NEW ANGLICAN CHURCH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 4136, 23 June 1874, Page 3

NEW ANGLICAN CHURCH.

In accordance with a resolution passed at the meeting of the vestries of St. Peter's and St. Paul's, at the offices of Messrs. Bethune and Hunter, on Monday last, a public meeting was held at the same offices last night, for the purpose of more fully discussing the best method of carrying out the proposals indicated in the several resolutions agreed to at the first meeting. Some twenty-three members of the Church of England, including the Right Rev. the Bishop of Wellington (presiding), the "Ven. Archdeacon Stock, the Rev. Mr. Harvey, Dr. Kemp, Mr. J. E. Fitzgerald, Mr. L. Stokes, Mr. Barraud, Mr. R. Hunter, Mr. J. E. Smith, and other vestrymen and churchwardens, assembled at eight o'clock, and the Bishop recapitulated the chief points in the two former meetings which had led to the resolutions before them, stating that the population had increased so much during the last two or three years that it was evident some further provision should be made for the spiritual wants of members of the Church of England, and the erection of a new church and definition of a new parish seemed the most advisable way of meeting the want. The first resolution, " That a new district be formed out of St. Peter's parish, between the cricket ground and the harbor," was now before them, but was found to be too indefinite as to boundaries, and Dr. Kemp proposed as an amendment that Taranaki Street should be made the boundary line between the new parish and that of St. Peters, and this division was adopted. With regard to the suitable site for the new church, it appeared that several likely sections had been examined by some of the members acting as a committee, of which they had selected two as offering the best sites, one in Tory street belonging to Mr: Kebbell, at an upset price of £I2OO for the whole piece of land, with the understanding that any part of it only might be taken at a proportionate rate, and another belonging to Mr. De Castro. The meeting, however, was of opinion that the question of the site should be determined more precisely by a regularly appointed committee, and on Mr. Fitzgerald's motion a committee consisting of His Lordship, the Ven. Archdeacon Stock, Mr. Wallace, and Mr. Sheath, was chosen to take the matter in hand and report at the next meeting. The Bishop stated that from certain communications he had received lately he had learnt that the Rev. Edward Grainger, late incumbent of All Saints Church iu Dunedin, was on his way out to Wellington ; and though he had originally thought of requesting him to take charge of the Patea district, where a minister was urgently wanted, he now thought he would be a good man for the new church, as he was a good promoter and an excellent musician. Mr. Stokes proposed that the minister should be guaranteed £3OO a year including house rent, for six months, the sum to be made up by the parishes of St. Peter's and St. Paul's equally ; but the Bishop was of opinion that Mr. Grainger would not accept the guarantee for six months only, and it was agreed to extend it for a year. The meeting was divided as to the advisability of holding temporary services in the schoolroom while the new church was building, but finally it .was thought best to get as much useful work done as possible without regard to the place of worship. Prom the general expressions of opinion, the churchmen are evidently desirous by the erection of a new church on a suitable site with all conveniei Lt speed to spread the means of imparting spiritual knowledge. The funds for the new church will probably have to bo raised partly by subscription and partly on the security of the site, but those present did not seem to think that any serious pecuniary difficulty would have to be encountered. The meeting broke lip shortly before ten o'clock.