ST. ANDREWS’ CHURCH.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 727, 2 May 1922, Page 5

ST. ANDREWS’ CHURCH.

MEETING OF PARISHIONERS, The annual meeting of ‘the parishioners of St Andrews’ Church, Pukekohe, was held in the church on Wednesday last. The proceedings opened with prayer. The minutes cf the last annual meeting- were read and confirmed. The following address was read by the chairman :—■

“My dear parishioners, —Although the Parochial Districts Statute passed in 1920, regards this, as a meeting of parishioners of this district in particular, rather than of the parish as .a whole, it will interest you to know that services have been regularly .maintained during the past 12 months in Paeralta, Pukekohe, Harrisville andj Puni, in addition to the most considerable centres of population —Pukekohe and Buckland.

Franchise.- —-I may repeat, for the sake of those not already in possession of the fact, that under the statulte any man or wojman who has attained the .age of 21 years and has signed Itlhe usual declaration, provided that he or she has been registered in the churchwarden’s book for two months, may attend and vdte at parish meeting and vote for the election of churchwardens and vestrymen and for the election of Synodsmen, but the authority of the General Synod is still required to enable women to hold office as churchwardens or as members of the /vestry. Finance.—You wilDsee by the balance sheet which will shortly be placed before you that marked success has attended our financial efforts.

Lay Readers. —In consequence of a serious breakdown in health Mr E. H. Solomon was obliged to give up his work in June last, after rendering very acceptable service for a year and a half. But we were fortunate in securing the cheerful assistance of Mr G. D. Pulham and Mr D„ -it. Flavell. Unfortunately, however, the deua:it,ure of Mr Flavell from the district deprived us of his help ; but we are glad that- ithe improvement in the health of Mr J. 8,. Brown has enabled him to come to the aid of Mr Pulham, who for several months had filled the breach single handed. To all of these gentlemen we desire to express our best thanks for their assistance.

Choir.. —Our cordial thanks are due ‘to Miss Ivy Duncan for her painstaking work as organist, not only here but at Pukekohe East and Puni. We desire also to thank these who have come to her assistance from time to time, especially Mrs J. G., Russell and Mr J. F. Deane. At (the same time we wish to express our appreciation of the work of the choir members.

Sunday School,—Our Sunday School considerably increased in numbers during the past year, but the succession of wer Sundays during the quarter jus* closed interfered very much with the attendance. We are fortunate in having a full, complement of teachers, to whom I desire to express my 'Pest thanks for their assist*ance in the discharge of the teaching office of the Church. A small harmonium has been purchased for the infant school in place of the old, piano which was beyond repairing. Ladies’ Guild.—The Ladies’ Guild, which was revived after the last annual meeting, became a powerful organisation during the past year, and contributed very largely to the success of the show in November —our most successful show on record. The difficulty of finding a place of meeting for the Guild was overcome by the kindly aid of Mrs J. W. Johns in putting a room in her house at their disposal. To every member of the Ladies’ Guild and of the Show Committee the thanks of the parishioners are due.

Memorial Gateway.—Since our last annual meeting Mr Bilkey’s handsome present of a gateway and gates on the new church site has been complete! and dedicated. Ic was placed there in memory of the men from this district who. laid down their lives during the war,, hut it will alfeo stand as an example to us and to those who come after us of the fine public spirit shown by the donor in electing it.

Newi Church. —The movement in connection with the new church has pot been lost sight of, though the fund for this purpose is not much larger than it was at this time last yean. But the committee thought It advisable to devote their attention to (reducing the Vicarage debt before making any further appeal regarding the new church, Thanks.—Our thanks are due to Miss Brown for her cai’e of the altar vases to Mrs Haslam, the Church Gazette secretary: to Miss Solomon, Mission Box secretary; to 'the Masonic fraternity for kindly lending their oil lamps during the transition stage of the tec trie light: to the decorators of (lie church at festivities; to the Press for (their full account of parish activities, and to all others who have

In any way helped in the work of the church in the district, and I wish to thank you for your kind Easter offerings. The report and balance sheet, showing a very satisfactory state of affairs, were read, and after discussion at a later stage in the meeting, were adopted. * Election of Officers.— I The Vicar expressed his pleeasure 5n re-electing Mr R. Bilkey as Vicar’s warden. Mr A. F. Brown was unanimously re-elec-ted local churchwarden. It was resolved that 'the Church Committee should consist of ten members, and the following were elected : Messrs L. J. Bayly, R. Bilkey, F. J. B*rown„ A. P. E. E Ingpen, J. W. Johns, H. J. Middlemiss, J. Russell, J. B. Sim, Ernest Wifkinson. Mr K. Bockett was re-appointed, aditor.

The question of altering the hour of Sunday evening services during the winter months was discussed, but as some of those' living at a distance experienced difficulty in attending at an earlier hour it was deemed advisable no,t to make any change this winter. ,

The customary vote of thanks to the Lay Readers, organists, and choir, the Sunday School teachers, Church Committee, Ladies’ Guild, Show Committee, and all other helpers was passed and the meeting closed with the Benediction.