Mr. SEWELL'S LETTER TO LORD LYTTELTON.

Lyttelton Times, Volume IV, Issue 175, 13 May 1854, Page 8

Mr. SEWELL'S LETTER TO LORD LYTTELTON.

' [Continued from our last.] Now I turn to your Lordship's letter referring to matters connected with this subject. You point out the liabilities we are under to certain Clergy and Schoolmasters, and you instruct me in any arrangement with the Provincial Council not to fail to make provision for these arrangements. I will bear your Lordship's instructions in mind, and in case of need will act upon them. At all events and under any circumstances, these obligations must be fulfilled, and must be regarded as forming a primary claim upon the. Corpus no less than upon the income of the Ecclesiastical and Educational endowments. But beyond these liabilities, I feel (and I am sure (hese are the sentiments of your Lordship and the Committee,) that there is a moral claim on the Association as far as possi ble, to place the General Ecclesiastical a'ud Educational service on a lixed, certain, and permanent basis ; and that, as far as possible, in a degree commensurate .with the wants of the settlement. Let me state my view of these wants, and what may seem to be required as a-'.minimum from the - Association to meet them, if means can be found. Clergy—At Christchurch, a Bishop provided for by special endowment. Do. a Curate (qy Bishop'sV Chaplain, per annum ...... Biccarton) F. ov *6 services of I £200 Papanui I 1 hf se, P1^! 8 bH - Jsidethe bishop ...) Lyttelton (2 curates) ......... 200 Akaroa, do.V^ each of t, hesel 75 Kaipoi.,lo.!l'J acb 1 5,.. ther f H 50 Governor's f o^ldbean ef-^ Bay J tort made to get 50 parsonages builr College—Senior Tutor .£2OO-v Deduct fees receivable, I 100 say „ lOOJ Schools—Christchurch. MasterofGrammarSchool£iso) Deduct fees receivable 100} ■ Do. Commercial School 75 Lyttelton—Masier of Commercial School... '. 75 (Say £900 a-year) £875 ~Now I.do not say that £900 a year will cover all the possible charges for Ecclesiastical and Educational purposes in these districts. There will be besides wanted, the cost of repairs of buildings, sundries of a miscellaneous kind ; and the stipends in many, if not all, instances, are manifestly wholly inadequate, and doubtless will be augmented by voluntary aid. lg;But the first thing in my opinion, is as far as possible, to fix and define the extent of resources available from the Association, and their application ; whilst this is uncertain, the Association on the one side is liable to reproach, for not making provision for this or that object, whilst on the other side a positive hindrance arises to voluntary efforts, which are always checked by undefined notions of unsatisfied obligations resting on other people. We are not now dealing with large funds, andS a surplus revenue, but with an imperfect work and scanty means, which must be eked out in other ways. Hereafter the case may be cliffe-

vent, from the i»ij>i-ov«d wi.r><: 01 f.; u endowments: and provision n.-iy >> >\<> ,\ made for such a change ol'i'irouuisi.1. . ,<.- . But'let us see what 01/ o. ;.'.'i "■i.'-ans may be reckoned at. I w:ii .->>■> at ■, ■,r hy year to 1860, shewing llif t-!»!i.ui'1. ' i •lii'l.'uoy. For the year eiidiiu i-> ■ ■ •,. \SoS. " lm iiiiry estimating li." ..iiuiull charge ■ii JBillM) p er an. Interest of 10,000 . .£{>oo Proportion ol; Pastm;;^ l>u; ;i-i'p. 4DO Bentul of property . . . 150 , 1150 For 1854,— Interest of 10,000 . ' ... 600 Bental of property .. . . 150 750 Deficiency £ 16Qf Note.-—That I do not reckon on any help from the Land fund after, the present year, and in 1855 the Bishop's income will • be otherwise applicable. For 1855.. Improved Rental of lands already let, according to the Surveyor's calculations \ . . .£4OO Probable rental of more lands to be let between this and 1855 . 150 550 Deficiency 350 ' 350? 900 For 1856; Improved Bental of lands already let, Ac. . . . . 400 '■■ ' Probable Rental of more lands to be let. between this and 1856 . 250 650 Deficiency ; . 250 250' 900 For 1857. Improved' Rentals,. &c." . . 400 Probable Rental of more lands to be let between this and 1857 . 350 ,: -■•.: .■■'■,. ■■ :- •■ -: ■■ - 750 Deficiency . 150^ i -For 1858. : Improved Rentals, &c. . ; 400 Probable Rentals, &c. . . 450 . 850 Deficiency . 50' After that time the improved Rental may fairly be valued as equal to the charge. The aoveable rent of land now let rises in 1860 from ss. to Bs. an acre; and from thenceforth thedifficulty will be at an end. Indeed it is- probable that there will be a surplus income. The total of these annual defir ; ciencies is i. £9.5©' But I have reckoned nothing for charges of management, interest, & sundries. Upon the whole I think £1-500'-'may be taken (so as to be on the safe side) as requisite to keep up.the establishments, at the rate of £900 per annum, until the endowments can bear their own charges. Now I have submitted to your Lordship the extent and limit of what may be in some measure regarded as claims on the Association of apecuniary kind, on account of Ecclesiastical and Educational objects, not as claims to be satisfied at the cost of private individuals, but as far as may be from local means;-that is* from the property of the Association applicable thereto. But the credit of your Lordship and the Committee is so far,involvedJn the issue of this undertaking, besides the natural interest you must feel in it, that I am sure the colony may count tin the utmost possible; assistance from you. The difficulty here is not as to sufficiency of properly and ultimate means, but as to the command of present money. Estates however valuable in reversion will not satisfy' periodical money stipends, wh'ch are essential to the maintenance of a 'working'''staff. We might it is true realize funds from time, to time, by forced sales, at a sacrifice, but nothing but necessity ought to induce us to have recourse to that expedient. In England temporary loans upon property of such ample value would.be easy, but loans here are only effected at heavy rates of interest, and with great difficulty. 'Private individuals have not the means

"T^ehiihi"' hugely. We must look therefore to itisfv them, "which in a measure are to he rejrjir'iled as moral claims, from other sources v itiiin our own control. ' . Anticipating then, as I do, that an arrang-e-------ment will be come to either with the Provincial or General Government for repayment of the 1 advances,-I shall 'venture on my own responsibility to make it part of that arrangement L provide means, either in money or marketable public securities, for the foregoing objects to the extent specified, not by way of adding to the charsre to be adopted, but to be counted as part ofaiicl in part satisfaction of such charge. On the other hand, the ChnrcTi -Trust will have to bear a charge of equal amount in favour of those individuals at whose cost this arrangement 'will have been made, at a moderate rate of interest; and repayable in a few years time, when the endowments will have increased in value and may be able to repay. Such appears to me to present itself as a feasible plan. The precise details I will- make the subject of a future despatch after ' consultation with the :Chuvch Committee. To ascertain the total amount required, we may calculate thus — : College, £1500 ; provided by subscription as to which I have made a separate suggestion. .Christchurcb Church, £500 Besidence of the Bishop, £600 to 800. Lyttelton Church . • ■ £320 Akaroa do. . • • 100 lliccarton do. . • ■ '120 Papanui do. ... 60 Kaipoi do. . .120 Governor's Bay . . .100 820-820 Parsonage at Lyttelton . . . 250 Addition to GrammarSchool,Christchurch. 50 School at Lyttelton • - - .200 1320 I .think we may calculate on some beneficial sales of land at Kaiapoi, perhaps to the extent of . . .-,-.. •■ 320 1000 Sum required to cover deficiency oi income of Clergy an A Schoolmasters . .1500 Total sum required .. .. . .2500 I velyon your Lordship and the other parties concerned to sanction these arrangements. But we must look to the possible contingency of the failure of arrangements for repayment of the advances. In that case, the scheme above proposed will also fail. We must then do the best we can. The last expedient willjbe to sell, even at a sacrifice, such portion of the property as may be absolutely requisite for strictly necessary purposes. But I should earnestly deprecate such a step, the effect of which would be to diminish the permanent estate of the Church in a far greater degree than it would afford present help. If in such a case we could reckon on an annual help from England by voluntary ai d to the extent say of 200 or £300 a year, for 3 or 4 years, to keep up at all events the working staff of Clergy and Schoolmasters, other-matters might be postponed for the present. Time must bring1 it right at last, from the growth in value of the Church estates. As regards the College, that I consider as an independent matter, which may at all events i proceed by means of the subscriptions already promised. I hope your Lordship will take immediate steps to get them in and to increase them. I have no doubt Mr. Gell will aid in this. In the foregoing estimates and calculations I have put out of sight what we once hoped— namely, that the Colony will take up and continue the principles of the Association's scheme. I think these expectations, although held out in strong terms on private letters, will prove delusive. The temper of the colony is unfavourably disposed towards the Association ; and its plans have been hitherto regarded as an absolute failure. It is, I fear, too late to remedy this evil. All which can be done is, to complete as far as can be a small section of the work, leaving it as a niodel possibly for some future extension. The last point I have to notice in which we have hitherto failed in our work is, as regards organizing a local management of the temporalities placed under our control. The time is "rived when this difficulty must be met. It is, I think, matter of regret that our former efforts in ibis direction failed of effect. But I will not revive past controversy. I will endeavour

to state precisely the conditions of the case as it stands. I find at present iio plan or policy for the organization of such local management. There is a general craving after some local management, but not in any definite shape, except so far as I shall presently mention. Bishop Selwyn has recently promulgated a scheme for a Church Convention to be composed after the model of the American Church, of 3 orders or estates, Bishops, Clergy, and Laity. I will transmit a copy of the Lytietton Times containing his Lordship's pastoral letter. Ido not know how far it has proceeded, nor how it has been received throughout the colony. Generally I believe with much favour, although one fundamental point of difference has developed itself here. The Bishop proposes to fasten the link between the Colonial and the Mother Church by fixing a fundamental condition of adherence to the ritual and formularies of the English Church. This condition has been strongly objected to by the colonists here, and it is as yet a vexata qucestio. As regards the Bishop's proposed test of Church membership, viz., a mere declaration by the person that he is a member of the Church, differences of opinion are entertained. Some (but as far as I can learn only a small minority) think communion a fitter test. In reference to this I have heard it stated that the proposed Convention is. not intended as a permanent, but only as a constituent body, out of which a future permanent organization is to proceed. .... ■ The Bishop proposes to apply to England for the imperial sanction to the proposed Constitution, but knowing something of the difficulties which surround this question I think it is impossible to be sanguine of the success of such an application: As mere matter of private opinion, it strikes me that if such application be j made to the Crown in respect of its Ecclesiastical Supremacy, there is.not, as far as I can judge, any agreement of opinion in England as to the extent of such authority over the Colonial Church. If the application be made to the Crown simply to obtain legal incorporation, the policy of Government on such questions has lately been to remit th-em to the-local'legisla-tures as matters properly falling within their jurisdiction. I do not presume to offer any opinion on these questions, themselves, or on any of the points involved in his lordship's proposed plan of a Cluu-oli Constitution. I advert t« tW*» uiereiy with reference to the practical point—How are the Association to deal with the temporalities held by them, in trust for the Church ? They have been specifically called to obtain for the Church a charter of Ecclesiastical liberties, and to transfer these temporalties to the Church itself in such incorporated form, and practical objections have been taken to their doing anything more than, or beyond this, lo go farther in the way of laying down a scheme of management, trespasses, it is said, on the proper functions of the colonists themse^es, and exceeds the limits of the Association's powers. Bishop Selwyn's proposed Church Constitution answers to that idea of an incorporated Church, and must be considered as standing in its place. To state plainly my views as to this requirement, I think its nature and effect is not dearly seen by those who make it, nor do 1 think'it such as the Association could properly or consistently with what must be the real wishes of the colonists, agree to. A church I Convocation or Synod of the whole colony and diocese of Mew Zealand, (for the colony and diocese at present are co-extensive,) would not be a suitable depository of endowments creaI ted specifically for the service of the Canterbury settlement, and in a special manner applicable to those localities from whence the funds have arisen which have created the endowments. But the proposed Convention is only Diocesan. It could not of course be meant for a-Provincial Synod, which his lordship's sole authority could not constitute. . . Eegarding it in that light, and loomng iorward to the creation of a new diocese, we should have to speculate on the form of organization which such new diocese may assume under a new Bishop. But I cannot think that such a transfer of our endowments could properly be made even to a Diocesan Convention, or bynort, for the new Diocese of Canterbury, for that wil embrace not merely the settled but the unsettled parts of the Canterbury block, and beyond this will extend to the southern extremity ot the colony, embracing Otago. All parties with whom I have had discussion on this subject are agreed

that Canterbury, and that alone and in a particular triaurier, the present settled localities are entitled to the benefit of the existing endowments. Spread over so wide a surface as the entire colony, or even the entire Diocese of Canterbury, they would not merely be diverted from their proper use, but would be absorbed and lost. There might be some difference if we looked forward to the continuance of the Canterbury scheme in pennanenee ; but we are compelled: to stop short. A small portion only of. the settlement is actually peopled, and only a limited extent of endowments created. All must agree that these benefits must be limited to the localities whence they have arisen. Then comes the question how to accomplish that object. If the Church Convention, or Diocesan Synod or Council, proposed by Bishop Selwyn, were actually in esse, and invested with corporate powers, it might be open to consider the expediency of using that body as a trustee, if , (as is really unlikely) it would accept'such a special and limited trust. One objection that strikes me is this, viz., that it is to be regarded only as a constituent body, and as such could not suitably undertake permanent functions. Even if all these preliminary conditions were satisfactorily adjusted I cannot myself think that such a body, unidentified with the special and peculiar interests of the Canterbury Settlement, would be the best administrator of Jts exclusive endowments. Taking the common course of human events, even granting that parties will be governed by the best intentions, I think collisions and differences would surely ensue from such an arrangement. f - : All this would apply, though with somewhat less force, to a Diocesan Convention, Synod, or Council, for the separate Diocese of Canterbury when formed. But we want to organize at once a scheme of local management., And here let me notice that scheme which the Association itself proposed some time back, but which was then rejected by the colonists. That scheme was based on certain fundamental conditions. Ist. That, assuming the Association to continue in existence as the depositary of the en- ! dowments under the terms of its Charter, it was bound to secure to itself the means of discharging its moral and legal responsibilities. 2nd." That subject thereto,-the practical mann&o ™*..>*, _,i.v,..i«i ue vesieu in a focal oooy to be composed of half clergy and half laity with the Bishop at the head. 3rd. That the objects of the Trust should bs defined with as much particularity as would avoid occasions for dispute, and in a special manner avoiding trespassing on the limits of the spiritual authority, but at the same time leaving as much latitude of discretion to the local body as would enable it to act with freedom. We may or may not have succeeded in em>bodying these principles in a proper form in our proposed scheme, but I do not see upon what other basis we could have proceeded, or (assuming circumstances tolremain as at present) could now proceed. If we should succeed in forming, as we hope, a Church Trust, and giving it a legal constitution, so as to acquit the Association at home of all its moral and pecuniary liabilities, then, so much of the foregoing conditions as reserved power to the xAssociation would be dispensed with. This is the object to be arrived at. Nor (all parties agreeing) do I think there will be now any difficulty in attaining it through the Provincial Council. lit that case, the transfer of the Association's Ecclesisiastical and Educational functions with the endowments, will be absolute and entire, and the Charter will be quod hoc at an end,the Association being- functur qfficio. Failing such legal transfer, or, in the meantime, pending ■the same, we must make the best makeshift we can, still retaining the Association with its ' chartered powers, and contriving a subordinate local body of management, to whom the utmost power should be committed, consistently with due security for the discharge of those obligations which will still rest upon the Association at home, ami of which it cannot, except in a legal manner, -divest itself. I do not despair, in any event, of arranging some such plan' with the Church Committee. I have thus drawi. your Lordship's attention, I believe, to all ilu- material questions connected with Ecclesiastical and Educational matters,^ which seem to me v. arise necessarily out of the winding up of <>:ir aifairs in the colony.