THE NELSON SYNOD.

Westport Times, Volume IV, Issue 717, 29 September 1870, Page 2

THE NELSON SYNOD.

The annual meeting of the Synod of the Church of England for the Diocese of Nelson, was held in Nelson on Friday last, and after some general business had been transacted, his Lordship the Bishop delivered an address from which we take the following extracts: —

The changes in our clerical staff consist in the addition of one to the office of Deacon, and the approaching departure of another to a neighbouring Diocese.

I was disappointed in the advent of the clergyman whd had undertaken to come from Australia to Westport, as he informed me that owing to the very strong private and diocesan pressure brought to bear upon him, he was obliged to remain in his diocese. The vacant post was offered to the Eev. W. D. B-. Lewis, and his appointment was endorsed by the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, part of whose grant had been by you assigned to Westport. I visited Westport in July last, and had good hopes that all was settled. On my return, however, the Eev. Mr Lewis informed me that he had accepted a post in the diocese of Wellington, thus leaving Westport again uusupplied. I am making enquiries for a suitable clergyman, and have received a communication from the Rev. Mr Beaumont, formerly of Greymouth, that he will be ready to come to the West Coast when his present post in Dunedin is tilled up. His coming is thus uncertain, and Mr Lewis will be obliged to leave in four months from his resignation.

In reviewing the state of the diocese, his Lordship referred to each place in the diocese, and we take the following report of the various districts of the West Coast.

Westport (St. John the Evanglist). —I regret to have to report a vacancy here. I visited it last July, and was deeply impressed with the eligibility of the situation for ministerial "work. A neat and suitable church, commodious parsonage-house, a population near at hand presenting all the elements of varied parochial work, a considerable number of well-ordered diggers within reach ready to welcome the periodical visits of the resident clergyman, render Westport a sphere which, while it would call forth a man's best efforts, would also not overweigh and distress him by overwork. I pray that we may find a suitable man. Westport ought to be able to be independent of any grants, and I believe in the hands of a fitted person would be so. Charleston (Sfc Mark's). —Here the expectations formed last year have been fully met, and I was indeed cheered at my visit last July by the evident tokens of permanent success attending the Rev. Mr Flavell's ministry here. Our brethren on the goldfields are deprived of some of the conveniences of more settled districts, but, on the other band, are surrounded by a vigorous type of character and energy, which appreciates and repays the zeal and labor bestowed on it. Mr JFlavell is ably seconded by his Church officers and vestry, and the good example set by bis Church officers of interest in Church matters, will, we hope, bo followed by others. The services at Brighton have been maintained at fortnightly intervals, the Union Church having been much

improved in convenience and decency of arrangement.

G-beymotjth (Holy Trinity.) The Bov. G-. "Watkins has won the esteem and hearty support of his congregation, and the vestry have determined on enlarging their church by adding transepts. Mr Watkins holds services also at Cobden and Saltwater Creek, on alternate Sunday afternoons, and at the Brunner Coal-mine in the week time. Theso additional duties render the Grey an arduous post; but an appreciating feeling and active officers, and above all the knowledge that good is being done, and that the Word of Life is administered, and the people fed, help to lighten the duty. I am glad to report a movement for good amongst the Maoris • and if we can only keep from tempting them, they would survive. They are now perceiving, at Arahura, Greymouth, Westport, and Motupipi, that their best protection and wisest course is to distance themselves from pakeha temptations; .and this movement for self-reform, spontaneous and genuine on the part of our natives, though it reflects no credit on us or our laws or the way they are carried out, is highly creditable to them and their instinct of self-preservation. I had the privilege of admitting to confirmation four natives at Greymouth, and was assured by those competent to judge, that their behaviour was such as one would desire.