ST. PAUL'S PARISH.

Auckland Star, Volume II, Issue 323, 21 January 1871, Page 2

ST. PAUL'S PARISH.

PARISHIONERS' ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Paul's was held in the school-room, last evening, the Rev. C~. M. Nelson in the chair. There was a moderate attendance. The minutes of the last meeting were read aucl confirmed. Mr. Wheat-man, hon. secretary, read the following report: — " Report of St. Paul's Vestry, from"the 30th of June to the 31st December, 1870. '•' The Vestry elected by the parish on the loth July, 1870, have now, in accordance with the statute amended at the last session of the Diocesan Synod, to resign their office. By the altered regulation the meeting of parishioners has to be held in the month of January instead of July, as heretofore. The Vestry have therefore" to give an abstract of accounts for the past sis months, and a report of their proceedings during that period. According to the accompanying abstract it will be seen that, the total receipts from all sources have been £536 13s 4Ad, and the total expenditure has been £446" 6s l£d, leaving a balance in hand of £00 7s 3d. Theliabilitiesoft.be parish, at the close of the year, amounted to £75 12s Gd, due to the Bishop, being a balance of passage money of the Rev. C. &£. Nelson from England. This debt the j Vestry hope to discharge as soon as the en- | dowrnent for the past six months, due on the 31st ult., has been paid in. The proceedings of the Vestry have been as follows : At their first meeting (29th July, 1870) they elected a3 parish nominators, Messrs. Lewis, Nolan, and Copland. The salary of the organist was increased to £40 per annum, | and that of the organ-blower and bellringer j to £10 per annum. They also resolved that the school-house should be re-shingled, and the inside color washed ; and that more benches should be provided. This work is now in course, and the Vestry hope that in a few days it will be completed. It wa3 also decided that a subscription list, for a-new organ, be at once opened.—At their second meeting (October 21st), the Vestry elected Mr. W. D. Lysnar a3 vestryman, in the place of Mr. Hugh Morrow, who resigned on account of removal from Auckland. It wa3 also decided that the salary of the verger should be increased to £40 per annum.—At their third meeting (January 3rd, 1871), Messrs. Hughes and Hammond were appointed auditors of the accounts for the six months ending December 31, 1870. They have audited the accounts for the pnst half-year, and find them to have been carefully kept and correct ; vouchers for i all sums paid have been produced to them. The Vestry have to report that both the day and Sunday-schools are in a satisfactory state. The numbers show a slight increase in each case since the 30th June last. With respect to the subscription list for a new organ, the Vestry have thought it well, considering the depression of the times, and the calls which have .been made upon the parish lately to help in Church work, to let the matter rest for a while, but they now commend the project seriously to the notice of the parishioner-. The old organ is constantly getting out of order, and in the opinion of authorities consulted it is not expedient to spend any large amount of money upon it, as, even with such expenditure, it-would scarcely satisfy well the musical requirements of St. Paul's Church. The Vestry therefore hope that an effort will be at one; made by the parish to procure the necessary sum for the construction of an organ /it for the church and for it 3 services.— We approve of this draft—E. G-. Hughes, Edward Hammond."

It was resolved that the report be adopted and printed. Mr. W. D. Lysnar was elected Parish Warden, Mr. Lewis, who had held the office for a number of years, definitely declining to stand, in consequence of ill-health, and the amount of work connected with the office. Mr. Payne was then re-elected Minister's Warden. The following parishioners were then duly elected vestrymen for the following year:—Messrs. Copland,. Dyason, Flower, Hammond, Hughes, Lewis, Nolnn, Oakley, R>. J. Payne, and Wlieatman. Mr. Hughes proposed, and it was resolved, <: Thn,t the thanks of the parish be returned to Mr. Lewis, in a written address, for his services as Parish Warden." During the past nine years he had conducted the affairs of the pariah in a manner highly creditable to himself.

The CiIAIEiXAN remarked that during the short time he had known Mr. Lewis he had worked well and heartily for the pariah.

It was proposed by Mr. Dyason, and resolved, "That the thanks of the vestry be given to Mr. Wheatly for his valuable services as hon. secretary."

In answer to a question from one of the parishioners the Chaibjian stated the boundaries of the parish as defined by the Diocesan Synod last session.

It was then proposed that there be an offertory at the service to be held on Wednesday evening next, being St. Paul's Day, and that it be devoted to the organ fund.

A vote of thanks was then given to the chairman, and duly acknowledged. The meeting then separated.