ST. PAUL'S CHURCH AND CITY IMPROVEMENT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6825, 2 October 1883, Page 3

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH AND CITY IMPROVEMENT.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,—The motives which have actuated the vestry of St. Paul's Church in declining the two sites offtred them are so universally - mUunderstOGd that I thiuk it is only fait that they should be laid before the public. The vestry are not obstructing the proposed" improvements of the city ; on the contrary, they have shown their readiness to do all in their power to assist by placing their claim for compensation at the very modtrato sum of £3000, not one half of what the erection of a new building of equal capacity and convenience will cost. St. Paul's Chureb, though not handsome in its exterior, is commodious, well budt, comfortable, aud in every way thoroughly adapted for our purpose for many years to come. But in order to further the proposed city improvements, the vestry were willing to take upon themselves the onerous task of erecting a new church, «hich would necessitate the raising of at least £3000 to £4000 additional. But in consideration of this sacrifice on their part, they wished to have the best site for the new building given them that could be obtained, one on which they could erect a church that woald maintain and perpetuate the associations that cluster around St. Paul's, the oldest church in Auckland, perhaps one of -the best known in the colony, founded by Bishop Selwyn, and the scene of the consecration of thelauiented Bishop Patteson. Instead of such a site, however, the vestry were offered the choice of two site?, nei:her of which would, in their opinion, have been suitable in any way. The Alten-road site was out of the question, from its close pros- , imity to St. Andrew's Church, which would have been entirely shut out from view and deprived of its present commanding aspect. The other site is still more unsuitable. Instead of being, as it is popularly believed, on the reserve at the juueton of Symonds and Wakefield Streets (which would., have been equally unsuitable), it is on Wakefieldstreet below its junction with Alexandrastreet, not far above the Globe Hotel. The additional fact of the boundary of St. Paul's parish being the C.ty-road, only a few hnndred yards higher up, will at once show that this site is thoroughly unsuitable. The site the vestry have asked for is at present occupied by a building which is an eyesore, and the removal of which and the substitution of a handsome church would be an undoubted improvement, not only to the residents in the vicinity but to the whole city. The vestry are not making this a purely personal matter, but are actuated by a sense of duty to the Church, whose interests they have at heart and are bound to protect as if—and even more so—they were their own. 6. Vestryman of St. Paul's.