ST. MARY'S CHURCH. TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMARU HKRAX.D. Sib, — Perhaps you will allow me to ask the church building Committee, through your columns, why it is our church progresses to wards completion at so slow a rate. Ever since the commencement of the addition to the church an adverse fate has overhung the work, and has marked the church more as an object of scandal for the Church members, than an object for their honour. In the first place, the building Committee thought too well of their fellow creatures, and went into an expensive building without the necessary funds m hand, placing faith m the liberality of churchmen, believing that as soon as a building worthy to be called a church was seen to be actually m course of erection, ample funds would flow m. Alas, that expectation was bitterly disappointed, for the funds collected were burely sufficient to build the walls of the edifice. For months the naked walls stood, not a single sixpence being m hand for roof ing and finishing the church. After a long delay, however, the Committee, finding it hopeless to raise subscriptions, resolved upon raising funds by means of debentures, giving as security, as it were, the pew rents. The plan found favor with the public, and (I think I am right m stating) the whole of the de bentures, 45 m number, were taken up. By this means £450 was raised, and I for one looked for immediate activity m the church building, and its completion at an early date. But I fail to see much progress m the work, and at the present rate the work is going on, the church will be completed, perhaps, some time next year. It is not for me to say on whose shoulders the blame lies for this dila toriness, whether on the building Committee, the contractor for the work, or anybody else. I only point out the fault, and trust that by doing so it may be the means of drawing at tention to the matter, and tend to put an end to a scandal which has for so long hung over the Church of England m Timaru. I am, &c, CIVIB.
