DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume III, Issue 416, 4 October 1876, Page 2

DIOCESAN SYNOD.

NAPIER. Tuesday, September 26, 1876. The Synod met at 3 o’clock, at the Council Chamber. Present—The Venerable Archdeacon Williams, in the chair ; Revs. Townsend, Anderson, Eccles, Huata, Marshall, Pahewa, Paraire, Pohutu, Robinson, E. Williams, Shearman. Sinicox, Spencer I’urei, J. Williams, D’Arcy Irvine, Messrs Brandon, Newton, R. Stuart. Tabuteau, Hamlin, Locke, Fielder, J. X. Williams.

R. P. Williams. G. Baadley. Oliv.r, Bridge, St. Hill, Lawrence and Buchanan. There were many spectators present, amongst whom were several ladies. . The President declared the Synod opened and addressed the members at some length. Mr St Hill moved (by leave and without notice) —“ That a committee be elected to prepare an address to be presented to the Right Rev. Bishop W. Williams, late Bishop of Waiapu. Archdeacon Williams moved for leave to bring in a Bill to regulate the election of clerical and lay representatives, and that the Bill be read a first time. Seconded by Mr St. Hill, aud carried. Wednesday, September 27, 1876. The Synod met at 4 o’clock p.m., the Venerable Archdeacon Williams presiding. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. RISHOPRIC OF WAIAPU. The Venerable the President moved:— “ That the Synod proceed to nominate a clergyman to fill the vacant see of this diocese.” The mover observed that this was one of the chief objects for which the present Synod was called together. It was a most important matter, and would have to be undertaken with deliberation. The Rev. E. Williams seconded the motion, observing that the question was deeply important, and would have to be approached with the utmost care and judgment. He passed a high eulogium upon the retiring Bishop, and expressed his regret that it was necessary to nominate a successor, but snch being the case, it would be for them to elect the best man they could. He was of opinion that they should till the vacancy without going out of the diocese, or at all events, of the colony. He thought it very desirable that some one understanding the Maori language should be chosen. He regretted that the endowment of the Bishopric was so slenderly provided for. The Missionary Society was willing to continue paying a salary provided that one of their own body were chosen. He seconded the motion. Dr Spencer moved an amendment to postpone the nomiuatiou of a Bishop until the meeting of the Synod next year, in view of the question of endowment, and the unfortunate feeling which existed just now in the parish of St. John’s. The Rev. D’Arcy Irvine opposed the amendment. He urged that the diocese should not be left without a Bishop for a year. The Rev. Mr Mansell said it was no reason because one parish quarrelled with its clergyman that the whole diocese should be left without a Bishop fora year. The President said the Church Missionary Society, if one of their own body was appointed, were prepared to pay a salary. The Rev. S. Williams pointed out that if £lB5O eould be collected, £5OOO would be raised in a short time. He should like to see the best man chosen, whoever he was. The Rev. E. Williams replied iu support of the motion. The amendment was put and a division taken with the following result: —Clergy: Ayes, 4; Noes. 15. Laity: Ayes, 10; Noes, 7. The amendment was therefore lost, as it reqtlired a majority of both clergy and laity to carry it. The Rev. W. Marshall moved another amendment, “That the nomination should be postponed until arrangements were made for an adequate stipend." (withdrawn). The Rev. E. Williams opposed the amendment. The Archdeacon’s motion was then put, and a division called for with the following result: —Clergy : Ayes, 16 ; Noes, 3. Laity : Ayes, 7 ; Noes, 10. The motion was consequently lost. The nomination is, therefore, deferred until the next annual meeting. The Rev. E. Williams moved “That the Synod go into committee to consider the resolutions passed by the Synod last year on the “ alteration of Formularies Bill,” and on Statute V. of the General Synod, together with resolutions passed by other Diocesan Synod on the same subjects, with a view to embodying the views of this Synod in a memorial to the General Synod.” Some amendments were made and reported to the Synod, and ordered to be submitted to the General Synod. Dr Spencer moved “ That a return be laid on the table showing various church endowment trusts in this diocese, the names of the trustees of the respective trusts, the amount and nature of the property belonging to each trust, and the annual income for the last three years.” The Rev. Mr Jordan presented a petition from parishioners at Tauranga, praying that the parish should be annexed to the diocese of Auckland, instead of Waiapu. He moved that the petition be received. The Rev. E. Williams moved that the travelling expenses of the clergy and laity (if demanded) should be met by an equal contribution from each parish or district. The Rev. Mr Jordan, in accordance with a suggestion from the Chair, moved an amendment that the amount for each parish be assessed by the Standing Committee. (Carried). Archdeacon Williams moved the second reading of the Bill for the election of clerical aud lay representatives in the General Synod. This was agreed to, and the Synod went into committee on the Bill, —Mr Bridge in the chair.