Local Intelligence.

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 435, 3 January 1857, Page 4

Local Intelligence.

GENERAL CHURCH MEETING.

On Tuesday evening last, the 30th ult., a meeting was held at the temporary Church, Christchurch, to confer with the Bishops of Christchurch and New Zealand upon general Church matters.

Before the regular business of the meeting was entered upon, an address was presented to the Bishop of Christchurch by his Honor the Superintendent, from members of the Church in this province, congratulating his lordship. on his arrival among them, and expressing their earnest desire to co-operate with him in the promotion of the Church's missions; it also expressed the gratification of those signing it at the formation of a separate diocese of Christchurch, now accomplished, and at his Lordship having been appointed their first diocesan. The Bishop responded briefly, alluding in feeling terms to the warmth of his reception in Canterbury, which, he said, had been rather that of an old friend than a stranger; and remarking that his havingbeensentamongthem attheirown request would constitute an especial bond of union between them; and that he relied upon the Divine assistance to enable hini to discharge efficiently the arduous and important duties devolving upon him as their chief pastor.

The chair was then taken by his Honor the Superintendent, who stated thatat a preliminary meeting held that morning several resolutions had been agreed to, which would now be proposed for adoption. He reminded those present that from a similar meeting held about fourteen •months ago had emanated the applications for the immediate constitution of a separate diocese of Christchurch and for the appointment of Dr. Harper, which had since been ci'owned with complete success. The proposal for the adoption of a uniform tenure of Church property throughout the colony, on the basis of a model deed submitted by the Bishop of New Zealand, was considered at the same time; and, since then, an act had been passed by the General Assembly which would greatly facilitate the adoption of this plan. The next step appeared to be the assembling of a general convention of the church in New Zealand for the consideration of these proposals, and, if they should be adopted, for the necessary appointment of Trustees, &c. For authorising the transfer of the • property received from the Canterbury Association some special provision would be required, as well as for securing its appropriation

to the purposes for which it was originally destined.

The following resolution was then moved by Archdeacon Mathias, and seconded by Dr. Barker:—

1. "It is desirable that the Church Property Trust Ordinance should be repealed, and that the property held by the Church Property Trustees under that Ordinance should be transferred to the General Convention as soon as that body shall be constituted."

Objections were raised that some general notice should have been given of the intention to propose to this meeting resolutions of so important a character; and, also, that the proposal contained in the first resolution sacrificed the advantages of local management and local control over Church Property in this Diocese. In reply to this it was stated that the proposed arrangement was desirable with a view to the establishment and maintenance of proper church discipline, which, under the existing circumstances of the colony, could be only secured by means of a control over the Church property. It was also stated that the local management would be obtained by the establishment of Diocesan Boards, to which part of the powers of the General Convention could be delegated* The provisions of the proposed Trust Deed were explained at length by Mr. Gresson, and also by the Rev. J. Wilson, for the purpose of shewing that they were not really open to the objections which had b'.en raised. The desirability of uniformity in the tenure of Church Property throughout the colony as well as the defective character of the present Church Property Trust Ordinance were also strongly dwelt upon. After considerable discussion, in which the Bishop of ~New Zealand, Archdeacon Mathias, the Rev. C. Mackie, the Rev. H.Jacobs, the Rev. Jas. Wilson, Mr. Thomson, Mr. Ollivier, Mr. Packer, Mr. Hall, Dr. Barker, and Mr. John Bealey joined, the resolution was adopted,

The following resolutions were then put and carried seriatim,: —

2." " It is desirable that the property in being so transferred shall remain liable to the same trusts for Ecclesiastical and Educational pur-, poses within the limits of the Province of Canterbury to which it is now subject."

3. " It is desirable that: one clerical and one lay assessor be appointed for the Province of Canterbury, to attend with the Bishop of Christchurch at Auckland, or such other place as may be agreed upon, for the purpose of assisting in framing a model trust deed for the tenure of Church property under the General Convention, and in inaugurating such Convention."

4. " That this meeting desires to express the grateful sense entertained by the members of the church in the Diocese of Christchurch of the prompt and satisfactory manner in which the authorities both in the Church and State have responded to the wishes expressed at the meetings held last year respecting the appointment of Dr. Harper to the Bishopric of Christchurch ; and that the Archdeacon of Akaroa be requested to convey the substance of this resolution to the proper authorities."

5. " That memorials be addressed to the Queen and the Archbishop of Canterbury expressing the desire of the members of the Church in this Diocese that New Zealand should be constituted a separate Ecclesiastical Province, and stating, their opinion that the arrangement best suited to the circumstances of this country would be, that the Primacy should be a migratory and not a stationary one."

. A vote of thanks was passed to the Superintendent for his kindness in presiding ; and, after the blessing had been pronounced by the Bishop of Christchurch, the meeting separated.