in the incumbents and 1 churchwardens. Mr Gresson seconded the amendment; Rev B. A, Lingard spoke in favor of the amendment moved by the Dean. 1 Rev G. J. Cholmondeley said that he was 1 quite ready to accept the Dean’s amendment. , The first part of the resolution as amended 1 was agreed to, 1 The Dean moved an amendment on the second part of the resolution, to the effect of giving the chairman of the Board an 1 original vote only. He thought it was ( desirable in the present state of things not 1 to give a double vote to the incumbent of * Opawa. He proposed also to add to the 1 resolution the words “ three to form a c quorum.” L Mr Gresson seconded the amendment. * Rev B. A. Lingard would ask the Synod 8 jto negative both the amendment and the 8 resolution. |The Poard had better be allowed ( to frame their own bye-laws, and to elect c their own chairman. 8 Rev P. Knowles said that the Synod ought * not to listen to what had been said outside respecting the sore feeling between Heathpote and Opawa. D

Rev B. A. Lingard said that in the Christ- * church Board the chairman had both an 1 prjginal and casting vote, 0 The President pointed out that if a law 8 \yere passed making the senior incumbent chairman, no meeting could take place unlets lie were present. The Dean said he would withdraw the r; amendment if Mr Cholmondeley would with- " draw the original resolution. ™ Rev G. J. Cholmondeley declined to withdraw the original motion. He would consent to amend the original motion by giving the " Board powei to appoint a chairman in the absence of the senior incumbent. The Dean said he would withdraw his amendment on the distinct understanding j" 1 ttat he should vote against the original re- b solution. ™

The Synod divided on .Mr Cholmondeley’s resolution as amended— a j Ayes—Clergy ... 8 Laity... 4 Noes—Clergy ... 6 Laity... 11 The resolution was consequently lost. STATUTE NO. 3 AMENDMENT BILL. Rev Canon Cotterill moved—“ That leave be given to bring in a Bill to amend Statute JV No 3, by the repeal of Clause 8; and if leave be given, that the Bill be read a first time.” The motion was agreed to, the Bill was brought in, read a first time, and ordered to ™ fip read a second time to-morrow. Rey R. S. Jackson moved—“ For leave to bring in a Rill to append Diocesan Statute No 3, clause 9. 1 Previous to all elections, the Bishop shall issue to the returning officer of the district a writ to proceed to election, and shall cause such returning officer to be supplied with a roll of the electors of the parish or district in which the election is to take place.’ ” The motion was agreed to, the Bill was brought in, read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow. to CHUECH SINGING, R Hamilton moved—" That the resolution 2 respecting singing in churches be printed tl in the proceedings of 1875 at the end of cl Regulation 19 of ‘ Instructions for the guid- di ance,’ &c.” y<

The motion was agreed to. le BOUNDARIES OF PABISHES AND PAROCHIAL di DISTRICTS, di The Dean moved—" That the resolution on boundaries of parishes and pare- ir ehial districts adopted last year fSynod a report, p, 64), and only partially carried out, be adopted as a request to the standing committee for the ensuing year.” oi The motion was agreed to. re PLEASANT POINT TRUST. Mr Hanmer moved—“ That the Synod appoint William Barker Howell, of Plea- tl sant Point, in the Province of Canter- tl bury, Esq.; Digory Sargent Pierce, of G Pleasant Point aforesaid, Esq.; and Edward Acton, of Pleasant Point aforesaid, Esq., to be trustees under the provisions of the m Bishops in New Zealand Trusts Act, 1871, to bi whom the Bishop of Christchurch shall p< convey all that piece or parcel of land con- f( taining twenty-three acres two roods (more T pr Jess), being part of rural section num- vs bered 3274 on the map of the Chief Surveyor tl of the Province of Canterbury, setting out a and describing the rural lands in the Timaru tl district thereof, commencing at a point on c: the north-eastern side of the road, passing p through that section, and forming the north- o eastern boundary of section 4838, the said c point being the south-eastern corner of section c 7406; thence north-easterly, following the a north-western boundaryof the firstmentioned w section a distance of eight chains seventy five li links to the north-eastern corner of the same b section ; thence south-easterly at a right ti

angle, following the north-eastern boundary of the same section a distance of twenty-five chains ninety-nine links to its south-eastern corner; thence south-westerly at a right angle following the south-eastern boundary of the same section a distance of seven chains seventy-nine links to the north-eastern side of the road before-mentioned ; and from thence returning in a straight line along the said north-eastern side of the road a distance of twenty-nine chains ten links to the commencing point, now held by the Bishop in trust for the use and benefit of a clerk or clerks in Holy Orders, duly licensed by the Bishop of Christchurch, and resident at Pleasant Point aforesaid, in charge of a district of which Pleasant Point aforesaid shall for the time being form a portion, subject nevertheless to all statutes and regulations now in force, or hereafter to be enacted by the Synod of the Diocese of Christchurch in any way relating to the premises,” The motion was agreed to. STATUTES NOS 4 AND 5 AMENDMENT BILLS. These Bills were read a third time and passed. SYNOD REPORTS. The Dean moved—“ That the standing committee be requested to collect one or more sets of General Synod Reports, also of Diocesan Synod Reports of the diocese of Christchurch, and have them bound for the use of the Synod.” The motion was agreed to. STATUTE NO 3 AMENDMENT BILL, SCHEDULE B.

Rev Canon Cotterill moved—“ That leave be given to bring in a Bill to amend Diocesan statute No 3, schedule B, substituting for the words ‘ the parish of Heathcote, two Synodsraen,’ the words, ‘ the parish of Heathcote, one Synodsman ; the parish of Opawa, one Synodsman. And adding the following words, ‘ The district of Addington, one Synodsman.’ ” The motion was agreed to, the Bill brought in, read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow. QUESTION. Mr Harman asked, in reference to the proposed notice respecting the classification of parishes, at what date the district of Addington became a parochial district, and at what date it was severed from parish of St Michael and All Angels ? The Rev Canon Cotterill replied—The Synod sanctioned the constitution of Addington as a parochial district by placing it among the parochial districts which were entitled to receive a grant of £SO from the Church Property Trust at the annual session of 1874. The district of Addington was thereby severed from the parish of St Michael and All Angels. ADJOURNMENT. Rev E. A. Lingard, for Rev Canon Dudley, moved—“ That the Synod adjourn this day to 7.30 p.m. on Thursday, to allow the Most Rev the President to lay the foundation stone of the Church of St John the Baptist, Rangiora, at 3 p.m.” The motion was agreed to. QUESTION.

The Dean asked—Why the name of Mr Dobson, of the Gust, has been omitted from the list of licensed lay readers, published in the Synod report of 1874 ? The President replied—The name of Mr Dobson has been accidentally omitted. It will appear in the Synod report of 1875-6. GRANT FROM DIOCESAN FUNDS.

Rev E. A. Lingard, mjved—“That the usual grant from diocesan funds for the quarter ending December 31st, 1875, be withheld from those parishes or districts which have failed during the year ending March 31st, 1875, to remit their offertories and collections for mission work, until such time as such offertories and collections have been forwarded to the diocesan treasurer.” Rev R. S. Jackson moved an amendment to the effect that the diocesan secretary be instructed to write to those parishes who have failed to remit, and inform them that they are liable to have their grant stopped. The amendment was not seconded. After a discussion, Rev G. J. Cholmondeley moved an amendment to the effect that in future the grant be withheld from from those parishes that fail to remit. amendment was negatived on the voices. The Synod divided on the'|original resolution— Ayes—Clergy ... 7 Laity ... 9 Noes—Clergy .. 6 Laity ... 2 The resolution was consequently agreed to, FINANCIAL REGULATIONS AMENDMENT BILL. Rev E. A. Lingard moved—“ For leave to bring in a Bill to amend ‘ Financial Regulations, viz 1. In section 11, clauses 2 and 7, to substitute for the word 1 Block ’ the word ‘Province.’ 2. That section Y., clause 2, read as follows:—‘ If parishes or districts fail in any quarter of the year to remit their offertories and collections for mission work, such parishes or districts shall not receive their grant from diocesan funds for that quarter.? ” , r The motion was agreed to, the Bill brought in, read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow. PASTORS TO PARISHES, The Dean moved —“ That the resolutions on the appointment of pastors to parishes as reported be adopted.” LIST OF CLERGYMEN. On the motion of the Rev E. A. Lingard, the Synod revised the list of clergymen at the election of clerical representatives to the General Synod. CHURCH CONSTITUTION, The Dean moved—“ That the following notice of motion for the next Diocesan Synod be printed in the Synod report, and appended to the resolutions ordered to be forwarded to other Diocesan Synods:— That, whereas the Church Constitution was drawn up under misapprehension as to the then existing relations, both of the State and Church in England, to the churches in the colonies; and whereas, very important changes in those relations have since taken place; and whereas, in consequence, partly of that misapprehension, and partly of those changes, the fundamental provisions of the constitution have become obsolete and inapplicable, and such of those provisions as were intended to give a certain necessary liberty under certain contingencies, have become either nugatory or questionable in their operation ; it is expedient that the

Y fundamental provisions of the constitution e be revised by a special convention of the i Bishops and of clerical and lay representa--3 tives from the several dioceses of New 3 Zealand, analogous to that which met in 3 Auckland in June, 1857, and which drew 3 up the original of the present constitution; i and that the General Synod be memorialised 3 accordingly to make arrangements at its next 3 triennial session in 1877, for the election of ■ clerical and lay representatives for the next i ensuing Synod, to meet in 1880, on this ■ basis, namely, that they should first be, with ; the Bishops, a convention to revise the con- ; stitution, and afterwards, the eighth Synod of the Church of the province of New Zealand.” The motion was agreed to, 1 REGULATIONS ON CAPITULAR BODY AMENDMENT BILL. Rev E. A, Lingard moved—“ For leave to bring in a ‘ Bill to amend regulations on capitular body, adopted 1871, as follows : To repeal all three regulations, and to substitute the following in lieu thereof— That out of the income arising from the Dean and Chapter Estate a sum of £4OO per annum be paid to the Dean so long as he be relieved from parochial duty, and £IOO per annum to each other member of the Chapter.’ ” The motion was agreed to, the Bill was brought in, read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow. REGISTRATION OF ELECTORS BILL. On the motion of Rev Canon Cotterill, this Bill was recommitted, amended, and reported with amendments. MAORI AND MELANESIAN MISSIONS. Rev R. S. Jackson moved—“ That it be a recommendation to all clergymen of this diocese to set apart the. offertory on the Epiphany or the first Sunday after, for the Maori mission, and the offertory on Whitsunday for the Melanesian mission,” The motion was agreed to. CLASSIFICATION OP PARISHES AND DISTRICTS. Rev Canon Cotterill moved—“ That leave be given to bring in the following classification of parishes and districts for the year ending December 31st, 1876 : The motion was agreed to, read a first time, and ordered to be read a second time to-morrow. DUTIES OF VESTRYMEN REGULATIONS AMENDMENT BILL. This Bill was read a third time and passed, LIST OP ENDOWMENTS AND DONATIONS OP : LAND. i The Dean moved—“ That it is desirable that a list of endowments and donations of ] land for Church purposes, made by indi- ' viduals, should be included in the annual ■ Synod report; and that the standing committee be requested to give effect to this resolution.” The motion was agreed to. ALTERATION OP FORMULARIES. Archdeacon Harper moved—“ That the resolutions on the draft Bill for alteration t of formularies be adopted, as reported by f committee.” 1

The motion was agreed to. CHURCH PROPERTY TRUSTEE,

Rev Canon Cotterill moved—“ That the Synod confirm the appointment of Mr 0. R. Blakiston as a Church Property Trustee, made by the standing committee.” The motion was agreed to. REPAIRS OP PARSONAGES. Mr Fendall moved—” That the resolution on ‘Regulations for repairs of parsonages (Synod report page 61), adopted last year, be adopted as a request to the standing committee for the ensuing year,” The motion was agreed to, CLERICAL PENSION FUND AMENDMENT RILL. This Rill wgjS read a third time and passed. « Notices of motion having been given, the Synod adjourned to 7.30 p.m. this day. THE LINCOLN SHOW DINNER. The usqal dinner was held op Tuesday evening, at Sluis’ Hotel. About fifty persons sat dqwn to an excellent spread. The Rev A. P. O’Oallaghan occupied the chair, Mr James Gammack and J. P. O’Callaghan the vice chairs. After the removal of the cloth the chairman gave the usual loyal and patriotic toasts, which were all duly honored. Mr W. H. Perryman proposed the toast of “ His Honor the Superintendent,” and said that during his reign they had prospered, and his Honor had in every way shown himself as a true and honorable man. He would ask them to fill their glasses and drink the health of his Honor the Superintendent. Drank with much enthusiasm, with musical honors. The chairman gave “ The Provincial Council,” and said he was sorry there was no member of it present to return thanks. Drank with musical honors. The secretary then read the prize list. Rev H. Stocker pioposed “ The Successful Exhibitors,” and said that no doubt the cattle and sheep breeders had made the country what it was. He coupled the toast with the names of Mr W. B. Andrew and Mr D. Gebbie. Messrs Andrew and Gebbie briefly returned thanks. Mr J. S. Murray proposed the “ Unsuccessful Exhibitors,” coupled with the names of Mr P. Muir and Denis O’Gallaghan, Mr R. Davies, and Mr F. Wright, and hoped they would be more successful another time. Messrs P. Muir, Denis O’Callaghan, R. Davies, and F, Wright returned thanks. Mr James Gammack proposed “ The Judges,” -coupled with the names of Messrs Mann, P. Muir, and Mcßeth. Drank with musical honors. Mr Mcßeth, in returning thanks, said that in his opinion the Lincoln and Romney Marsh sheep exhibited that day would be hard to beat at any shoty. The quality of the stock all through had much improved since two years ago. He begged to thank them for drinking their healths, Mr Mann and P. Muir also returned thanks. Several other toasts were then proposed—- “ The Agricultural and Pastoral Interests,” “The Working Committee,” and “ The hou Secretary,” and duly honored and responded to. During the evening several excellent songs were sung by several members of the company, and the meeting broke up about eleven o’clock.