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Lyttelton Times, Volume IX, Issue 549, 6 February 1858, Page 4

To the Uditoj* of the Isyttelton Times. Sir, —In a letter which appeared in your columns some numbers back, Mr. Hall enquired why the church property trustees did not lay their accounts regularly before the public according to law. No answer has been given to this question. Churchmen have been very long suffering in this settlement. The property has been greatly mismanaged for a long time. Something ought to be known about its doings at last. Is it true that although the property is in a state of confusion almost incredible, the trustees intend to sanction the absence of the agent for three or four months at Auckland? Is it true that the Avonside church is likely to receive a grant out of the small funds at the disposal of the trustees? I cannot believe it. When the Bishop of New Zealand objected to the very local and separatist views of the inhabitants of the Avonside district, on the subject of raising a private clergy fund of their own, they pressed their opinions upon his Lordship on the ground that they had built their church themselves without assistance from the common fund. It turns out that the church was only built on paper; that their boast was but a boast to extort the Bishop's unwilling assent. Now that the assent has been obtained, an application is made for assistance from the general fund. Is this honest? Do the trustees intend to accede to the demand? I agree with Mr. Hall, sir, in wishing that a little light were thrown upon the trustees' proceedings. Your's &c, LAYMAN.