Local Intelligence

Lyttelton Times, Volume VII, Issue 442, 28 January 1857, Page 6

Local Intelligence

CHUECH MEETING. On Monday evening last, the 26th. instant, a meeting of the churchmen of Lyttelton was held 'in the Temporary Church, the Bishop of of Christchurch in the chair. There were about 50 persons present. At a little after 7 o'clock, his Lordship, having opened the proceedings . with prayer, proceeded to explain the objects of the meeting. He had written a circular letter to the Churchwardens of the various parishes, proposing a certain scheme for providing stipends for the clergy in the diocese. He desired the opinion of the Churchmen of Lyttelton upon this proposal. First, however, he would invite the meeting to come to a determination as to building a permanent church, and as to what should be done with the present unoccupied edifice. Dr. Donald believed it was such a general opinion that the edifice in question was unsafe, that those who thought otherwise ought to give way. The question had often been considered at previous meetings, and he thought the time was now come for a' united determination. He would move as a resolution.

"" That it is desirable that the necessary steps be taken towards the entire re-building of the church." Mr. Bayfeild seconded the motion. Mr. Dampiee suggested that if a portion of the present building were retained a larger edifice might be built for the money. , Dr. Donald, Mr. Hall, and others, explained that it was intended to use the materials of the former building for the new one, but that it would be both dangerous and inconvenient to leave any portion of the building standing. The Key. B. W. Dudley remarked that an official report had been made to his Honor the Superintendent by Mr. Dobson on the subject, and the opinion, expressed was that the building, if not taken down, would fall of itself. After some conversation upon the points of defect in the structure, the resolution was put and earned unanimously. Dr. Donald then mpved the second resolution as follows— " That the incumbent and Churchwardens be requested to put themselves into communication with the Church Property Trustees, to canyout the previous resolution; to report to a.future meeting." The permission of the Trustees was required, as the site belonged to them, and their help was required, as some money due to the Church, the donation of Sir Walter James, was in their hands. It would be forthcoming in about three months. Besides this money additional subscriptions were wanted, as he believed a church with 400 sittings would be not larger than was necessary. The census showed a church population of 600 or 700, of whom a larger proportion than usual were adults. Besides these there wa§ pften a number of strangers on their way

through Lyttelton who ought to be considered. The present temporary church would only hold about. 225.. He should therefore hope for considerable aid by contribution. Mr. Bayfeild informed the meeting that the, amount of Sir W. James's donation might be taken at £485. There was also a year's interest at 5 per cent, due, Mr. Dampiee seconded the resolution. Ifc was_ important to start at once. The question of size was one for further consideration, but he should not like to see one attempted too large for our means, _ Mr. Latteb wished to offer a few suggestions, It did not appear to him that there was a. pressing necessity for a new place of worship, the present temporary building was amply sixfficient with proper arrangement. If it was necessary to raise a church sufficient to hold 400 persons, they should take care to obtain money sufficient to finish the building, and also not to waste money upon an inappropriate structure. A stone building had been suggested, for instance, but after the shocks of remote earthquakes which we had felt, he believed our turn might come next; and then a stone building would be vacated and be dreaded as the present one was. He thought we should continue in Lyttelton to be a small community. From his experience he knew thcit very few of the late emigrants had stayed in Lyttelton, not 150 out of 1100; and when the passengers by any ship were in port, not ten had ever come to church. A large building was unnecessary for asmall and i poor community. We had just passed through a. season of difficulty, and it was hard now for many to pay their just debts. There was, therefore, small probability of bi illiant contributions to a church. He counselled prudence. No money should be luxuriously spent. If Sir W. James's donation was for church building we should use it for such puposes. We wanted money"for the support of the ministers, and self denial was required for that object. The church if built with prudence, would be not costly and not mean, but plain. He thought this was the time to throw out a caution.

Mr. Dudley thought Mr. Latter wrong in saying that the/present building was satisfactory. They paid a very high rent for it and the government was anxious to dispossess them. He knew for certain that a very large number of the passengers from emigrant ships attended Church while they were in port. He thought it would be extremely shabby to use Sir W. James's money and not add contributions of our own ; and as for the plea of want of money, he could not admit it while large sums were collected for races and other amusements and luxuries. The support of the minister should be no reason for neglecting to build a church ; for his own part, if there was not money enough for both purposes, he would say—build the Church—and he, as their minister, would manage as best he could. The resolution was then put and carried unanimously. This closed that portion of the business of the meeting. The Bishop OFCHBiSTCHTJRCH,passingtp the remaining business, said that he ■ did not wish the meeting to come to a final determination on the subject before them, but he would merely request the opinion of individual members of the • church on the proposal wh'c'i he had to put before them. They had to consider the best means of raising an income for the clergyman of the parish ; and he would read a paper with his own suggestions on the subject. During the course of a long and interesting debate, the opinions of all present seemed to be fully elicited, and were mainly in accordance with his Lordship's suggestions, which he read from time to time from his circular letter, as the discussion continued. The plan of raising contributions by the appropriation of seats hi the church was raised by Mr. Dampier, and supported by a few, but finally rejected. The following resolutions were passed, it being understood that they were not to be taken as the final decision of the church-men of Lyttelton, but only as expressing the sentiments of that particular meeting. "1. That the members of the Church in Lytteltori are desirous of securing for themselves the exclusive services of a resident minister." "2. That the following means be adopted for raising the necessary stipend for the minister, viz : Annual contributions,' with a monthly offertory and evening collection." . 3. " That whatever sums the several church

Members may agree to contribute shall be collected by the Churchwardens, and by persons authorised by them; and be paid by the Churchwardens to the Treasurer of the Diocesan Fund, deducting such expenses as.may have been incurred for collection. Provided, however, that such portion of the contributions as is intended to ao towards the stipend of the "Incumbent of JLyttelton, be placed to a separate trust account for the maintenance of such Incumbent. The Bishop of Christchukch explained his scheme of a Diocesan Fund to be one contributed to by the diocese at large ; and for its management he chose the staff which was at hand already, in the shape of the Church Property Trustees, who might act within the old Canterbuiy boundaries, with the addition of the clergy and delegates of the laity from the remainder of the diocese. His Lordship recommended in his letter collections in all churches four times a year to this fund for weneral diocesan purposes, and once a year for the heathen missions. At the conclucion of the business, the Bishop pronounced the Apostolic benediction, and the meeting separated.

Supreme Court Sittings.—We are informed, on good authority, that his Honor Mr. Justice Wakefield will come to Lyttelton for the purpose of holding a session of the Supreme Court here, [immediately after, the despatch of the session at Nelson, whither his Honor proceeds by the Zingari on her ensuing trip from Wellington.

Colonial. —The Zingari brings us our usual files from the northern provinces of New Zealand, and from Melbourne. We shall give a summary of the intelligence received from the various quarters as fully as possible in our next issue. Postal Communication with Australia. —The General Government Gazette of the 10th of January contains a lengthened correspondence of the Government of New Zealand with the Government of Victoria, Mr. Sewell, the Provincial Governments of New Zealand, and the merchants and residents who had forwarded memorials, on the subject of the Branch Postal Communication by Steam between Australia and the provinces of New Zealand. We hope to he able to find room for these important documents in our next issue. Gazette.—We observe in a 'General Government Gazette' published in Auckland, Dec. 24th, that fresh commissions of the peace have been issued by his Excellency the Governor, for the Cplony of New Zealand, and for all the provinces separately. The names of Henry John Tancred and William John Warburton Hamilton, Esqs., have been added amongst others to the commission for the whole Colony, and the following gentler men to that for the Province of Canterbury:— James Field, John Bealey, William Donald, Charles Dudley, George Leslie Lee, Edward Chapman, William Cockerill Beswick, Randall Allan Macdonald, Joseph Dickson, and Bont John Carew, Esquires. Postage on Newspapers.— In a General Government Gazette of the 31st December, it is notified that all newspapers forwarded by post to any British Colony or possession through the United Kingdom, must be prepaid one penny each, or threepence if to India or the Mediterranean, via Marseilles.