EASTER MEETING, ST. PETER'S, AKAROA.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume VI, Issue 602, 21 April 1882, Page 2

EASTER MEETING, ST. PETER'S, AKAROA.

This meeting, which was held on Wednesday evening, was not largely attended. The Rev. H. Stocker oocupied the chair, and opened proceedings with prayer, as usual, and then called on Mr Westenra, the parishioners' churchwarden, to read the annual report of tho vestry and the statement of accounts.

Mr Westenra then read the report and balance sheet, which were as follows :—

" The vestry in bringing forward their report for the year just ended, congratulate the parish upon their improved position, although the offertories do not come up to last year's amount, more support has been given towards the stipend fund, thus allowing the offertories to go to their legitimate use ; this we may date from the first of the new year. The general offertories for the past year ending 31st March amount to £93 14s Bd, showing a decrease on the previous year's offertories of £8 7s lid, this does not include £3 19s Id received from Robinson's Bay, The special offertories amount to £21 Os 4d, being within 12a of last year's amount. The contributions to the stipend fund are as under:—Akaroa, £161 Is ; French Farm and Barry's Bay, £29 4s 6d ; Robinson's Bay, £16; Total, £206 ss_ 6d. This amount includes some contributions duo to 31st March, 1881 ; also some amounts fully paid to 31st December next. The outstanding liabilities amount to £74 0s 2d, this shows a decrease upon last year's amount of £63 7s Gd. There are still some very old ones outstanding which the vestry hope will bo wiped off during this next year. During the year the Rev. H. Stocker has had the offer of St. Michael's atChrietchurch and other smalier parishes, the vestry take this opportunity o£ congratulating the parishioners upon being able to retain Mr Stocker, and hope they will show in a substantial manner how they appreciate Mr Stocker's services hy a liberal support to the stipend fund. By the subscriptions of a few, one room and the hall at the Parsonage have been papered this year, and there is still £1 to the credit of this account. Water hae also been laid on to the Parsonage from the creek, and the thanks of the parish are due to Mr Edward 8. Latter for taking the matter in hand and assisting in the work."

BALANCE BIIEET. ItEcsirrs. £ 8 d By balance ... - 38 411 Contributions to Stipend Fund— Akaroa 161 1 0 French Farm and Barry's Bay ... 29 4 6 Ilobinson's Bay. 16 0 0 200 5 6 Offertories— General 93 14 8 Do from Robin - son's Bay ... 319 1 Special Offertories — Tanirna Fund ... 4 0 0 Home Society ... 0 9 3 Sunday School... 0 18 3 Choir Fund ... 0 10 0 Melanesian Mission ... ... 18 3 Maon Mission ... 3 17 2 Church Works Extension Fund . 9 17 5 118 14 1 Subscriptions towards papering rooms at parsonage 7 2 6 Insurance premium on Church at Head of the Bay refunded 111 6 Contribution by Messrs Wiggins & Co. 5 5 G £377 3 6 Expenditure. To Stipend Fund 250 0 0 Special Offertories for quarter ending March 31, 1881— Maori Mission ... 3 2 5 Clergy stipend Aid 3 9 9 6 12 2 Assessment on parish for 1880-1 3 0 0 Cleaning Church, &c 25 0 0 Organ blowing... ... ... 5 0 0 Hahn (labor) 1 18 0 Insurance premium on Church and organ (£740) 6 13 6 ! Do Church at Head of the Bay (£175) 1 11 6 Preston's account (wine) ... 116 0 Foley (repairs to parsonage) .. 17 0 Borough rates 2 10 0 Insurance premium on parsonage (£500) 4 10 0 Papering rooms at parsonage... 6 2 6 Well's account 0 7 0 Edmondson's account... ... 010 0 Freight laid charges on Sunday School books 0 16 0 Goodwin's account 0 7 6 Wiggins & Co.'s account (advertising) 17 14, 6 Special Offertories — Tararua Fund ... 4 0 0 Home Society ... 9 3 Melanesian Mission 18 3 Maori Mission ... 317 2 Church Works Extension ... 917 5 19 12 1 356 7 9 Balance to credit at Bank N.Z. 21 15 9 £377 3 6 Outstanding liabilities—Mountfort £30 16s, Ivess £7 Is (id, Gates £5, Daly £11 10s, Garwood & Co. £9 10s Bd, Hahn £10 2s ; total £74 0d 2d.

The Cemetery balance-sheet showed receipts amounting to £33 19s 7d, and an expendimre of £17 15s, leaving a credit balance of £16 48 7d.

Mr Hcnning moved and Mr Jacobsoii' seconded, That the report and balance sheet be received and adopted.

The Key. Chairman said that before putting the resolution he should like to say a few words. There had been peace and quietness in the parish during the past year, everything having gone so quietly that it seemed almost a pity there was

not some little discussion as it might create interest. There were no specially prominent matters to speak of, but he should like to iefer to the great loss sustained by the parish through Mr Meech having left, as that gentleman had been very useful as a vestryman, member of the choir, and teacher in the Sunday School. As they knew he was so much occupied on the Sunday that he had no chance of going to the Sunday School himself, but under Mr Watkins's superintendence it was getting on well. They were, however, sadly in want of a few more teachern. The choir had been very good during tho year ; they had been regular in attendance and had done their best and made no fuss about it. Mr Nicholls too had been very regular in performing his duties as lay reader. Both Church a< d Cemetery had beon kept in excellent order by Mr Halm. Aβ on previous occasions he might say that they left him nothing to say of their treatment "' of himself but to thank them for their kindness. Mr G. Wright and Mr E. S. Latter were always ready to take him over to the services elsewhere in their boats, one on one side and the other on the other, and without their kindly help he did not know how he should have been able to get through the three services in one day. Mr Sixton also had been always ready to drive him in his buggy. The improvements at the parsonage too had been most acceptable, both the papering and water supply being great comforts to Mrs Stocker and himself. They were done too in a very pleasant manner, without placing him under an obligation. He had nothing more to say than to thank them all. He would now put the resolution.

The resolution was carried unanimously. SUNDAY SCHOOL. The Chairman then called on Mr S. Watkins, the Superiiitend.int of the Sunday school, to make the annual statement regarding the school. Mr Watkins said that including the class taught by Mrs Tosswill at her own house there had been 112 children attending the Sunday School during the year r the average attendance being 82. Aβ Mr Stacker had said they were badly in want of another male teacher. It was a great inconvenience being short of teachers ac lie liked to keep free himself to look over the school generally and take a class in case any teacher was absent. Mr Meech had been a regular attendant and his absence was a great loss. Ho looked upon the Sunday school as being all tho more important, because religion was not taught in the public schools. The Sunday School Library was, as they knew, supported by voluntary subscriptions and they were sadly in want of money fo>- new books as those they had had been read by most of the scholars. It was a pity not to keep it up now it had ieen started. A shilling or two each from the parishioners would enable them to procure manysuitable books. VOTE OF THANKS. A hearty vote of thanks was passed to the retiring churchwardens and vestry.

KLECTION OK OFFICERS. Mr Stacker nominated Mr Wrstenra as his Churchwarden for the ensuing year. Mr Sexton was re-elected parishioner's Churchwarden. The number of vestrymen was fixed at seven, nnd Messrs Billens, Penlinajton, GγWriglit, S. W.itkins, NiclmlL. Mullinn and Jacobson were elected. VOTES OF THANKS. Hearty votes of thanks were passed t'> the organist, the choir, and the Sundny School teachers, The great services rendered hy Mr L. WatkiiiK as organist were specially referred to by several gentlemen present. RENTING OF PEWB IN THE GALLERY. Mr C. Henning said he had one mat*er to bring before the meeting. They all knew how much the Churrh was crowded. Would it not be a good thing to fit up the at present unused gallery with seats, and let the sittings at a reasonable price. He was sure many people would be glad to take them. Mr Westenra snid he was afraid that the gallery if opened might become a resort for boys who might behave themselves badly if they got together at that end of the Church. Mr Watkins was strongly opposed to any seats at all being let in the Church. It was introducing the thin edge of the wedge. In his opinion there should be equality in Church, and the peats should be cpen to all. Benting pews was a very pernicious system. People had been endeavoring to introduce it in Akaroa over and over again for the Inst 10 or 12 years but had always failed and he hoped always would. He would oppose it in every way in hjs power. After v few remarks from others presonfc the Chairman said that Mr Henning , had only brought the matter up as a suggestion for the vestry to consider and had moved no resolution on tho subject. No doubt the vestry would consider the matter at their first meeting. Several gentlemen having expressed their opinion that the gallery might be opened ■to relievo the Church without the seats being rented, the matter dropped. ATTENDANCE. Mr Watkins pointed out the advisableness of vestrymen fihowing people into seats. Many strangers visited the Church and did not know where to go and sometimes when they wanted room four people would occupy a seat that would hold five and allow no one else to enter. This matter was also left over for the vestry to decide and the meeting adjourned.