ST. PAUL'S ANGLICAN CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8814, 1 March 1892, Page 5

ST. PAUL'S ANGLICAN CHURCH.

CHANCE OF SITE. A meeting of the parishioners of St. Paul'd was held in tho temporary church last night, the Rev. C. M. Nelson presiding. Tho business being to consider the question of changing the site of the proposed now church and general financial matters.

Tho Chairman read a letter from Mr. J. Sinclair, in which ho stated that a client of his had instructed him to purchase, if possible, the site in Shortlandstreet, opposite the foot of Princes-street), and he had interviewed Dr. Honeyman, trustee for tho late Mr. John Hays, who was willing to exchange a property in Symonds-slreet, near the Grammar School, for the original site of the church. The property in question, the letter stated, had a frontage to Symonds-street of 120 feet.

Mr. J. Gordon spoke in favour of retaining and building upon the original site, but stated that if the meeting decided otherwise he would throw no obstacle in the way. He asked if there was not a difficulty in the way through the old site being dedicated to ecclesiastical purposes for ever 1

The Chairman' said that matter had been gone into thoroughly, and there was no doubt but that the church could deal with the site as they thought tit. Mr. J. M. Burr moved, " That the resolution of the 27th August, to the effect that the church be built on the old site, bo rescinded."

.Mr. W. S. Whitney seconded the motion, lie said that ever since the old church had been pulled down they had been going behind. For the last three years he hail been fighting to get the church built on a site as near the centre of St. Paul's pariah as possible, and now that an opportunity of securing such a site presented itself, he thought it should not be missed. Mr. W. Skin in reply to a question, said to build on the proposed Symoud-street site would mean an additional cost, of about £•200. The total cost of the church, with spire, Sunday-school accommodation, ami everything complete, would bo about £7000.

Mr. A. Kidd said he wished to enter his protest against changing the site, and pointed out, that no valid reasons had been advanced for the proposal. The old site had associations connected with it which* no new one could ever replace, associations that endeared it to all the old members of the church.

The Chairman" said that if the church was built on the old site there was no possibility of the population close to it increasing, owing to its peculiar position, whereas the Symonds-street site was more in the centre of the parish, and the locality was more likely to have the number of its inhabitants increased. The point to bo considered was not one of sentiment or fancied sentiment, but simply where the church was likely to do the most good. The motion was carried by six votes to four.

Mr. Butt then moved, "That this parish meeting confirms the recommendations of the incumbent and churchwardens as to the change of site, and that the effect of this resolution be communicated to tho general trustees."

The motion was seconded by Air. Whitley, and on being put, it was declared carried by tho Chairman by six votes to five.

Mr. Whitley moved, " That the envelop© system of contributions be tried iu this parish." Mr. Burr seconded the motion, and, after the chairman had explained the details of the system, it was pub and carried unanimously. Tho meeting closed with the Benediction.