LOCAL.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume 1, Issue 2, 12 October 1872, Page 2

LOCAL.

Much of the following matter was shut out from last week’s issue. On Thursday evtning, the 3rd October, the members of tie Church of England, i and others interested in the matter, met in the School House at Gisborne, in answer to an invitation from Archdeacon Williams (who is on a visit to this district) to consiler the advisability of erecting a buildbg for Divine Worship. We were sorry to see so small an attendance, twelve leing the number who responded to thi request; but, considering the, hitherb, imperfect means of giving publicity to these things, and that a goodly uimber of settlers, who are willing to support a movement of this kind, live jiland, we can hardly be surprised. Tie Archdeacon took the chair at 8 o’clcrk, after a proposition to that effect had been made, and accepted by the meetiig. * The reverend gentleman gave an outline, in geieral terms, of the broad necessity th<re is devolving upon members of ienominations, to be early in the field—as everything must hat e a beginning—t> the end that the object be kept steadilyin view, in case any other work might supervene, and displace that which siould be considered as of paramount importance. He gave bis

opinion frankly that the principle ot co-operation,—where, for instance, the members of the Church of England, and, say, the members of the Presbyterian Denomination, combined their efl oils and erected a building jointly—would not work well; and gave an apt illustration of its failure at the Wairoa, where tlie committees, representing the two churches, altercated to such an estent, that the idea was abandoned. Still, he thought, it were well that the principle of trusting one another should be entertained if possible, and solicited an expression of opinion from the meeting las to its uracticability. In answer to a

question, the Archdeacon said he thought a building, such as would answer the requirements of the township for suing time to come, could be built for about £250; and it should be borne in mind that, however useful the present school building might be, it was essentially a public building, and, as such, destroyed its utility as a place for Divine Service. The Regulations of the Central Board of Education, specifically declare that no building, which is endowed by grant from the Government, shall be used for any other purpose than that for which it is specially intended ;

and as the present services are held on a sufferance which may be terminated at any moment, it might be advisable to take the present question into early consideration, and utilise the grant which the Provincial Government has made of two sections in the town, as a reserve for the Church of England, Several propositions were made; and the following resolutions were ultimately carried. We need hardly say that the movement will have our hearty support, and shall ;be glad to learn that it is universally s responded to. The opportunity was a , good one for the Archdeaccff to have • laid before the meeting, the views of the Bishop, as to the possibility of a resident clergyman, in connection with the Church of England, being appointed to this Cure; and we trust its members 1 may have an opportunity of expressing their opinion on the matter, before the reverend gentleman takes his departure. Moved by Mr. Hardy and seconded by Mr. Skipworth: “ That a committee be formed of 'members of the Church of England, whose business it shall be to ascertain (1) the probable cost of a Church, suitable for the present requirements of this township ; and (2) the amount that might be raised by subscription toward this object.” Carried. Moved by Mr. Webb and seconded by Mr. Steggall: “That Archdeacon Williams, Mr. Lysnar, and Mr. Hardy, be members of the committee.” Carried. Moved by Mr. Blair and seconded by Mr. Hardy: “That Mr. Woodbine Johnson, Mr. Kempthcrne, and Captain Richardson, be requested to allow themselves to be placed on the committee.” Carried.

A vote of thanks to the Archdeacon terminated the proceedings.