CHURCH MEETINGS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume 2, Issue 187, 3 May 1878, Page 2

CHURCH MEETINGS.

AKAROA

The annual Easter meeting in connection with St. Peter's Church, Akaroa, was held on the 30fch ult., in the Town Hall, Akaroa, at seven o'clock, after a short preliminary service in the church. The attendance was very good, considering the inclemency of the weather, but the absence of the majority of the male members of the congregation can only be deplored as showing a want of interest in church matters in the parish.

The meeting was opened by the reading of a collect and prayer, after which the Chairman, the Rev. P. C. Anderson proceeded with the business portion of the evening by a general review of the church work done in the district, touching also slightly on financial matters. In alluding to the project which had been set on foot for obtaining the services of an additional clergyman for the Head of the Bay, Barry's Bay, and Wainui, the Chairman said that if an annual sum of £200 would suffice, he felt sure that it could be managed. He pointed out also the position the Head of the Bay was at present in as regarded services, and showed how it was impossible for him to give more of his time than was done at present. There was urgent necessity for the appointment of a lay reader in Akaroa, otherwise the Church would be closed one Sunday morning service in each month. This appointment did not rest with himself, but with the parishioners. He would now return his thanks to the outgoing church officers for their valuable assistance during the past year, and also call upon Mr Wagstaff to read the Churchwardens' report.

Mr Wagstaff said : The following is the statement of the Church accounts from 22nd July, 1877. to Easter, 1878 :— RECEIPTS. £ s. d. From contributionsto Parochial Fund, including £32 2s Gd balance at credit of tho account on July 22, 1877 ... 157 10 6 Offertories ... 114 4 3 Borrowed from Cemetery fund 14 4 6 Overpaid by Churchwardens to Churchwardens' account 0 18 11 Total £286 18 2 EXPENDITURE. Minister's Stipend— September 6,1877 ... 50 0 0 October 5, 1877 50 0 0 January 1, 1878 ... 50 0 0 April 1. 1878 50 0 0 Special offertories — Church work extension,.. 7 15 Indian Famine Relief ... 12 4 0 Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge... 1 10 6 Sunday School 3 10 10 Cleaning and lighting church, including amount due on above date, £13 ... .... 26 8 0 Chairs ... ... ' 14 4 6 Organist 5 0 0 Insurance ... ... ... 4 10 0 Sundries 5 11 0 Balance in bank 6 17 11 Total £286 18 2 Mr Wagstaff said: —'• It will be in the recollection of many of you that when I took the office of People's Churchwarden in July last, the books and accounts of the parish were not in the most, satisfactory condition, and a special collection had to. be made to clear off to some extent the liabilities due to the then Incumbent, the Rev. W. 11. Coooper, and for this purpose £67 was collected. But the contributions

towards the general expenses of tlie church since then have not been sufficient to cover the expenditure.

" From 128 names that I have on my list of parishioners, I have scarcely collected (if I except the amount above referred to) £25 during nine months. It is true that the offertories have been very good" during the same time, i about £112 having been collected. ; But I do not think the, parishioners ought to take all the credit of that fact to themselves, for I feel certain that a very considerable portion of the amount collected wasVreceived/ from visitors; Under all -the circumstances, I cannot but remark that there is a want of interest somewhere, when the subscriptions towards the general expenses of the Church fall to so. low an amount, and even that amount, small as it is, is contributed by a small proportion of the parishioners. " I hope, therefore, that the incoming Vestry will receive your hearty support, and that measures will be at once taken to clear off the liabilities at present existing, many of which will not admit of being further delayed.

"My own opinion U, that if every parishioner paid the amount really due, there would be a sufficient sum at the credit of the Churchwardens to pay off every liability. For, as I have already said, from 128 persons whose names I have on the parishioners' list, we have only collected— for the quarter ending December 30, 1878, £19 ; and for the quarter ending April 1, £6 ; and that from less than 40 people, showing really that the remainder have contributed actually nothing at all. This is. a state of things that ought not to continue, and I trust, that some steps will be at once devised of putting matters on a more satisfactory basis, and that the Vestry will be supported in such a manner that their duty will be a pleasure, and not one of continually dunning for funds, or being dunned for accounts they have not the means of paying. The balance-sheet I have placed on the table will give an explanation of the present state of the parish accounts as far as I have had the honor to keep them, and I shall be happy to give any information in my power to any member requesting it, and with an urgent appeal to all to assist in the work we are engaged in, I leave the matter in your hands."

On the motion of Mr Henning, seconded by Mr R. Noofian, the Churchwardens' report was adopted.

The Chairman nominated Mr A. Westenra as his Churchwarden for the ensuing year.

Mr Westenra stated his willingness to accept the office, and to assist in every way possible.

Sir McGregor, seconded by Mr J. D. Garwood, proposed Mr H. Wagstaff as Parishioners' Churchwarden, which was duly accepted by Mr Wagstaff.

On the motion of Mr H. Bridge, seconded by Mr R. Noonan, the following gentlemen were then-elected as Vestrymen for the ensuing twelve months:— Messrs A. C. Knight, T. S. Baker, W. Pawson, J. Curry, H. Watkins, S. Watkins. W. Penlington, A. I. McGregor, A. Nicholls, W. Henning.

Mr A. K. Harlock, superintendent of St. Peter's Sunday School, then read the following report:—

" St. Peter's Sunday School, Akaroa,

"To the Rev. P; C. Anderson, Curate in

charge St. Peter's Parish, Akaroa. " Your Superintendent begs to forward report of average attendance .and progress of children attending the above school.

'• It is now two years since your Superintendent took charge of the school; the number on the roll at that time was 89, and the average attendance 45. There are now 124 children on the roll, and the average attendance is 74.

" While acknowledging the valuable assistance of the teachers who have during the past year assisted in the work of the school, your Superintendent cannot but regret there are not more male teachers to be found willing to assist in the work that must by all be admitted to be of the first importance. " Your Superintendent would remind parents and all interested in the religious education of the young in the parish, that it is impossible to carry on a Sunday School unless money is subscribed for the purchase of bibles, hymn-books, reward tickets, &c. He would, therefore, ear nestly appeal for the necessary funds for this purpose. "If the general management of the school is considered satisfactory by the parishioners, your Superintendent is willing to continue for another three months. ' , " A. K. Harlock, " Superintendent "St. Peter's Sunday School.- ---" Eastertide, 1878/' " s - . Mr Penlington moved, seconded by Mr Nicholls, that the report be adopted. Carried. The Chairman then moved a vote of thanks to Mr Harlock for the zeal and interest taken by him in the Sunday School. Mr McGregor asked whether there was information to hand respecting the new organ. Mr J. D. Garwood replied that there was a sum of £14 lying in the Savings Bank in his name, forming the nucleus of a fund toward the purpose of purchasing a new organ. This sum he would be happy to see increased. This concluded the business portion of the evening, and an adjournment was made by "some of those present, to ■ the anterooms where a substantial tea had been prepared, refreshments being also handed round in the Hall.. The songs, readings, and i'nstumental music were then proceeded with, the various items being very pleasingly rendered.

The Rev. T. Flavell's lecture on " The Art of Public Speaking" was an admirable piece of elocution, both instructive and interesting, and we have only to regret that Mr Flavell's lecturehad to be shortened owing to the lateness of the hour, and hope that the reverend lecturer will afford us another intellectual treat of this nature before leaving Akaroa, say for the benefit of the Sunday School.

The following was the programme:— Overture, piano, Mr Fenton; glee, Miss Gray, Messrs Nicholls, Billens, H. Bridge ; reading, Mr Nicholls; piano and cornet* Messrs Fenton and Daly ; lecture " The Art of Public Speaking," Rev. T. Flavell; anthem, "Thine, 0 Lord," Miss Gray, Messrs H. Bridge, Nicholls, and Billens; duet, Miss Connell and Master L. Watkins ; reading, Rev. P. C. Anderson ; song, " I sit and dream of thee," Mr H. Bridge; song, " Only a face at the window," Miss Gray ; reading, Mr H. Bridge ; pianp and cornet, Messrs Daly and Fenton. The Rev. Mr Douglas then made a few

appropriate remarks, and alluded to the friendly relations which had always.existed between himself and the Clergymen and members of the Church of England in this place. He trusted they would continue to work harmouiously together and' that a blessing might attend their united efforts for good. j The Chairman having pronounces the Benediction, the playing of the National Anthem brought the evening's proceedings to a close. LITTLE RIVER. The Little River Easter meeting took place in the schoolroom, on Saturday, the 27th, at 7 o'clock p.m. The meeting was not very largely attended. The Rev. E. R. Otway occupied the chair. Tlie llev. Chairman explained the object of the meeting, which was to receive the statement of accounts, and to elect Churchwardens and Vestry for the ensuing year. The accounts, which were duly audited, showed receipts amounting to £33 17s lid, and an expenditure of £32 3s 4d, leaving a balance of £1 14s 7d iri hand. The accounts as read were received. The following gentlemen were then elected Churhwardens, viz :—Messrs H. E. Tyson and W. Coop. The Vestry as nominated to tho Bishop were Messrs G. W. Wastropp, M. Fitton, James Reynolds, and W. Birdling, Jun. r Votes of thanks were accorded to Mr G. W. Westropp as lay reader and to Miss Alice Coop for her assistance at the harmonium. Immediately afterthe church meeting, the Church Building Committee met. Present —All the members. It was resolved to clear the acre of church site from all undergrowth, &c., preparatory to the erection of the Church which will be proceeded with at once. The meeting closed with the Benediction.