THE BISHOP’S ADDRESS.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 208, 18 December 1869, Page 4

THE BISHOP’S ADDRESS.

We make the following local extract from the Bishop of Nelson’s address to the Synod, the whole of which occupies some 13 columns in the Examiner : Picton. —This district, embracing Havelock and Mahakipawa, has exhibited greater spirit and interest during the last twelve mouths, and by a conference held at the Grove School with the Church officers, I was enabled to arrange for a more equitable plan for raising the clergyman’s stipend in the district. The congregations at the Grove and Havelock are well sustained, and I hope to be able to announce that Havelock has its Church ere a few weeks are past. We have secured an eligible site, part of which is already reproductive, and present prospects are favorable. The new road down the Eae Valley cannot fail to benefit the locality and bring new settlers. The Church officers at Picton, Mahakipawa, and Havelock have certainly shown great activity and zeal during the year, and the spirit shown is as gratifying to the clergyman in charge as it is to you. Blenheim. —Here, too, we hope to enlarge our operations. Flax mills have been erected in the neighborhood, and introduced additional hands which call for our ministration ; and I trust that the Church officers, being combined together, rnQjr I'kft fA onnnlir f.Vio nnl-U monthly services, preliminary to obtaining a resident clergyman. I was gratified on my recent visit to find the energetic Church officers—Messrs. Hodson and Litchfield—had secured the fencing of the churchyai’d, besides other improvements. Marlborough.—l received from the Nelson Trust Funds the sum of £360, as the portion assigned by the Trustees to the Church 'of England in Marlborough, out of the final division of such funds. After consulting the Standing Committee and clergy, and visiting the district specially, the following appropriation was conditionally made : —Land was bought 5 in Havelock which will give an eligible site for a church, and the rents now accruing will be devoted to repay the.£lsosoexpended ; £IOO was assigned to the purchase of a glebe at Blenheim—this also to be repaid by annual instalments from the parish ; and .£IOO assigned to Kaikouras, to meet subscriptions locally raised; either for church or parsonage house. This arrangement will prevent the entire expenditure of the sum, which will thus become available hereafter as it is repaid. I hope to be able to announce, next year, the purchase of a glebe and the erection of a parsonage in the limits of Blenheim itself.^