A VEXED QUESTION.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 43, 20 February 1902, Page 2

A VEXED QUESTION.

TROUBLE OVER A CHURCH SITE

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent)

HAMILTON, this day

There is great trouble here over the sale of the site of St. Peter's parsonage. At a meeting held on 14th January it was decided to sell the present parsonage site at a minimum price of £750, and with the propeeds to purchase a new house for the vicar. Some of the vestry, being of opinion that this did not fall in with the wish.es of the parishioners as a whole, called a vestry meeting and expressed the opinion that the resolutions arrived at by the parishioners' meeting were illegal. The vestry passed resolutions asking the vicar to call another meeting on the same subject, requesting him to ask the Primate or his commissary to preside over the meeting. Two vestrymen, Messrs Sare and Farrer, called another meeting of church members last evening to consider the position. There was a large attendance. Mr Sare, as chairman, introduced the subject. He characterised the action of Vestrymen Swarbrick, Stevens, Edgecumbe, Sandes, Salmon, Atkinson, Birnie and Gwynne, in ignoring the vicar, wardens, and two members of the vestry, as illegal and unwarrantable. They had offered an _ insult to the vicar which the parishioners could not allow to go unchallenged. Messrs Dyer, Farrer, Walter, and Graham addressed the meeting at length, referring to the action of° the other vestrymen in similar terms. On the motion of Mr Sare, seconded by Mr Dyer, a resolution was unanimously carried, expressing confidence in the vicar and appreciation of the good work done by him, and regretting that some members of the vestry had taken upon themselves the responsibility of passing important resolutions and forwarded them to the chairman of the Diocesan Board signed by Mr Edgecumbe in his official capacity as secretary of St. Peter's, the vestry thus conveying the impression that the resolutions had been duly authorised by a properly constituted meeting of the vestry, such not being the fact. Forty-four ladies voted for the resolution, and sixtjr-eight men. Feeling ran fairly high at times. Another meeting of the parishioners to settle the site question will be held on Monday next.