PARISH MEETINGS.

Globe, Volume VIII, Issue 903, 17 May 1877, Page 3

PARISH MEETINGS.

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, LYTTELTON.

A mooting of the parishioners of this church was held on Tuesday evening last, to receive a report from the vestry regarding the disposal of the parsonage site. The incumbent (the Rev. F. C. Lloyd) occupied the chair. He stated the vestry had a recommendation to lay before the meeting. It was that tl»c present site should be cut up into sections and sold by auction. Ho hoped this would be done, for it was his own conviction that such a sale would conduce to the benefit of whatever clergyman they had stationed amongst them.

I)r Rouse explained the matter, giving an account of what had been done by the vestry. At a full meeting of the vestry it had been resolved, with only one dissentient, to offer the property for sale by auction. It was then thought better to bring the matter before the parishioners at a public meeting to hear their opinion on the question. There were three properties which might be purchased in Lyttelton for a parsonage. He should be sorry to sec any mortgage debt on the parish. Mr Alport valued the present land and house at £1450. He thought this high; but since Captain Sproul had sold his property it bad somewhat modified his opinion, and be thought it would fetch the £I2OO required to purchase the bouse and land offered by Mr Hawkins or Captain Gibson. The present parsonage had been surveyed by several and the building declared defective both as regarded walls, foundation, and woodwork. A great deal oi: money had been spent in repairs without good result, and he thought the opinion of the great majority of the parish was that no more money should be spent in repairing the building, as it had been tried so often and proved unsuccessful. Of the properties under offer, those offered by Mr Hawkins and Captain Gibson were both very eligible, the houses in each ease being well-built, commodious, and in good repair. He begged to propose — “ That the services of a competent auctioneer be obtained to advise as to the manner of disposal of the parsonage and glebe by public auction, subject to the approval of the Standing Committee, and to such reserve as the vestry may decide upon.” Air George Tayler objected to more money being spent on the old parsonage, and bogged to second Dr. Rouse’s proposition. Air H. Allwright was sorry to see so small an attendance. He was quite opposed to the resolution, and was bold enough to doubt Dr. Rouse’s statement that a majority of the parishioners were in favor of disposing of the parsonage and site, and he thought that if a ballot were taken they woidd find this to be the case. They were about to sacrifice a valuable property and ''a* stone house for a wooden one, which would need continual repair. He did not think Air Armson was right in stating the building had sunk. Air Brassington, a practical mason of large experience, said the building had not sunk, and lie had no doubt that it could be properly repaired. The place was much improved from what it was at the time the Rev. Air Knowles lived there. He did not think the space sufficient in either of the two properties offered, whereas the present parsonage site was large, and the grounds could be made very handsome, as well as leaving space for domestic purposes. He knew (lie resolution would be carried, but must, raise bis voice in protest against the sale. Ho was sorry the parish took so little interest in the matter. Mr H. R. AVebb, though a member of the

vestry, and agreeing with the resolution, must say he thought there was a great deal in what Mr Allwright said. They would sacrifice a stone house, he thought capable of repair, as well as an acre and a quarter of ground, for a wooden house which would need constant repairs, placed on a quarter of an acre of ground, and he had grave doubts as to whether they were pursuing the right course, though he should not oppose the resolution. His own objection to the present site was its contiguity to the cemetery.

Mr T. A. W. Parsons would oppose the present site being sold at any sacrifice, but recommended its being offered for sale. Dr. Rouse, in reply to arguments against sale of present site, said the difference in cost between the repairs to stone and wooden buildings were small, and in this particular case he thought the cost of repairs had been so large as (o dwarf the expondiiure that had been incurred on any wooden house. Whether it was the fault of contractor, clerk of the works, or parish authorities, the whole building had been put up disgracefully, there was no hair in the mortar, the rooms were not the right size, and the walls faulty. From the first it had let in water, and the repairs to it had, lie believed, cost at least £2OO. Regarding opinions of tradesmen and their value, in comparison with that of the architect, he rather agreed with Mr Allwright, but Mr Brassington began at the wrong end, he said the water came through the pointing whereas it came through the stone. They were hound to take the value of the ground in the different localities when they spoke of sacrificing an acre and a quarter for a quarter of an acre. A quarter acre in a lower part of the town was worth more than an acre in another. Ho did not think the present parsonage site would ever be a central one ; if it were they should require another church and another clergyman. [Hear, hear.] But he did not see any prospect of the town extending up the lull, it was more likely to spread round the bays. The Rev. Chairman before putting the resolution, spoke at lengtn of the unfitness of the present parsonage for a dwelling house in its present state. He then put the resolution to the meeting, which was carried.