DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2668, 25 October 1882, Page 3

DIOCESAN SYNOD.

TUBSBAY, OOTOBBB 24. The Most Bev. the Primate took his seat at four o'clock. Canon CoUerill laid the Cathedral aooonnte on the tablo, and moved—" That when audited the same, bo included with the ofherr accounts.published! in the Synod report." | Archdeaeori Harris seconded the motion, which was agreed to. r , . Mr Willes, moved—" That the office of secretary and treasurer ,to the Chapter, for wbioh provision, has, hitherto been made out of .the Cathedral, offertories, be attached to one of the canonries." ' He objected to the appointment of non-resident canons, and deprecated, in the face of the pant deficit, that capital shonld be trenched upon for the funds neceisary for the Cathedral service, or that this or that fund in the Diooecnn aocount should have ulioea taken from it. In view of this deficiency of £919 already referred'to, retrenchment was necessary, and by his motion being adopted £IOO a year would be saved.

Upon the suggestion of Mr Malet it was decided to consider the resolutions in committee.

The B6v. E. A. Lingard thought the Synod should be careful how it trenohed upon the Bishop's prerogative, by whom the Canons were appointed and their duties defined. There was a tendency in Srnod to legislate on matters wbioh should be left to the Bishop, and he thought the motion should be withdrawn.

The Dean submitted that the last speaker had shown no reason for his contention. The initiative in the creation of the fifth canonry was taken by the Synod. The Hon. J. B. A. Aoland contended that the Synod's aotion in that matter was canfined to voting the necessary funds. After remarks from the Bev. A. W. Hands and Mr J. B. Parker, The Primate thought that the Synod were competent to discuss the matter, leaving certain latitude of aotion. He did not thinkthe duties should be tied down to one Canon. He would move 'Chapter,' the words 'should be held by one or more lay members of the Chapter or' be inserted in the motion. After a long disensaion the motion was amended and unanimously rejected on the voices. Mr Willes moved further—" That es canonries became vacant they should be held in abeyance until suoh time as the Synod decides they may be filled up." The speaker oontended that as three of the Canons were non-resident, he could not be said to be interfering with the Bishop's counsel. Mr O. B. Blakiston objected to the principle involved in the motion. After a long desultory discussion, in the course of which the Bev. H. O. M. Watson criticised and the Bev. W. H. Elton defended the present Cathedral services, and several other members of the Synod took part pro and eon, the resolution was carried on the voices.

Mr vVilles moved further—" That it be a reoommendation to the chapter to reduce the number of choristers on the foundation j and to admit probationers into the Cathedral school on suoh terms as may be laid down by the Cathedral chapter." The speaker thought that the necessity of this school was apparent to all, but he alio thought the number of choristers be fixed at a certain number to receive board and education free. • Bev. H. 0. M. Watson having passed certain strictures on the motion, he was reminded by Mr J. 0. Parker that this was a recommendation.

j Mr Harman and others also took part in the debate, when the resolution was put and agreed to. Mr Willes then moved—" That the amount already accumulated and now used as a sicking fund for re-payment of the general debts on the Dean and Chapter estate be used for the purpose of paying off outstanding liabilities in connection with the Cathedral." In moving this resolution he felt he was standing on a sheer preoipioe. This sinking fund was raised at the rate of £3OO per annum. Its oapital value was now £I3OO. If the proposal was refused it would praotically overthrow all existing Cathedral arrangements. The Bev. H. O. M. Watson would like to know if hands were laid on this fund how the loan would be paid t The Dean explained that the returns from the Dean and Chapter property would enable the arrangements for sinking fund to be resumed in eight or nine years hence. Bev. H. 0. M, Watson—l see; an eight years' bill. Mr T. S. Weston strongly denounced the destruction of a sound principle for the sake of conducting services in a certain building, and thus probably damage the credit of the Synodioal body. Economy should be practiced, and other means adopted so that the money raised for this purpose should not be touched.

At thii stage the Chairman of Committee repotted progress, and asked leate to lit again. The Synod then adjourned till 7.50.

On lemming, The Very Kev. the Dean brought up the roport of the committee appointed to consider the best method of disposing of the unused portions of the cemetery reserve. The committee recommended—(l) That the Church Property Trustees be authorised to dispose of the unused portion of the reserve in suoh a way as they might think expedient, whether by sale, lease, or otherwise, provided that an acre (more or less) contiguous to the present burial ground be reserved for burial purposes, pending the opening of the public cemetery. (2) That it be an instruction to the Trustees to take the necessary steps for the disposal of suoh unused portions with the least possible delay. (3) That it be an in. struotion to the Trustees to reserve suoh portion of the land, or of the proceeds thereof, as might be necessary for the purpose of keeping the portion of the reserve which had been used for burial purposes in decent order, and for maintaining suoh portion for burial purposes in the future so far as burials therein might be legal. (4) That, subject to the reservation made in the preceding resolution, it was expedient that the whole of the proceeds should be devoted to the establishment and maintenance of Church day schools. (5) That it was expedient that in the first instance a good day sohool for boys and girls should be established in Christohuroh. (6) That such portion of the funds as might be applicable to eduoational purposes be administered by the Church Property Trustees under the direction of the standing oommittee. (7) That for the management of the day school to be established in Ohristchuroh, a Board should be constituted to consist of the Bishop and six members—three clergy and three laymen—to be eleoted annually by the Synod. The consideration of the report was fixed for next sitting day. The Synod then went to the Orders of the Day. The Bev. Canon Ootterill moved—" Tbat in the prospeot of the increased inoome of the Ohuroh Property Trust Estate, it is not desi rable to make a pre rata deduction in the grants made to oures snd in the long service grants, notwithstanding the present insufficient inoome of the estate."

Mr Hamilton thought the Synod should at onoe f aoe the praotioe they were getting into cf discounting the future. They should make every year pay for its own necessities. The course proposed was a most unhealthy system of finance. Mr Tanored concurred with the last speaker and opposed the motion. The Bev. W. Scott would also oppose the motion. Archdeacon Harper said the Standing Committee had gone carefully into the matter, and had prepared a balance-sheet, whioh showed that they were not proposing anything very rash. After some further discussion, Mrl, J. T. Ford moved—" That the debate be adjourned until the Synod wbb furnished with an aocount showing the particulars .Z'i. the expenditure proposed to be made." The Bev. Canon Cotterill having given a detailed explanation, Mr Ford said ho would not press his i motion.

Resolution agreed to. The Bev. Canon Cotterill moved—"Xb»t the .Synod recommend the Church Property Trustees to make provision to pay over to the olergy stipend fund sufficient sums from time to time to the end of the year 1883 to meet in full the grants required by the Standing Committee to cany on the work of the Church, including the long service grants ai-d grants to new cures, so far as their funds will permit, the estimated iaerease of income having been taken into consideration."

Motion agreed to. On the motion of the Bev. Canon Cotterill, the Synod, proceeded to tho election of a

lay member of the Chapter in accordance with the provisions of the Cathedral Statute. On tho motion of Mr Malot, seoonded by Mr Hamilton, Mr T. W. Maude was unani-

mously elected. The Very Rev. the Dean moved--" TUI it be a recommendation to the Church Pro-

I perty Trustees to undertake, as tbe present rinsurances expiro,, the insurance of all ' churches, parsonages, sohools, and school* .houses vested in them, including the Cathedral and Bishopscoiirfc, at the current rates ; oharged by tho Canterbury Fire Insurance Association. Provided that the Trustees shell re-insure, cither wholly or in part, vith noma good and substantial insu:-aocs ooaa;pany or companies, in the oase of all buildings involving special risks, or exceeding a maximum insurance value of £1200,' until the accumulated reserve fund shell justify the Synod in recommending the gradual absorption of all risks." The Rev. 7. Knowlca seconded.

Mr Hamilton did not think it would be prudent to enter into such a scheme as that proposed, which, besides other disadvantages, would necessitate the maintenance of an expensive staff. The risks from fire were becoming daily more dangerous, owing to the increase of population and to the acts of inoendiaries. He submitted that since the insurance companies had reduoed their rates bo largely there was no necessity to incur euoh a heavy ritk as that which the Dean in his resolution asked them to take.

Mr Harman, though representing an insurance company, thought he was capable of taking an unprejudiced view of thiß question. He hoped the Synod would not agree to tho proposal, which really had nothing to commend it to their acceptance. If they saved, say, £3OO a year, and at the end cf five years one of their principal buildings were burnt down, they would lose the whole of their fund, and there would at once be a cry to abolish the scheme.

The Rev. E. Chalmers said that Mr Black, the actuary, advised the Synod to insure themselves, unless the insurance con-ponies would take the risks at 7s. He held in his hand a memo, from tho agent of the South British Insuranoo Company, offering to insure ehurohei, parsonages and schools at rates averaging a little over 7s. This was a reduotion of nearly 50 per cent, on previous rates. There seemed to be an understanding that the Synod should insure with the Union Company, but he thought the memo, he had quoted deserved attention. The Bev. F. Knowlee referring to the remarks of Mr Hamilton, said it would not be neocesary to keep up an elaborate staff. With regard to the possibility of the Synod losing all its insurance fund in the first few years, the doctrine of chances would be in favor of suoh losses being subsequently recouped. Mr Molntyre thought they should adopt the doctrine of safety. Nothing conclusive had been shown why the Synod should undertake the great risk involved in the adoption of this scheme, and they should pause before agreeing to the proposal. Mr Malet opposed the resolution. Mr H. B. Webb thought the buildings were-so distributed over the eountry as to render the risk sufficiently small to justify the Synod in adopting; the schema. * The Bev. O. Bowen said the advantages, even at the best, were so small as to make it very nndesirable to enter into the proposed undertaking.

Mr Fold and Mr W. D. Meares having spoken, The Dean replied. The Synod divided on the resolution, with the following result ;—Ayes Clergy, 9 j laity, 3. Noes—Clergy, 20; laity, 21. Motion negatived. . On the motion of Mr Willes, the adjourned debate on the resolution relating to the maintenance of the Cathedral services was made an order of tho day for the next sitting day. . The Rsv. H. O. M. Watson moved—" That a committee be appointed to oonsider and report upon the best means of maintaining and extending the effioienoy of the "Church News;" that the following be the committee :—The Daan, Eev. E. A. Lingard, Archdeacon Harris, Bsv. Canon Cottorill, Messrs Mclntyre, Tanored, Malet, Weston, and the mover."

Motion agreed to . The Eev. Canon Ootterill moved—" That a Seleot Committee be appointed to oonsider the question submitted to tho Synod by the Standing Committee with regard to the loan held by the Church Property Trustees for a fourth parish in Ohrietchuroh." Motion agreed to.

Canon Cottorill moved—" That the committee consist of the Rev. F. Kuowles, Rev. O. Bowcn, Hon. H. B. Gresson, Mr W. D. Meares, Mr A. F. N. Blakiston, Mr T. W. Maude, and the mover." On tho motion of Mr Mclntyre, the number of the committee was inoreased to nine, the names of the Bev. O. Coates and Mr Fendail being added. Mr Mclntyre moved—" That, in ecoordanoe with the provisions of clause 5 of the Cathedral Statute, 1880, the Synod directs that, until otherwise ordered, the number of Canons shall bo five." Motion withdrawn.

Mr Mclntyre moved—" For leava to bring in a Bill to amend the Cathedral Statute, 1880, by the addition of the fallowing additional proviso to clause 3 : —' Provided also that whenever a vaoanoy shall ooour by death, resignation, or otherwise, the said joint body shall not proceed to an election to fill such vaoanoy until so directed by the Synod.' " Motion agreed to and BUI read a first time. The second reading was fixed for next sitting day. Notices of motion 5 and 6 were postponed until the following day. A number of notices of motion were given, and the Synod adjourned.