TE ARO CHURCH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4251, 4 November 1874, Page 3

TE ARO CHURCH.

A numerously attended meeting of the members of the Church of England was held last evening at the oflices of Messrs. Bethune and Hunter, for the purpose of deciding upon a plan for the new church to hs built at Te Aro. Three plans had been sent in at the request of the sub-committee, appointed at a, former meeting, but Mr. T. Turnbull, who was not amongst the architects selected to furnish plans, requested permission to send in a design. There were therefore four designs, by Messrs. Mountford (Christchurch), Tringham, Turnbull,, and Toxward exposed to view, and the object of the meeting was to decide whether the selection by the sub-committee jof Mr. Tyingham’s plan should he ratified or not. After some preliminary discussion the Hon. C. J. Pharazyn moved that the choice of the subcommittee be adopted, but Mr. Hransfield objected to the motion being carried until he was informed whether or not the adoption of the sub-committee’s recommendation •would pledge them to any particular expenditure. As he understood tlie matter, if they adopted Mr. Pharazyn’s motion they would commit themselves to an expenditure of £2300, which they would scarcely be justified in incurring. Mr. Powles said the sub-committee had decided upon Mr. Tringham’s plan as being most in accordance with their requirements, hut he did not understand that they were at all _ committed to the expenditure of any particular amount. The expenditure was entirely a matter for after consideration. If they found they had not the means, Mr. Tringham would be requested to modify his plan. Mr. G. Hunter thought Mr. Dransfield had touched upon a most important point, because there was no doubt that if they adopted the plan they would be committed to an expenditure of £2300, to meet which they only had £SOO in hand at present. Who, then, was to be responsible for the remainder of the amount ? Not the subscribers, because they would not be so for anything beyond the amount they had subscribed. The plain fact of tire matter was that the whole subject should be relegated to the standing committee. Some further desultory discussion took place, and ultimately it was moved by Mr. T. Kebbell, and seconded by Mr. George,—“ That all the arrangements connected with the building of the new church he left in the hands of the standing committee.” The motion was agreed to. Some discussion then ensued upon the question of remuneration to the architects, during which it transpired that Messrs. Mountford, Tringham, and Toxward ■were to receive £5 55., pursuant to agreement with the committee; but that Mr. Turnbull, whoso plan was exhibited at his own request, should not receive any remuneration. Mr. Marchant and Mr. S. Brown expressed themselves'strongly in favor of Mr. Turnbull being treated on the same footing as the other competitors, and several gentlemen followed up these opinions by giving reasons why they ■■thought Mr. Turnbull's design better adapted to the purposes required than any of the others exhibited. It was, however, ruled by his Lordship the Bishop, who occupied the chair, that the matter could not he re-opened, and that the whole subject must now stand referred to the standing committee. The meeting then adjourned.