THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND DIOCESAN SYNOD.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4544, 13 October 1875, Page 2

THE CHURCH OF ENGLAND DIOCESAN SYNOD.

The Synod assembled at 7.30 p.m. yesterday. Present—The President. Clergy : The Clerical Secretary ; Revs. B. W. Harvey, C. H. S. Nichollsi A. Knell, J. A. Newth, W. Ballachey, J. McWilllam, A. Towgood, T. Eancourt, B. K. Taylor. Laity: The Lay Secretary ; Messrs. E. W. Lowe, J. D. Cruickshank, W. Fitzherbert, C. P. Powles, R. S. Barton, J. W. A. Marchant, C. O. Graham, F. Robinson, R, Hunter, H. Clarke, W. M. Bannatyne, and Colonel Gorton. The President having opened the proceedings with prayer, the minutes of the session of the previous day were read and confirmed. The Treasurer submitted to the Synod the balance-sheet of the Wellington Diocesan Fund for the year ending 30th September, 1875, showing the gross receipts to be £1441 14s. 2d, and an expenditure of £631 6s. 7d, leaving a credit balance of £BIO 7s. 7d. The treasurer gave notice of motion to have the report printed Lieutenant-Colonel Gorton moved, and the Rev. B. W. Harvey seconded, —“That a sub-committee of the Synod does sit dur. ing the recess, to consider the best means to be adopted for procuring an immeddiate increase to the stipend of the Bishop of the diocese to a sum not less than £BOO per annum, and for establishing a Bishopric Endowment Fund. The sub-com-mittee to have power to add to their number from outside the Synod, and to report next session. To consist of the Yen. Archdeaco Stock, Rev. B. W. Harvey, Messrs. Pearce Halcombe, Clark, Quick, Pharazyn, Bannatyne, and the mover; three to form a quorum.” Carried.

The Rev. T. Fakcodet brought up the recommendations of the committee appointed to consider the regulations regarding the issue of licenses for the erection of enclosures in burialgrounds. After some discussion the recommendations were withdrawn. On the motion of the Ven. Archdeacon Stock, the Synod directed that the Standing Committee have power to apportion the expenses of the Synod among the parishes and parochial districts of the diocese.

On the motion of Mr. Quick, it was determined that it be a direction to the Printing Committee to furnish correct copies of schedules A 0 D E, as directed by report of 1872.

The Synod confirmed the two following motions, which were introduced by Mr. Powles : — “That resolution Ho. 3 on electoral districts be expunged, being rendered unnecessary by the passing of an Act to make provision for the election of lay representatives to the General Synod. That a standing order be passed to the effect that no Bill shall be brought into the Synod except by leave or order of the Synod ; but when such leave or order shall have been given, the Bill may be read a first time forthwith on motion without notice.”

In reply to Mr. Didsbuby’s question whether any steps had been taken by the Standing Committee in the matter referred to in their report to the Synod last year, namely, the preparation of a scheme for a General Pension Fund for all the dioceses ; and if so, whether he would cause a copy of such proposed scheme to be laid before the Synod 1

The Ven. Archdeacon Stock said that nothing had been done in the matter. It had been found impossible hitherto to collect the forms that had been issued, to the clergy, as there appeared to be a general reluctance to answer the questions propounded iu those forms. He thought, therefore, that there would be great difficulty in instituting a General Pension Fund. _ The Pension Fund in the diocese of Wellington had at the present time a capital of £I6OO, and it thus compared very favorably with other dioceses iu this respect. The Synod then resolved itself into committee, to consider certain proposed alterations iu Acts 1,3, and 4 ; and adjourned until 7.30 p.m. this day.