PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XII, Issue 731, 9 November 1859, Page 4

PROVINCIAL COUNCIL.

{Last night 0.9 members .were present -at the CounciL '■■■.'■

Mr. Harman stated that in the^absence of Mr. Ross, who .was not present, he had to inform -the House "that that gentleman had been called to His Honor's Executive Council Provincial Secretary, ■.•with himself ;(Mi\ Harman) and Mr. White as his col leagues. He moved an adjournment'till .Tuesday next to give the new Government time-to frame a statement of their future course to 'be laid before the House, who, he said, .would have to •consider whether the business-of the session should be carried on.-without the Provincial Secretary having- a seat in the Council, or •whether they would prefer 'the delay of ■waiting for a re-election. Mr. Olxivieu read to the house-a communication received by him on Friday/(and .answered in the negative the. same 'evening) asking him ;(Mr. 0.) to retain the office of Provincial Secretary under certain conditions.

In answer to a question by Mr. OfcuvxEit, M)1. Harman said it was the intention of the new Government to ftirnish to the house 'information-equivalent'to that looked for in the return, the pressing of which 'had occasioned the resignation of the late Government. Mr. Qllivier g-ave notice of a motion for Tuesday next—"that the publication of the financial state of the province since 30th September, is inexpedient." All the motions, of which notice had been given, were postponed to Tuesday next. Mr.'Rhodes introduced the Cattlo Trespass Amendment Ordinance Amendment Bill, which was read a first time and ordered to be printed. The Council was then adjourned to Tuesday next.

CHURCH PROPERTY TRUSTEES. The adjourned quarterly meeting of thw body took place on Monday last at noon, in tlio College Library, Ciwhel Street/Chvistohurch. Prcaent—The Yon. Archdeacon Mathias (in the chair) Revs. James Wilson, W. W. Willock, (S«wtary)B. W. Dudley,.F. Knowlea, and C. Bowon. Messrs. Barker, Bayfeild, Bridge, Miles, Murray, Scott and Winter. . . „ Prayers were read by the Archdeacon, and tlie minutes of the last meeting "were read and donMr. Wilson read i\\& resolutions on the tenure of ecclesiastical property, It had been the object of* the Synod, not to overrule or set aside any ot tlie constituted church authorities, but rathe* In the case of the Church Property Trustees to establish harmony iii the working of the two bodies, gome difficulty presented itself in effecting-thls, until clause 6 of the Church Property Trust Ordinance was pointed out. It was then moved by Key. J. Wilson, seconded by Dr. Barker — _ . , "That the Church Pretty Trustees assent to the step which has been taken by the managing committee in concurring with the bynoci ol Christchurch in an application to the Provincial Council to have a clause introduced into the Church Property Trust Amendment Ordinance, identifying the Synod wi,th the proper ecclesiastical authority or other competent jurisdiction ot the church mentioned in the original Church Property Trust Ordinance." In reply to a question by Mr. Bayfeild, whether, if this proposed clause were inserted in the bill, the control of church funds would still remain in the hands of the managing committee or be transferred to<the Synod ?•—The Key. J.Wilson said such control would not be transferred. And in reply to a .question by the Rev. C. Bowen, MiV Wilson also said that the Church Property Trustees, as a body, could not .resign their function except through the Provincial Council.

Motion put and agreed to. The Trustees then proceeded to consider an offer from the Rev. B. "VV". Dudley to dispose of the reversion of the. lease, having 19 years to run, of his house in Lyttelton, as a parsonage, to. the Church Property Trustees, for the sum .of £700; of which he will himself contribute £200, and also place a further sum of £50 in the Churchwardens' hands for current repairs and improvements. Mr. Dudley urged his desire for an immediate answer to this proposal, which -he said had not originated with himself but with one of the Churchwardens of Lyt-. telton. He suggested that as the siteon which his; house stood was' College property, an advantageous exchange might be effected (in case his right was purehasedVof the freeholdof this property for that of the present parsonage and school reserves in Canterbury street, now in Dr. Donald's occupation as a paddock. This exchange would be advantageous to'both parties, as it would give the College a piece of .property bringing in a higher rental than: that accruing from the parsonage reserve, and would place .the Church {Property Trustees in immediate possession of a parsonage for Lyttelton. Considerable discussion arose on this subject,—the Eev. W.W. Willofck pointing out the unfitness, on account of. the difficulty of access, of this site for a parsonage:, arid-the Eev.'F.'Knowles stating that though there were'few'days on which he was not some' 3 0r.4 times'down i*r the town, he had not, as yet, felt any inconvenience on this score. ~A question arose as to what were the wishes of the parishioners of Lyttelfonron the subject, when Mr. Bayfeild said that, as far as 'he knew, the I parishionera .were^f opinion that the residence of' the clergyman should be in a more accessible posi-1 tion from .: the lower part of the town than that : in which it .was at present placed.

Finally, the following resolutions were put and carried, the'first of which was moved' by Mr. Winter and seconded by Rev. 'J. Wilson, and. the second moved by Eev. J. 'Wilson find seconded by Rev. F. Knowles:—

"""Thafc'the'trustees arenofc in a position to purchase the reversion of any leasefor the purpose of obtaining accommodation for the residence of a clergyman in Lyttelton'."

~".That if any further communication'be received from Lyttelton on the subject of obtaining .Mr. Dudley's* house as a parsonage, it be .refer red* to 'the Managing Committee to -.with ;the College on the subject.

The:trusteesthen adjournefl.