Wellington Diocesan Synod

Taranaki Herald, Volume XLVII, Issue 11341, 6 October 1898, Page 2

Wellington Diocesan Synod

BIBHOP WALLIS' ADDRESS. |PFB PBEBB ABSOOIAIIOrf. I Wellington, October s.— The Anglican Synod for the diocese of Wellington opened this afternoon. Ihe Bishop of Wellington, in his opening address, said money hai been collected to pay the passage from England and defray the maintenance of a trained woman to undertake work among fallen women. The total sum received aud expended in the diocese duriog the past year exceeded £19,000, a record for the diocese,- and just twic9 the amoant received and expended eight years ago. He referred at some length to the stipends of tbe clergy in New Zealand, Maori missions, and the General Synod. In regard to religious education in schools he expressed disappointment that it was neglected, and suggested the formation of Leagues and Associations ail over the country to further the object, and urged that advantage Bhould be taken of the opportunity of teaching children at the schools after hours. Regarding the boundaries of the diocese, he thought it probable that they would be asked to include in their diocese the whole of the Taranaki province. As they knew, this change could not be made without their consent and that of the diocese of Auckland ; but it was felt by the Synod that the Wellington diocese was already sufficiently large The population exceeded a third of the population of tbe North Island, and was increasing more rapidly than that of any other diocese. Again, he was assured by most persona in Taranaki whom he consulted that commercial relations connected the north part ot the province more closely with Auckland than with Wellington and the connection would be strength 1 * ened if the railway line between Auckland and the south was made to pass through Stratford ; and, lastly, churchmen at New Plymoiath bad good reason for counting their town of sufficient im portance to be the centre of the new Diocese and the province of Taranaki large enough for a bishop's supervision. If they were successful in their effortß to raise the endowment, Wellington would have to submit to the loss of the districts of Patea, Hawera, and Eltham and the Waimate Plains.

MR BROWN, MH.R, AND HARBOUR MASTERS RESIDENCE. The following correspondence which ex- ' plains itself has been placed at our disposal:—

New Plymouth, Sept. 28, 1898. Henry Brown, E*q, M.H.R , Wellington. Dear Sir,— The Harbour Board has for some time past been trying to acquire from the Government a small piece of land close to the breakwater on which to erect a residence for the Harbour ( .\Taster. The Government, I understand, is favourable, but replied that legislation is necessary before the land can be vested in the BoarJ. The Harbour Master his been put to great inconvenience during the winter, but the Board and he are looking forward with "onfiidence to acquiring the site this session. • This afternoon Mr Richard Cock, J.P., of this town stated to Mr Paul, Major - Ellis and myself that a few days ago while he was in Wellington the lion Mr Hall-Jones informed him that a Bill had been introduced by Government, which would if passed have the desired effect, but that you had "stonewalled" it , assigning as your reason that you had uot received any instructions or request from the Harbour Board on the subject. I told Mr Cock that I did not believe the statement to be true, and that I would write to you on the subject, and he replied that he had not the slightest objection to my doing so, an<i that Mr HallJones had made him understand that it ; was his wish that the publ c should know of your conduct in this particular matter. lam sending a copy of this letter to Mr Cock. — Toura truly, Oliver Samuel. Wellington, September 30th, 1898. • , Dear Mr Samuel, — Your letter of 28th inst. referriog to certain statements made by Mr Kichard Cock, J.P., is now before lie, and I thank you for the information contained therein. On receipt of your letter I at once placed a question on the order paper ior Tues» 'day next to the effect th it I would ask Mr Hall- Jonea it Mr Cock had correctly reported the conversation that took place between them. The first I heard of the wishes of the Harbour Board wa9 in December, 1897, when the "Reserves Endowments, and Crown and Native Lands Exchange, Sale, Disposal and Enabling Bill " wan introduced The Harbour Bo"ard had at that time not communicated with me on the eu' ject. This . Rill was read a Becond time after a very >hort debate. On the motion to go into committee on this Bill on 20th December th i Premier brought down a new clause which was strenuously opposed by Mr Hone Heke, and, I think, other members of the native race. I did not utter a single word during the discussion, but voted on a division with Mr Heke in a minority. The Bill was discussed for some time in committee and progress was reported. The next day, 21st December, the last day of the session, this Bill came on again and after a short discussion progress was reported on the motion of Mr Seddon, who wanted to get the Supplementary Estimates and the Appropriation Bill passed. As far as I remember I did cot utter a word while the Bill was in Committee Although considerable opposition was offered to clause 2 of the Bill there was nothing that could be called a stonewall. So much for last session. The Bill in question is one of those carried forward from last session, but has not as yet been before the House this year. Shortly after my arrival here last June, I received a letter- from the Secretary of the Harbour Board, asking , me to push forward the necessary legislation to give effect to the wishes of the Board. Xat once saw the Minister of Lands, who replied in writing, stating that the Bill in question would be pressed through before the end of the session. This letter I forwarded to the Board. I have just received the following from, the Clerk of the House : — '• Questions are not allowed to be asked regarding statements made by members outside the House." : I shall take an early opportunity of bringing the matter up in the House. I am, yours truly, Henry Bbown. i P.S. - You can make what use you like ' of the above.— H.B. j