THE EPIPHANY CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIV, Issue 7842, 11 January 1887, Page 5

THE EPIPHANY CHURCH.

DISPUTE WITH THE CONTRACTOR. The new Epiphany church appears to have got a chequered career before. it. At its consecration it appeared that it had been partly built upon the wrong allotment. Now it ; seems the management have got hold of the ' wrong man in the person of Mr, James Edmonds, the contractor, who is now "the man in possession." Mr. Edmonds thus explained the embroglio to our reporter : He took the contract at close on £1600, the contract time expiring in about a week. Early in the contract the progressive payments were not met, and he was obliged to draw upon his own means to pay the workmen. When the building was near oomple- i tion he had allowed the church authorities . the use of the building for a concert to raise funds, and also for opening services, giving 1 them keys to obtain access to the building, which keys have not been returned, j Finding that the building was being i used ' for choir , practice and other meetings, to I ' which the general public had access—that 1 the work was being obstructed, and some of ' the workmen complaining of losing their c tools, he determined to close the place until 1 the Sunday morning. On Saturday night 1 one of the churchwardens went to his resi ' dence and demanded the keys, bat he refused them, whereupon the churoh functionary; 1 using somewhat vigorous language, invited ' him out In the street to settle the question, but not being accommodated, left. On Sun- ' day moaning he (Mr. Edmonds) went over to 1 the church at five minutes to nine o'clock to * open the place, being undesirous lof putting * the congregation to inconvenience, owing to ' the conduct of the management. \He found ' the western front door with the mark' of a ' crowbar on it, and the lock partly wrenched " away, but access had not been obtained, f The locks of the front door bad been filled j up with nails, so that he could not use his j keys. On going, to the back he found the * door there had been burst open, and that ' access bad been obtained to" the church c through the gratings in the floor, and some c one appeared to be walking about - inside. 1 He went for Constable, Clarke, but on their 8 arrival the intruder, whoever he was, had ? made good bis escape, so that he oould not 1 be identified. Yesterday Mr. Edmonds re.- J earned possession, and as the architect» J certificate has not as yet been procured, * intends to hold possession till his outstanding * claims are satisfied. He has prohibited choir ' practices, etc., owing to the injury to the s varnish of the woodwork, for which he is 1 responsible, but will permit the Sunday J services, so as not to inconvenience the con- ' gregatien. The whole- matter has been I placed in the hands of his solicitors, and * legal proceedings will be shortly taken to • test the rights of the respective parties. r *