DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 4317, 31 May 1879, Page 5

DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Feiday, May 30. The President took the chair at 4 p.m. COSMBMATION OP THB MINXTTKS.

Before the confirmation of the minutes Mr. Grigg raised the question whether they could be confirmed, as in all legislative councils it was customary that no alteration could be made in money Bills without due notice having been given, and this had not been complied with on the previous evening. Mr H. Thomson thought the universal role in all money Bills of not allowing any increase to be made without notice being given should be adopted in the Synod. This applied t*>tbe vote of the previous evening towards the Cathedral fund, and he believed that if it had been known by notice the amount sought for was to be doubled, a much larger attendance of the laiety would have been present. After some discussion, in which the Dean of Ghristchurch, and Messrs Hamilton, Harman, Acland, and Walker took part, the President ruled that the motion for the confirmation of the minutes should be put. The minute* of the previous evening were then confirmed. SYKODSMBN 09 JtfXTBLTOH. The Eev. Canon Ootterill moved—" That the Synod, on the report of the Select Committee on the Ljttelton election, do deter- i mine that the return of Messrs H. B. Webb, H. N. Nalder, and W. Graham as synod emen for the parish of Juyttelten, has been unduly made. That the Synod do declare the eleotion to be null and void. That the Synod requests the Most Bey. the President to issue a new writ for the parish of Lyttelton." In moviag the resolution, Canon Cotterill expressed his regret at having to do so, as it was through no fault of the synodsmen whose seats would be declared void, that the difficulty had arisen.

After some discussion, Ber. E. A. Lingard said that ac long as the electoral roll remained in its present form contested elections were liable to arise, and it would be as well if the Synod took into consideration its amendment daring ifs present session. The resolution, being seconded, wu then pat and carried on a small majority. STIPENDS OP CLBBGY. Mr O. Onff moved—"That the Church Property Trustees be instructed to reserve or raise, in such a manner as may seem to them most desirable, a sum not exceeding £20,000, the interest or rents of which to form a fund for increasing and the more regular payment of all clerical stipends in the diocese of Ohristchnrch at present under the minimum of £250 per annum, and for raising to that turn all new cures that may from time to time be organised, and that the mode of payment to such stipends be somewhat as follows :— That the Church Property Trustees, or other duly qualified body, appoint assessor*, who shall, on due examination and consultation with the sereral Ttetriee or other parochial governments, fix such a sum as they may consider fair and just, to be paid to the church, steward as local contributions by any parish, &c. t receiving aid from this fund, and that all cheques for stipend shall issue quarterly from the said church steward or other authorised person, irrespectively of the payment of local contributions. If the local contributions fail to reach the assessed sum, the proper authorities shall make due inquiry to see if the same be canted by want of diligence on the part of the parish or by neglect of duty by the clergy; and if the same be repeated, shall hare power to advise the Bishop to remove the clergyman, or cause such parish to cease, and only become part of a mission district until the parish complies with the regulations." In moving liie resolution, Mr Cuff said he had brought it forward in order to have it discussed, and then he oould withdrew it, and leave it to be considered by t> Select Committee, to report on at the next general meeting of the Synod,

j The Bey. EL CM. Wataon aedondH it pro \ Mx Walker though*, th» matter quired tenons consideration, as the corps i of the estate was being r> often meddled rjfth Fα* other purposes than the maintenance of the parochial clergy. He considered it a'Ltiald be referred to a select committee, who obtild report to the Synod on the expediency an' equity of the resolution. Hβ did not viih to pledge himself, or to exact pledgee from any one as to the alterations desired to !be made the stipends of the clergy in facs of the existing pressure of the; times, but hV'.rould like one thing to be considered, and if; was, whether this ;gSO per annum to eaoh of the parochial clergy could not be Incraiwd oe the basis of length of service. He would therefore suggest to any committee the 6 might be appointed, that if an increase of £5p lraa to be made to all stipends, that a proportionate inorea c should be made in the oae« c f the elder clergy, according to the number cE years they had been in the ministry. He uould therefore more the following amendDieat:— " That a select committee be appointed to sit during the reoest, to consider the regulations for the payment of the clerrr, and report to the next session of the Synod, £st. Mr Oholmondeley rese to a ji)lnt of order as to whether a select committed ix>uld sit during the recess. The Dean 'pointed out that a cotniuision could be appointed by the Bishop. . The President asked Mr Walker l» alter

his amendment to the following:— "Tliafc hit Lordship the Bishop be requested to t»|oint a oommiesion to sit during the recess i> ooneider the financial regulations for th»-oay-ment of the clergy and report to next teaiien of Synod." Mr Walker agreed to the alteration. The motion wa« then put and agrtsd to, that the words, " That a select committee be appointed," be struck out, and the words " That his Lordehip the BUhop be recreated to appoint a commieiiion." be substitcjfd in Mr Walker's amendment. The amendment ail altered was thii\ put and carried. PABISH 01' BT. LTJXB'S. Mr Molntyre moved—" That in acooirfanee with the resolutions on local reserves adapted in 1862, the church property trustees beteoommended to pay over to the parish 6i 86 Luke the Evangelist the proceeds of the lease of the Church reserve situate in Cranmer square." The resolution, after a short discission, was put and agreed to. BILL FOB DBOLAB.HHS TWB.VOBBB, &C. In moving the next resolution, the Dean said he desired leave to divide it in two j-arte. Leave being gives, The Dean moved the following reeolction : —"1. That it is inexpedient to proceed further with that part of the Bill fo;r Declaring the Purposes, &0., which concerns the Diocesan Board of Trustees until steps have been taken to obtain the consent oi all persons and bodies concerned in its nwmliens."

The resolution was put and agreed to. I The Dean of Ohristohurch then movtfi the following:—"And further, that the question as to the proportion of the proceed* of section 156/ and of the town sectiont oon-

nected therewith, which onght to be paid annually towards the maintenance of tli« See of Donedin, be referred to the G-meral Synod, with a request that it may be iiiially decided at the next session of that body to be held in Ohrietchnrch." After some discussion, the Dean asked and obtained leave to withdraw his resolution,. It was made the flrit order that the Hvnod go into committee at 7-30 for the ooneiiciiration of the questions involved in the I'c.nn's resolution. TOTB FOB CHtrBOHBS, &C. The Ber. J. W. Stack moved—" TfcaS in I addition to the amount of £2000 already voted, the sum of £6000 be raised bj the Church Property Trustees for the en*:tion and enlargement of churches and chipsls, sohoolsf parsonages, and additions to clergymen's stipends throughout the diocese." Mr G-ngg seconded the resolution. Rev. Mr Penny moved—" That instetd of the words ' additions to olergymen's etijrtnds throughout the diocese,' the words f for stipends to clergy 'be substituted." ! The Synod here adjourned.

The Synod resumed at half-past wren o'clock, and then went into committee on the Aot for Consolidating the Church Property Trusts, and after tome discussion and anii-nd-ments the Bill was reported and the S* nod resumed.

The Dean moved—"That Standing Ox-der No. 37 be suspended, in order to allow of the Bill for declaring the purposes, &c, doing read a third time and passed." The motion was seconded by Mr Hanoi .ton and agreed to.

Mr Hamilton moved—"When theHjnod do next go into committee on the Act for Consolidating Churck Property Trusts, that clause 10 be recommitted for the purpeca of altering the last proviso respecting graves, by adding these words at the end o> proviso, ■' or alienated from their present trusts by rale, lease, or otherwise.' " The motion was agreed to, and the Eyaod ■gain went into committee, and the Bill afterwards, ai reported by the committee, wasadopted.

On a motion for reading the Bill a third time.

The Hon. Mr Acland moved—"Thai'the skeleton form of the Bill should be submitted to the legal advisers of the Syntd, to be pat in proper form, and be then dealt with by the standing committee before wing sent up to the General Assembly." Mr Hamilton did not think a matter of this kind should be remitted to the Btatd ing committee. It was of far too much imyi irtance, and he objected totally to suoh an arrangement. The standing committee nd jht overlook something -which the sharper ey<a- of some of the members of Synod might ncft~.ee. He would move—" That it be remitted to |he Synod at its next meeting, and after it J tad come from the legal advisers." The amendment of Mr Hamilton vna seconded by Mr Gh L. Lee. The Eev. Mr Stack suggested the adjceminent of the session.

The Dean impressed upon the Synod {he necessity of the Bill going before the Q-enti'sl Assembly at the next meeting. The Bey. Mr Oholmondeley hoped the Synod would pats Mr Acland'e resolution.

Mr H. J. Tancred was not prepared to up hie right to criticise the Bill, or to accept the action of the standing committee. He certainly did not care to delegate hie pow ere to that committee.

The Rev.O. C.Bowen thought the difficulty might be got over by a special sitting of She Synod being called by the Bishop for the parpole of paaeing the Bill. After some farther discussion the motion of Mr Acland was carried on the voices.

A division was called for and resulted as follows :— Ayes — Clergy, 9j laiety, 14. Noes—Clergy, 8; laiety, 11. The motion was therefore deolared (a> be carried.

Mr F. de c. Malet drew attention to the division list. Mr H. Selwyn Smith had voted with the noes, and not with the ayes. Mr Smith said this was so. The division li«t was revised accordingly. The Bey. Mr Page moved—" The//'the Synod at its rising do adjourn to a date appointed by the Bishop for the purpose of sonsidering the draft bill on the Consolidated Church property tnuts after it has-been put into shape and has gone before the- star.ding committee." Seconded by the Dean, and agreed to. BEKCTIOH 07 CHtTBCHBS, SOSOOIB, 4C. The Sy»od then proceeded to consider the motion moved by the Eev. Mr Stack prior to the adjournment, as well as the amendment of the Bey. Mr PenDy. Mr Hasgal said that, as a Church property trustee, he could not agree with the proposal of Mr Stack. He did not consider the estate would bear a greater pull upon it than had already been made. Mr John Grigg said it would not be necessary to raise the money at once, and it would be ungenerous not to pats the notion after the money that had been granted £m: the building of the Cathedral. Considerable discussion ensued. The Bey. the Dean moved—" Thai after the word 'voted , the following nords should be added ' as soon at it shall appear to them to be practicable • without entailing a ssriooß sacrifice of the corpus of the eitate, and without imperilling the grants of £50 per annum to the several cures throughout; the diocese.' " Seconded by the Bey. Mr Page. The Bey. Mr Stack raid he would a Kept the amendment of the Deao.

Mr Mclntyre moved—•« That after the word • raised • the following words slaeuld be inserted ' either as a whole or by iijetal-

The resolution so amended was agreed to. The Bey, Mr Penny's motion was then

jput and agreed tot w&h jester flight mo^ific*• fmae**—- !..„ The resolution, m a whole, was then put land agreed to. - ' KOTICHS OP MOTIOT. Several notices of motion were giren for next sitting day. ELECTION OF OntCSHS. Mr W. J. W. Hamilton moved—" That fie Synod do proceed u> the election of Diocesan nominators, as required bj Statute No. 5, olause 4, (report 1878, page 37), and of other officers of the dioceie." Mr Paige reminded the speaker that it had already been resulted to adjourn the present session to a future date to be decided upon. The Synod adjourned at half-past 10 o'clock until Tuesday, let of T n lv.