BIBLE SOCIETY

Press, Volume LXXI, Issue 21419, 11 March 1935, Page 18

BIBLE SOCIETY

WORK OF CANTERBURY AUXILIARY SUCCESSFUL YEAR REVIEWED Regret at the retirement from the position of organising and deputational secretary of the Rev. A. W. Stuart, who has been appointed state secretary for the New South Wales auxiliary, is recorded in the annual report of the Canterbury and Westland Auxiliary of the British and Foreign Bible Society. Mr Stuart has held the position for five and a half years, and the annual meeting of the auxiliary of St. Paul's Church to-morrow will take the form of a valedictory gathering. "During his occupancy of the position of organising secretary in our auxiliary, Mr Stuart has extended the operations of the society in Canterbury so that to-day from Clarence bridge to the Waitaki river there is a continuous chain of active branches," states the report. "About 20 new branches have been added and several areas have been reorganised for greater efficiency. Westland was added to our territory in 1931, and operations have been extended to Karamea in the north and Weheka in the south. Seven new branches have been formed. In Canterbury and Westland our has approximately 700 voluntary workers inclusive of officers and collectors. Decline in Income "There are 96 branches in Canterbury, and of these 90 functioned while six failed to make return. Forty-seven decreased their returns and 39 increased their collections. Two new branches were formed, one at Glenroy and one at Tekapo. By arrangement with the Otago Bible Society, Kurow, which has been operated by Canterbury for two years, has been handed to the Otago auxiliary. Hakataramea, on the Canterbury side of the Waitaki river, has also been included in this regrouping, and the arrangement is satisfactory to all concerned. In Westland there are 27 branches, and of these 17 decreased their giving, nine increased, and one defaulted. This indicates that there are 123 branches in the Canterbury and Westland auxiliary, and 64 decreased their giving, 48 increased, while seven defaulted. "We note a decline in our income of £59 3s lOd, about £3O, which should have been received for inclusion in the 1934 statement, came to hand in January of the present year. Unaccountably several of our regular contributors in Christchurch failed to make their donations last year, and this meant a severe loss. Yet again, the winter months were distinctly trying with sickness and stormy weather, and the deputation visits were frequently nullified by these conditions. As an offset against this, the bequests by way of legacies have been outstanding. We report with gratitude amounts from the following estates:—Samuel Curry (Robinson's Bay), £SO; Margaret Roberton (Temuka), £SO; Mary Carter (Waimate), £800; George Morgan (Christchurch), £l6; Martha Thomas (Ashburton), £100; total, £lOl6. Clemas Collection "The Dominion secretary, the Rev. David Calder, paid a visit to Christchurch during September, 1934, with the Clemas collection of printed and manuscript Bibles. The exhibition, which was held in tne Gospel Mission Room in Worcester street, was attended by many citizens of Christchurch. About 800 scholars from secondary schools were present at special morning sessions, also students of the Christchurch School of Art and pupils from the Deaf and Dumb Institute, Sumner. Mr Calder also occupied the pulpit in several city churches, and he visited some of the Christchurch branches with the Clemas collection.. "Once more we record our appreciation of the services of our honorary workers, Mr W. F. Hilson (hon. secretary and treasurer to the auxiliary), Mr A. A. Bruce (hon. auditor) to the press of Christchurch, and to the courageous band of 700 workers who haye maintained the branch collecting. To those who have befriended and entertained the organising secretary, the committee records its gratitude. "Our regret at the retirement of Mr Stuart is enhanced tremendously by the retirement of Mr W. H. Hilson, our respected and valued hon. secretary and treasurer. Mr Hilson has held these offices for 10 years. All that we ®' uar t we must also say of Mr Hilson, They have been a won-