Meeting of Parishioners

Feilding Star, Volume VII, Issue 21, 30 July 1885, Page 2

Meeting of Parishioners

A meeting of parishioners was held in the St. John's School-room hut night. The Eev. J. Jones, curate, presided. The following report of the vestry for the year ending 30th June, 1885, was read and adopted. Beport of the Vestry of the Parochial Dietrict of Feilding for the year ending 30th Juno, 1885. The year for which the vestry now offer their report has heen marked by considerable church progress. The vestry congratulate the parishioners upon the possession of a commodious church, room for Sunday school and other purposes. The district has now a church, parsonage, and school-room, which together form a material establishment equal to that of any country district in the diocese for completeness and convenience. The new room was first occupied by the Sunday school on Sunday, 19th April, and was formally opened by a tea meeting and concert on Wednesday, 6th May. In the short interval which has since elapsed the usefulness of the room has been found such as fully to justify the anticipations of the vestry. A large increase has taken place in the average attendance at Sunday school which now stands at 80, the previous average being about 55; and the proximity of the room to the church allows the Sunday school to be worked in dose connection with the church services. It is believed also that the expenditure on the room will prove to be a profitable investment by means of the facility thus afforded for holding such entertainments as are not out of keeping with its character as » church room. Permission to use the room for this purpose has been granted by the Borough Council, and the first of a series of entertainments has already been successfully carried out.

In connection with, this subject the vestry desire to note that the church has now finally vacated the Immigration Barracks, which, by the kind permission of the E. & 0. Aid Corporation, has served as a ohurch for sue years, and as a Sunday school room for two years longer. This long continuance of so great a favor was acknowledged by the churchwardens in a letter of thanks to the agent of the Corporation. The attendance at worship maintains its average, and the church work in the dis~ trict continues to increase. Besides the regular services atFeilding and Halcombe, morning-service is now held at Awahuri, and afternoon services atMakino and Taonui, every Sunday. Weeknight services have been held occasionally at Mangaone, Bunnythorpe, and Xiwitea, and arrangements have been made for a quarterly Sunday morning service at the first of these places. Regular Sunday services were held for a time at Bunnythorpe and Stanway, but aranow discontinued. The number of communicants during the year is 125, as against 103 last year. On Easter Day 47 persons communicated at Feilding, and 20 at Halcombe on the following Sunday. The bishop confirmed 22 persons at Feilding and Halcombe. There wore 65 baptisms, 9 marriages, and 6 funerals during the year. The offertory at Feflding for the year is the highest yet attained; But while there are signs of growth and improvement, there is in another direction an increase of a much less satisfactory character. There was a large financial deficiency last year, whichisnow increased by about £40. Part of this is caused by the increased assessment, which has been raised from £235 to £250 for the year/ an increase which facts have thus demonstrated to be premature. It was, however, forced upon the Synod by the necessities . of the diocese, and is only a return to the terms on which, the district was originally arranged; and as the district has been greatly favored by the Synod in previous . years no relief eught to be sought for in /hat direction. Another cause is the deficiency in the amount -promised by the Halcombe portion of the district, and this there is reason to believe will not occur again. But the chief cause of the deficit is that all sums raised by special effort during the year have been applied to the rarposesof the Sunday school building ■" fund, a procedure which the urgent need of the room amply justified. And the inancial statement will not seem unsatisfactory if it is remembered that with an, increase of liability of about £40 we have acquired a building costing £120, the judicious use of which will pay more than interest on its cost. The report of the Sunday school building committee is not yet in, all the business connected with the work being not yet finished, and therefore its accounts do not appear in this; report. The vestry is, however/in a'position to state that their financial con- ' ditionwill not be farther weakened by ~ the production of the report of the buildine - committee, which win shew a small Burplus for vestry purposes.

The vestry desire to express their bigo?"* appreciation of the services of the licensed reader, Mr H. L. Sherwill, and of Messrs t Fry, Slipper, and Gilmer, who have^poted as readers at Makino, Taonui, and Awa- • , huri. They would suggest to the meeting > that a special vote of thanks be aooorded to Mrs Jones and Miss Emily Goodbehere, who have acted as organists during the year They denre also to note, with approval the formation of. a local church committee at Taonui, and of an efficient ' church choir at Awahuri. Such self--reliant efforts in the outlying districts art, '•* calculated to be of mucK assistance, to thai !*" vestry, and are of much value as further^: -f ing the progress of the church., ' 7 - '"•:•■ J. JOSBS, *" : Curate & chairman of v«atry. The balance sheets of the church, wardens and vestry were read and ' adopted. .The. statement of receipt* and expenditure showed— balance to

credit in bank on July Ist, 1884, £5 7s 8d; receipts, £366 18s 3d; expenditure, £371 18s 10d; balance in hand 7s Id. The statement of liabilities and assets showed — liabilities, £190 18s 9dd; assets, £56 6s Id; deficiency, £134 12s Bd. Mr Rutherford proposed, and Mr Gosling seconded, a vote of thanks to the retiring wardens and vestry. — Carried. Mr C. Bray proposed, and Mr Rutherford seconded, a vote of thanks to Mr Goodbehere for his kindness in keeping the accounts of the vestry. — Carried. Mr Goodbehere briefly returned thanks. Mr Gosling proposed, and Mr Sherwill seconded, That a vote of thanks he accorded to Mrs Jones and Miss E. Goodbehere for their services as organists. A vote of thanks to Messrs FitzHerbert and Goodbehere, as auditors ' was passed. Mr.Rutherford asked if any person not present could be elected. The curate replied that he could if the consent of the person nominated was obtained. The curate said he had pleasure m nominating Mr H. L. Sherwill as clergyman's churchwarden. Mr Goodbehere proposed, and Mr Sherwill seconded, Mr C. Bray as parishioners churchwarden. The following were then nominated and duly elected as vestrymen : — Messrs Goodbehere, Barton, Young, Walter Bailey, Haybittie, Rutherford, and Saxon. Mr Edmund Goodbehere was elected auditor. The curate invited discussion on the general church business of the parish. Mr Goodbehere proposed a resolution to the effect that this meeting recognises with approval the fact that a church committee has been formed at Taonui. — Mr Gosling seconded. — Carried. Mr Sherwill said that those who undertook the collection of the general church fund were put to some inconvenience by having to call two or three times on persons for theirsubscriptions. It would be a great convenience if persons would have the few shillings ready that they have to pay. He proposed a special vote of thanks to the collectors. —Mr Bray seconded. — Carried. Mr Sherwill proposed, and Mr Goodbehere seconded, That Messrs Bray, Rutherford, and the mover be appointed a special committee to devise, if possible, some better method of collection. — Carried. A vote of thanks to the curate closed the meeting.