No. 21
16 April 1862
I duly received Your Grace's Despatch N
o 67 of the
23rd August
last, conveying your opinion and instructions upon the case of the
Reverend
Edward Cridge, and with respect to the disposition of the
portion of land at
Victoria known as the Church Reserve.
2. The conveyance of
that that part of the land which forms the site of
the Church, and of the Cemetery, can I believe be effected without
any difficulty, in the manner Your Grace indicates; but with respect
to the conveyance to Trustees of the remaining portion of the ground,
designated as the Glebe, "for the use of
the Incumbent" a point has arisen in connection with local
circumstances which probably did not occur to Your Grace, from
ignorance of these circumstances.
3. The portion of ground to be conveyed for the use of the
Incumbent Incumbent
comprises about 20 Acres. At present if utilized it would produce
but a very moderate stipend for the Incumbent; but it is situated in
what will undoubtedly be the very heart of the City, and, in a few
years even, may yield a princely revenue. I therefore propose, and
the Bishop and
Mr Cridge both coincide with me in the arrangement,
that the ground in question should be conveyed to Trustees for
"
the benefit of the Church of England", being subject to the
following charges in the order in which they stand.
1st
1st A suitable stipend (to be fixed beforehand) for the Incumbent
of Christchurch.
2nd The repairs and necessary Expenses for the due maintenance of
Christchurch.
3rd Such Clerical aid at Christchurch as may become necessary.
4th The foundation and maintenance of Schools in connection with
Christchurch.
5th For the benefit of the Church of England generally: that is
to say for the establishment and maintenance of other Churches and
Schools throughout the Island.
4. I believe I
should should be but following Your Graces views were I to
carry out this arrangement of the matter at once, but as the terms of
Your Graces Despatch are distinct—"for the use of
the Incumbent, if local circumstances prevent no obstacle to
that course"—I prefer representing the local circumstances that do
affect the case and submitting the foregoing proposition for Your
Graces sanction.
I have the honor to be
My Lord Duke
Your Grace's most obedient
and humble Servant
James Douglas
Minutes by CO staff
Duke of Newcastle
I think the reference is hardly necessary. The question is whether
this Land shall be conveyed "to the use of the Incumbent" [or]
to Trustees for the four purposes specified
in
Govr Douglas' letter. I have no doubt that the four purposes
are best. The only doubt m
t have been whether
Mr Cridge
might not have set up some vested right of his own (for his [life?])
against this generally good disposition. But he is a consenting
party.
Authorize the Govr to proceed as he proposes.
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