ST. PETER'S VESTRY.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 118, 7 September 1877, Page 2

ST. PETER'S VESTRY.

A meeting of the Vestry was held in the Parsonage on Tuesday:.-last ; the chair was taken by the Rev. the Incumbent.

The following members °f tne Vestry ' wgre present—Messrs Gr. H. Saxton, and 11. Wagstaff (churcli wardens), E. C. Latter, W." Penlington, J. Curry, A. K. Harlock, and A. I. McGregor. ' The .Caairman said the first business he had to bring before the Vestry was the action he had taken to procure a locnm tenens during his twelve months' leave of absence. The steps he had' taken was to write to the Primate and the . Dean of Christchurch, and to advertise in the Church News. He was glad to say that he had been in correspondence with a very eligible man, tho Rev. P. C. Anderson. The Primate approved of Mr Anderson's coming to this diocese, and had written to say that if his arrangements as regards Akaroa were not complete, he (the Primate) would be glad to give him work in another part of the diocese. He did not think it necessary to say anything about the correspondence that had appeared in the Akaroa Mail, that spoke for itself. The matter was now in the hands of the Vestry. They were aware of the circumstances that led to his applying for leave ; and he was sure they would all feel that, for the sake of the church, he would endeavour to get the best man he could, and one that, with God's blessing, would, he trusted, unite the- whole congregation and further the work of the Church in the parish. Mr Wagstaff (peoples' churchwarden), moved, and Mr Latter seconded, " That the Vestry endorse the action taken by the Rev. Incumbent to provide a locum tenens during histwelve months'leave of absence, and the Vestry are willing to accept the Rev. P. C. Anderson, and to continue to him for one year from the Ist October the parochial guarantee of .£2OO per annum." Carried unanimously. • The Chairman the Vestry for their resolution, and said the next thing to arrange was, what action they would take in the matter of the body of the late Rev. E. Nevill, which was buried in the church grounds. He had received a letter from the Bishop of Dunedin, a short time before, in which he expressed his readiness to remove the body if the Vestry desired it, but he stated that, with the sanction of the Vestry, he would rather not disturb the body. The Church Property Trustees were prepared, on receiving. an application from the Vestry, to give the necessary permission for the body to remain where it has been interred. The circumstances of the case were well,known to all present. He did not for a moment wish it to be thought he approved of the action which the Bishop of Dunedin took at the time, but when it was considered that it was now more than eighteen months since the burial, he thought it would be a pity to disturb the remains.

Mr Latter said his own feeling was, that the body ought not to be removed.^ Several members of the Vestry having expressed a similar opinion, Mr H. Wagstaff moved, and Mr John Curry seconded, " That this Vestry, taking all the circumstances of the burial of the late Rev. E. Nevill into consideration, and the length of time that has elapsed since the interment, are unwilling to cause the removal' of the body, but do hereby recommend'the Church Property Trustees to sanction the body remaining in its present position. The fact of this burialhaving taken place in the ground adjoining the church is not to be a precedent for any future interments." Carried unanimously. It was arranged that a Church Meeting and Conversazione be held on the occasion of the visit of the Lord Primate at the end of the month, and that arrangements be made to have refreshments, but not a set out tea; the admission was settled at one shilling. The following accounts were passed for payment:—W. Penlington, on Parsonage, £4 15 0 ; insurance on church, £4 10 0 ; H. Watkins, £3 18 0. In answer to Mr Latter, the Chairman stated that the only liability on the parsonage was the architect's fees, amounting to £28 ; if the Vestry agreed he would allow the articles which remained over from the bazaar, and which consisted of some of the best and most valuable of the goods they had for sale, to be sold at his auction, which was to take place in a few weeks. He thought the proceeds would nearly if not wholly pay Mr Mountfort's account. This proposal was accepted by the Vestry. Mr Wagstaff, in bringing the state of the parochial fund before the Vestry wished, in the first to place, to say that he had only accepted office to enable the work of the church to be carried on, and that at the cud of the month he intended to resign bis churchwardensliip, as he really had not time to carry out the duties as he would like. He wished the Vestry distinctly to understand that he only held himself responsible for the monies paid into his hands since Mr Fenton's resigna- ; tion. With the accounts prior to thatj date he had nothing to do, and as no accounts had been rendered he was not in a position to speak. As far as he could learn there was a quarter's in arrear to the clergyman. The first time such a thing had occurred since he came to the parish. There would be a second quarter due at the end of the present month, the half-year amounting to £100 there would also be £13 for a half year, cleaning church, &c, about £10 for insurances, candles, and kerosine, and there was an old debt of £23 duo to the Incumbent for the difference between his allowance for rent and the rent he had to pay before a parsonage was provided. In connection with the Church Extension, when the several promised subscriptions were paid, there would remain to be made up £20. and £14 6s for the chairs for seating the new part of the chwrch. To meet these liabilities there was £50 in the Bank, leaving £130 to be made up throughout the whole parish before the end of the month. Mr Latter said this was a very large amount to make up in so short a time. He would do all he could with the persons living in his part of the parish. Mr Saxton undertook to make the collections in Robinson's Bay. The remainder of the parish was then divided amongst the other Vestrymen, and peisonal canvass of the whole district resolved on a

Mr Harlock wished to call the attention of the Vestry to a letter that iappeared in the Akaroa Mail, evidently alluding to him. He protested against the style of the letter and the accusations made against him,-as he assured the Vestry he was not

the author of the letter, nor had he the least idea who the writer was. He would read a leiter from the editor, Mr McGregor said he must rise to order. He did not think the subject was one for the Vestry to go into. The Chairman' said there was one statement- the letter signed "Late Tarish Churchwarden." which he would like to explain, the writer slates " the Incumbent's stipend been punctually paid to the end of the quarter previous.to the resignations being sent in." The facts the subscriptions to the Parochial Fund were due on the 31st May. Mr Fentori's resignation was not sent in till the 17th June, so that the funds to meet the stipend, due 30th June, ought surely to have have been collected before tho 17th. It was very unpleasant for him to have to allude to these matters, but he thought the parish ought to know exactly how matters stood. He had written to ask Mr Saxton for the sake of the church to continue his office of churchwarden.

Mr Saxton said that under the circumstances, he would accede to Mr Cooper's request. The Vestry was then adjourned till Tuesday 11th inst., at 7 p.m.