LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

Lyttelton Times, Volume V, Issue 239, 14 February 1855, Page 5

LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

CHURCH MEETINGS.

Lyttelton.—Two meetings of the members of the Church communicants, Rev. B. W. Dudley, presiding, have been held. After much discussion, it was decided, nein. con.; — " That the members of the Church at Lyttelton seeing no cause to depart from their previous resolution, adjourn sine die.'' Thus affirming their previous decision to refuse to elect Trustees under the Church Property Trust Ordinance. Kaiapoi.—A meeting1 of the inhabitants of Kaiapoi was held at the Rnyal Hotel on the 7th instant, to take into consideration the steps to be taken in reference to the election of Trustees under the Church Property Trust Ordinance. A. A. Dobbs, Esq. having been called to the chair, and the minutes of the last meeting having' been read, JVIr. J. Hall said that having been requested to attend the meeting, he rose to explain what appeared to him to be a misapprehension on the part of the inhabitants of Kaiapoi in reference to the Bye-laws passed by the Trustees on the 25th ult* The fact being that they appear to hare acted on the report of the Bye-laws as given in the Lyttelton Times. He could assure them that this report was totally incorrect, the bye-laws as published being no more like those passed than the Queen's letter. Mr. Wyr.ns wished to know how the inhabitants of the different parishes were to know what steps to take if they could not believe the reports in the public journals. The Church Trustees meet together, and pass certain laws calling uy.on the parishes to elect fresh trustees, &c, the only intimation the parishioners receive of this being convoyed by the public journals, and yet when they proceed to act on these laws, they arc told that no such laws have been passed.

Mr. Jv Hall then proceeded to give his explanation of the bye-laws, but the meeting appeared to be unable tt> discover any material difference between his and the reported version, Mr. Raven having recapitulated his objections to the bye-laws as <riven by him at the last meeting, explained that its long as he was the incumbent he had considered himself bound to perform the official part of his duty in reference to the election of Trustees, however disagreeable it might be to him. A desultory conversation having ensued, in which Messrs. Beswick, J. Hall, Torlesse, Revell, and Wylde, took part, the following resolution was proposed by-Mr. Wylde, and seconded by Mr. E. Revell, viz.:— " That we are still of the same opinion as at the former meeting ; viz.:—' That the formation of parishes and the apportionment of Trustees, as fixed by the bye laws passed by the Trustees of the Church property on the 7th of Dec., are unjust, and that the said bye-laws appear to have been passed in an hast}' and irregular manner.' Jt is therefore resolved that we object to the said bye-laws and refuse to proceed to the election of a Trustee until they are amended." . , Mr. Toelesse objected to the resolution on the ground that by refusing to elect, the door would he closed to any mode of redress. Mr. Hall thought that the election might be made under protest. *Ir. Raven said that although at the meeting on the 11th ult. he had placed himself entirely in the hands of the inhabitants, and had stated that if they elected a Trustee, he would nominate one, he had since had so much additional insight into the proceedings of the Trustees, for whose nets he held himself entirely irresponsible,. that no consideration would now induce him to.-.-. nominate in accordance with the bye-laws as, - ; they now stand. The resolution was then put to the meeting by the chairman and carried. Mr. Revell then moved" That a memorial be presented to Mr. Sewell praying him not to transfer the Ecclesiastical Trust Property to the Trustees until the parishes be fairly represented." Mr. Wilde seconded the resolution, which was carried by a large majority. Votes of thanks were then passed to Mr. Hall for his explanations, and to ihe Chairman. The meeting then separated.

To the Editor of the Lyttelton Times. Sir.—Mr. Spowers has probably been driven by lack of argument into the alternative of mere abuse. It is the old story, "No case—abuse the plaintiff's attorney." The individual against whom this attack from the Manager of the Union Bank of Australia is levelled will, I should hope, decline to bandy personalities of a character which have rarely disgraced the columns of the Canterbury Press. What Mr. Spowers may say or may think of him and the rest of the "simple" residents on the plains must be to them a matter of profouwl indifference. They feel sure that his ridiculous jealousy of every thing connected with the Plains," is shared by but few of his fellowtownsmen. I trouble you to-day for the purpose merely of correcting one or two misrepresentations put forward in the letter of Mr. Spowers. ■]. Mr. Spowers. insinuates that the stranger referred to in his letter wished to speak at a meeting of the inhabitants of Lyttelton. Your own report—the ears of Mr. Spowers, must have satisfied him that this is untrue. 2. I do not undervalue public meetings under any circumstances; they appear to me, when open for free discussion, most valuable in affording opportunities for that thorough ventilation of all public subjects, which are essential to the harmonious working of Popular Government. 3. The objection^ the peculiar qualifications of many persons present at the LyUelton meeting to decide some of the questions submitted to them proceeded from one of the speakers at the meeting, and not from Your obedient servant, Working SuTTiiGR.