DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1644, 28 May 1879, Page 3

DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Tuesday, May 27. The special session of the Dioc.san Synod was opened at 2 p.m. in the College Library by the Most Bev. the Primate. Present—Most Bev. the Primate (president), Very Bev. the Dean of Christchurch, Ven. Archdeacon Harper, Ven. Archdeacon Dudley, Canon Cotterill. Clergy—Bevs. F. Knowles, H. E. East, E. A. Lingard, C. Bowen, E. G. Penny, F. G. Brittan, H. B. Cocks, J. G. Cholmondeley, H. Collins, Q. Fynes-Olinton, H. G. Gould, F. E. Inwood, H. S. Hamilton, 8,. A. Mortimor, G. P. Mutu, W. Harper, C. J. Merton, W. E. Paige, W. A. Pascoe, F. T. Opie, J. W. Stack, J. Townsend, and A. C. Wright. Laity—Hons. J. B. A. Acland and H. B. Grcsson, Messrs H. A. Bamford, C. Caff, A. C. Cunningham, W. J. W. Hamilton, W. H. Hargreaves, B.J. S. Harman, L. Harper, T. M. Hassal, G. L Lee, F. de c. Malet, G. Mclntyre, W. Miles, jun., H. S. Smith. F. G. Stedman, F. Hobbs, H. J. Tancred, J. Tipping, W. Graham, H. E. Webb, Ihos. Gordon, C. Newton, A. F. N. Blakiston, G. Mayo, C. B. Blakiston, C. Whitcfoerd, W. W. Cobb, E. F. Holderness, John Grigg, E. Strange. OPENING OF THE SESSION. The roll was called by Bev. F. Knowles, and the members present answered to their names. The Primate then declared the session of Synod duly opened. ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT. The President then proceeded to deliver his opening address, Btating that the session had been convened for the purpose of considering a draft Bill prepared at the request of the late Synod, such Bill embodying the Church Property Trust Ordinances, and declaring the trusts on which the several properties vested in the Church Property Trustees were ho d, and if approved to submit the same to the Legislature. His Lord.-lup proceeded at some length to detail the circumstances connected with tho creation of tho see, and tho provision trade for a Bishopric Fund, APPOINTMENTS. v " His Lordship stated that he hid appointed the Hon. H. B. Gresson as chancellor of the diocese, and tho ilev. F. Knowles as registrar of tho diocese. VOTE OF THANKS. The Very Bov. tho Dean of Ch'istfhurch rose to propose a vote of thinks to the President for Ids address and to request him to allow it to ho printed. He felt sure that the Synod would feel grttiCcd that tho PresMcnt had acted on tho wishes of the Synod r.o promptly. [''cV.r, hear.] He trusted tu. r tihe Synod would address themselves to tho work before them, as it was a question of the greatest possible ink-rest to tin Utmreh. Ho now bogged to move—"'l hut the thanks of tho Synod be given to His Lordship the president for his address, and that ho bo requested to alio Yi it to bo printed. The motion, on bcu-g seconded, was agreed to. APOIjOCIIES. The President said ho had i-ecei/ed apologia for non-attendance from tho Beva. (Joato*, Wyalt, andrlton. RETURNS. 'I ho President laid the usual diooesan returns on tho table. BL'fcCTXON o*' SECRETARIES. On tho motion of the Very Eev. tho Dean of Christchurch, the Lev. E. A. Lingo rd was clcctod as clerical secretary to tho Synod.

On the motion of Mr Malet, Mr A. P. N. Blaki- ton was elected as lay secretary. C!IAIRMAN OP COMMITTEES. On the motion of the Bov. Mr Cholmondeloy, Mr C. li. Blakiston was elected as chairman of committee:). J PROTESTS. Tho President intimated that he had received two protests against tho election of a Synodsman for Lyttelton. HOTTKS OF MEETING. Tho hour of meeting was fixed at 4 p.m. each day, except Saturday. BUSINESS OF SYNOD. The Very Kev. the Dean of Christchurch having given notice of a motion in connection with the Cathedral, &c. Mr G. L. Leo rose to a point of order, to ask whether tho Synod could consider any business except that for which the Synod was constituted. The Very Eev. tho Dean was of opinion that when once tho session was opened any business might bo brought forward by the members. Mr Harman was of tho same opinion as tho Dean. REPORT OF CATHEDRAL COMMISSION. The report of the Cathedral Commission was read as follows : Tho Cathedral commissioners bog to report to Synod as follows!: — During' the interval since tho date of thoir previous report tho building of tho Cathodral has boon proceeded with slowly and as means became available. The system of working- by day labor, under the immediate supervision of tho resident architect, has boon continued, tho vory scant resources at tho command of the commissioners from local subscriptions, and tho fact of the grant by Synod being well nigh exhausted, not warranting tho lotting of con- i tracts.

As will be soon from tho balance-shoot herewith, local subscriptions collectod during tho last eight months amount to only £451, donations from England totalling £5lB l.'Ja 4d, of which £220 Ks id represents, with intorost thereon, subscriptions obtained some years ago through Mr J. E. FitzGerald; £2lO 5s is tho result of appeals made by his Lordship tho Bishop during his rocont visit to tho mother country, and £79, subscriptions procured by Mr F. Banks. Sineo October last £IOO has boon given by Mr R. H. Rhodes for a column erected to the memory of his doeoased brothor, Mr George Rhodes. A special donation of £IOO has been made by a lato arrival, Mrs S. Hill, which is bsing expended in tho construction of the south porch doorway. The sum of £303 15s lOd has been paid by sundry contributors towards the cost of tho main column and arch at the sonth-west intersection of the navo and aislo, called tho " Pilgrims' column and arch." The exponse of tho corresponding column on the north side, estimated at £7OO, has been guaranteed by the family of the late Dr. Barker, and is now in course of erection, in memory of their deceased parents.

It is to bo hoped that other pilgrims will follow the good example thus set by several of their fellows, so that before long funds will bo forthcoming to finish tho two largo columns and arches reforred to.

The following report by Mr Monntfort is incorporated herewith, as showing tho progress within the last few months :

"Since the report of October, 1879, tho works have continued steadily to progross, though in accordance with instructions the number of men has boon from time to time diminished. In October last tho western rose window was In progress, and the working and fixing of tho same was completed early in December, so as to be shown complete at the anniversary service which was hold within tho walls of tho Cathodral on December 16th. " The work of tho south-west column of tho cross-

ing known as the " Pilgrims' column," has been taken up since January, and is now complete. This has enabled the only remaining arch on the south side of the nave to be turned, and the spandrils to be filled in, so that the south wall of the nave up to the clerestory line is now complete. " The corresponding north-west, or as it is to be called the Barker column, is now in hand; the concrete foundation is finished, and the base and part •f the shaft nre workod and fixed The only remaining arch on the north side of the nave (all the stones for which have boon workod for some timo) can bo turned in, the spandrils fixed, and the north side will then be finished up to the same lino as the south side.

"There will then remain the two arches across the east ends of the north and south aisles, connecting the transept walls with the Pilgrim and Barker columns, and the arch across the nave, in continuation of the line of these last arches, to complete the circuit of the nave, leaving the clerestory and the east and west gables to be done before the roofing is taken in hand. "The outer door of the south porch is worked, and before the meeting of Synod is expected to be fixed and completed. This is to bo known as the " Hill Door." "The contract for the timber forthenavo and aisle roofs is so far complete that the last cargo is at Lyttolton, and will be delivered in a few days. The contractor found it impossible to complete the order from Barry's Bay, so he procured it from the north of the Middle Islaud, at a greater price than he will receive for his original order. Timber of tins kind, size, and quality, has now become very difficult of attainment. (Signed) "B. W. Mountfout, " Resident Architect." The last grant of £SOOO has been expended, and the commission remit to the Synod the consideration of the important questions whether the building of the Cathedral is to languish for want of further assistance. Such an eventuality cannot fail to cause a lasting disgrace to the Church, and the commission earnestly recommend to Synod tho propriety of voting a further grant, sufficient at all events to carry on the work until the next annual session. Tho existing liabilities amount to £1052 fis Id, which must be provided for. Against this there are assets, namely, £2192 10s, representing the value of stone and timhar on the ground, but which, should fluids be forthcoming, will have to be worked up towards the completion of the nave. This result it is hoped will bo achieved in time for holding special services in connection with tho session of the General Synod, which meet in Christchurch in 1880. In addition £390 is due by the Cathedral Guild, £7OO by the Barker family, payable in August next, and £lO5 by tho Maria Thompson trust. There arc also local subscriptions promised, which are estimated as worth £SOO. Owing, however, to the present commercial depression, it is probable that somo considerable time will elapse before the bulk of this is paid.

Notices of motion having boon giTOn, the S ynod adjourned until 4 p.m. this day.