DIOCESAN SYNOD.

Evening Post, Volume XXII, Issue 90, 14 October 1881, Page 2

DIOCESAN SYNOD.

♦ The Synod resumed last evening. Several formal motions by the Key. T. Fanoonrt, relative to the anditing-, printing, and distribution of reports, notices, Ac, were agreed to. Mr. Marchant laid on the table a petition from Church members at Patea, praying that their district be formed into a parish, and moved by leave, without notice, that a committee be appointed to consider the petition, which was carried. Tho reports of the committee on the General Church Fund and of the Dioceean Board of Trng*

leea woro read, tho latter mentioning tho gift to the Diocese of several blocks of land by Mrs. Dean, Mrs. Abbott, and Major Willis, also a legacy of jGoOO by tho late Hon. R. Stokes. The l;ov. J. Jonea moved, and Mr. Powlea seconded, that ihe report of the committee on the non-pajment of interest on the sum of .8700, lent by the Pension Fund Trustees for tho erection of St. Mark's Church, be adopted. Arcl.dcAcon Stock spoke very strongly against tho report, which Btated that St. Peter'u Pariah had agreed to pay the interest, and had not paid it for two yeara past, but did not mention the faot that tbo parish had paid it during the previous three and a half yearß, and only ceased to pay when it was absolutely unable to do so owing to its own hoavy burdens unavoidably undertaken in the erection of a now church. Ho assorted that it was never imagined by St. Peter's Parish tuat they were supposed to have undertaken such an indefinite liability, but merely that tb/y should give this temporary assistance to a new parißh. He felt bo strongly on the matter himself that were it not for the appearance of cowardice which it would involve, he should resign his incumbency on the spot if the report were adopted. He hoped the Synod would not carry it, as he Bhould quite shrink from going back to his congregation and telling them what a blow had been dealt to them after their yeara of arduous effort Mr. Rons Marten moved as an amendment, " that the report bo referred back to the committee," and pointed out that St. Peter's Pariah waa absolutely unable at the present time to undertake this liability, which it had only devolved upon tt. Mark's when its own necessities and burdens had become greater than those of the younger parish. It waa admitted that there had been no regular agreement with the trustees as to the guarantee of interest, and as it was merely a question of recolleotion in regard to a verbal arrangement, ho thought tho verßion of one party to the transaction — St. Peter's pariah— was quite aa much to be relied on as that of the other party — the trustees -who had admittedly been very lax in the discharge of their duties. The liability was a proper charge on the General Church Fund, and it was very unfair to shift it on to St. Peter's parish merely because the latter had not come under that system, for otherwise the fond must necessarily have taken it over. Mr. Plimmer seconded and spoke to the amendment, which was also supported by Mr. Hunter, Mr. Daviea, and Colonel Leokie. The Bishop spoke very strongly against the amendment and in favour of the original motion, contending the question was not one as between St. Peter's and St. Mark's parishes, but between the former and tho Peneion Fund, and he strenuously deprecated the idea that a liability voluntarily undertaken by St. Peter's parish could be repudiated by a mere reaolution of a subsequent voatry or meeting. St. Peter *B parish had distinctly guaranteed the payment of the interest, and must be looked to to carry out that undertaking. The Revß. Messra. Harvey and Fanconrt, and Messrs. Quick, Powles, Field, and Gaby also opposed the amendment and Bupported the original motion. Mr. Jones replied, expressing his deep sympathy with Arohdeacon Stock and St. Peter's parish, but pointing out that the committee could only act on the evidence before them, which they considered conclusive. On division, the votes were : — For the amendment : Clergy, 1 ; Laity, 6. Against it : Bishop, 1 ; Clergy, 10 ; Laity, 11. The amendment was therefore lost, and the original motion carried. The Synod then went into committee (Arohdeacon Thorpo in the chair) on Mr. Rons Marten's Registration Bill, and, after reaching clause 6, reporbed progress. The Synod nexb resumed the consideration in committee of the ad interim report of the General Church Fund Committee, which waa adopted. Various committees having been appointed and notices of motion given, the Synod, at 11.40 p.m., adjourned to 7.30 this (Friday) evening.