DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume VII, Issue 244, 12 October 1872, Page 2

DIOCESAN SYNOD.

We , extract . the following paragraphs from the Bishop of Nelson's' address to , the Synod. Referring to the late Mr , Gaskin, his Lordship said : — Bis removal is not only a sorrow^ but a great 1 osß to us ; nevertheless* his short career has not been without its influence as an example, and we thinks thatj.the,. same, grace which .wrought. i effectuailyin him, may operate as effectually in others to stimulate to equal energy and eelfdenying consecration to the, work of the miuistry, and humility in carrying it out. AOur thoughts turn in affectionate sympathy to ij '■. the people of the district deprived of so hopeful a ; ministry, and to her, ■ upon' whom so severe a ;hlpw ; .;and bereavement has fallen.; They do so i For cohtinuatioi of news see fourth page .

the more feelingly In this, latter case, when we learn that our brother was so .efficiently seconded in "ihis}parish" work' by her judicious and selfdeny ing exertions. Collingwood mourns the loss not, only,- of an efficient minister, but in losing him it also loses those influences • which, without abrogating family duties, can only be so well exerted by the wife of a clergyman if she be in heart devoted to her husband's work. MODES OE RAISING HONBT FOB CHUBCH PURPOSES.. I feel that we ought to appeal more clearly to religious motives in making our collections, and irfaskiDg "for help ; it is for this work, as it is a spiritual work, that we crave the help. If this be so, this will still allow us a very wide range? .in taking advantage of means whereby we may raise fundsfor necessary. purposes, but I do not think we ought to approve of means which, in themselves, contain elements of evil, or even have tendencies in that direction. The raising of money by sales of works, by musics-arid lectures, by bazaars and gift-auctions, if "properly conducted cannot, as far as I see, be objected to, for the performers' and workers are the Veal contributors, and they may, as in the case ot work, music, and lectures, be made highly instructive and useful ; but lotteries, raffles, and art unions falsely so-called, and such like, ought,! thiak,;t6 be unanimously disapproved, and repudiated by us as illegitimate, improper, and unworthy means of raising money. , . ;: ;:A' The 'spirit of gambling is so rife in all classes in this colony, that, this is a sufficient reason why the Church should set itself against everything which encourages gambling, and certainly decline and disapprove any proposition for raising funds by such a means. An example of the way in which money can •be raised in and by a small community has been afforded us this 4ast year, by Richmond ; the parties most concerned first of all contributed themselves at the outset very liberally ; this evoked other similarly liberal contributions; the assistance of friends at hand and at a distance was earnestly sought, and with the exception of a loan of £100 from the Diocesan Loan Fund, the whole sum necessary, £600, for the building of a small but 'suitable structure, was cheerfully and quickly raised, much to the astonishment of many, but greatly to ihe gratification of all concerned. I would rather that the building of a church were delayed, than see it helped and hastened on by such questionable means {.s the. lotteries, raffles, &c , I have "referred to above. Undoubtedly, the temptation to yield, in order to get monetary difficulties but of the way, is great, but equally undoubted is the clearness of the path of our duty to eschew and discountenance such things; and we must not only induce our people to assist for the sake of the work itself, but endeavor to train them to give from ever higher and better motives. , Futube Plans. After visiting the whole of the Diocese in the next few months, I propose to carry out a plan which I have had in view since 1865, when I first accepted my present office — to go to England on a visit, and to return here as soon as I have accomplished the end I set before me in going. * * # "* # # * # One object in my going to Fngland is to obtain a few additional clergy, or suitable candidates for the ministry., It is evident that such will be needed for some time to come, and I am anxious to go to England before my personal acquaintance" and influence is obliterated by absence, lapse of time, or removal by death, so as to use it if possible for obtaining more helpers in bur work. Great care, I feel, must be used, for we have had in the colony several examples of persons both 1 worthy and unworthy, utterly unsuited to the requirements of New Zealand clerical work. RESOLUTION OP CONDOLENCE WITH MES. GASKIN. After the delivery of the Bishop's address, the following resolution of condolence with MrsGaskin was moved : — " The Synod desires to express its deep sympathy with Mrs Gaskin in her recent bereavement, and to assure her that the Diocese will ever cherish a grateful remembrance of tbe self-denying zeal exhibited by her late husband during his short but useful ministry." Mr. C.'HuNTEB Brown, who, in moving this resolution, spoke with considerable emotion, said that he would refer to that portion of it which touched on Mr. Gaskin's zeal and energy with the view of adding his mite of testimony in the came direction. From residents in Coll : ngwood he' had heard similar remarks, and his own persohalexperience verified them, causing him to augur then, that 'the man who could so readily sacrifice even domestic comtort to the weightier interests of bis work, would one day be highly spoken of in some such terms as had been applied to him this day. The Rev. R. J. Thobpe trusted lie might; be accorded the privilege of seconding the motion. Perhaps of all the clergy present he had enjoyed the., most personal • acquaintance with Mr. Gaskin, both before and. after hia. ordination; especially did he call to mind the intercourse he had, when he accompanied him oh 'his going . to take chargeof the" chur^h^in Collingwood and Takaka; and thejgjfiygss!e occasion afforded of the humility anbVWWn^. earnestness which marked the character of his deceased friend. There was no reference in themotion to, the loss the Church had sustained; and it was well it .should;be;so, for it was difficult to .say. ijn^ch a , case* whether, . the loss or the gain were ifie greater >'! or his, part he firmly believed sncfi.a^"i9eatti a was as much a gainas the previous life h«l been; it was a seal to the work , that had^sn-,dohe;; at fixed' biir attention^^heje^ set; and he yd^t^^ffl^pat -his = ibrothetf ; clergy, equally with himself, had felt the sudden removal to be a. stimulus to fresh dedicationof themselves to the,: work of .their common Master, and . Head • ' I}ißhop7,d'esuV'Gn^ist,, :: • , , '", ; /' 7 . A' ur >.;■,. Mr.JpHN^pBAB desired to support themotion; that he;mightladd hist testimony to jthe , jiffectidn^ andtestee^ throughbttt^h^large dis^ctover'' which he hid nriesid^i^ffe^h'afl but: lately returned from & : ' ,}v^^!^w^jf66i,-md'^M :^jß^e witness to the. AjraMi^^ by his eMn&si; ■rW^mSM^^JJs^^^^'^h^' post he occupied A;*||i|S 7weremade: to grte 4^ay'fo^ the more absorbing f surfceMipibls^ Ahe|i^f^^ Awfib3;i^ ;;Mldir;Bnd l^ secured fp^ 7.h^eMei?wof|^^^ .^Mr^Bju^ AGasKin'?! loldelitlmenafrpM^

The Auckland city rates are said to be over £10,000 in arrear. A Telegram which appears7in the Grey-A mouth Star Bays : — " The Perseverance mine at ColliDgwood has given 140 ounces from 8 tons crushed." We wisli it had. The Melbourne Herald of the 13th ult. cays : — A lucky windfall has dropped at the feet of Don Fernandez, tbe wellknown ' lion-tamer,' who, by the last steamer from New Zealand, .received intel 1 igence ■ that the sura "of; £ 1 8 ,000 was lodged to hi 8 account at one of tbe banks at the Thames . gold field. Whether this amount is the result of the sale of scrip, or tbe accumulation of dividends, we are not in a position to say, as Fernandez himself bad forgotten that he was the owner of any scrip in New Zealand. Deep Sea Fishing. — Steps are being taken to bring into the Christchurch market a supply of fish by means of a deep sea fishing company, which is in. .progress; of being formed -with every prospect bf. success. The complaint of Christchurch people has long been that they were unable to .secure a regular supply of this form of diet, so conducive to health, except at rare intervale. /This is now in a fair way^of Being-; remedied., and nAt ouly sb, but-it -is very probable that the deep sea" fishing may tend to the discovery of Borne new species of fish at present unknown in the market.