The Lyttelton Times.

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

The Lyttelton Times.

J Saturday, February 6. In every community there are some public bodies whose labours do not bear fruit in any proportion to the length and frequency of their deliberations. This misfortune is sometimes the fault of the members of such body, sometimes it arises from circumstances over wliich they have no control. The Church Trustees in this settlement have been peculiarly unfortunate. The Church Property has been always in confusion, —the demands upon it have been many and various, —and the trustees themselves have seldom agreed. This is all, or nearly all that the public at large know of a body of which they hear very constantly. A correspondent in to-day's issue reiterates a- demand made by a former correspondent that some statement of accounts should be laid before the public. The law requires that such a statement should be published;—if it were, the churchmen in the pz'ovince would feel more satisfaction in giving necessary assistance than when they are totally in the dark as to the present state of the property.

From all that we gather, matters have come to a crisis, and the trustees have made x>p their minds that something practical must be done to provide for the proper discharge of clerical duties in the different parishes. We look forward with much interest to the result of the discussion upon the following resolution of which Mr. Raven has given notice:— "That no money shall be granted by the Church Property Trustees to any parish unless such a sum is raised and paid in advance to the Trustees as, together with what can be granted by the Trustees, shall enable the clergyman to devote his entire time to the duties of the parish." This sounds practical. Laymen in this settlement have grumbled a good deal because clergymen were not able to give their whole time to theip parishes without remuneration. Parishes have been very tardy and uncertain in their contributions where undivided attention to his clerical duties has been attempted on the part of the incumbent. Mr. Raven proposes that no clergyman should be paid unless he gives his whole time to the duties of his parish, and that when he does so, the trustees should see that his remuneration is sufficient. We hope that this will be the first step towards securing- the services of an active body of working clergy in this settlement. The trustees may perhaps yet take a lead in a practical movement.