HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, LYTTELTON.

Globe, Volume III, Issue 262, 14 April 1875, Page 3

HOLY TRINITY CHURCH, LYTTELTON.

The annual pariah meeting was held in the church school on Monday evening ; the attendance was much larger than last year. Dr Donald, clergyman's churchwarden, presided, and opened the proceedings with prayer. The Chairman reviewed the events of the past year. Since they last met circumstances had arisen which had occasioned the resignation of their late incumbent. The vacancy thus caused had been filled by the occasional services of the Most Rev the Primate, the Dean, Rev Mr Jackson, and others. He felt that the thanks of the parishioners were due to these gentlemen, without whose voluntary services they would have had to depend on the ministrations of Jay readers. As regarded the nomination of a new incumbent, he might say that up to the present time the Board of Nomination had not seen their way to a selection ; but he might tell them that there was a speedy prospect of their coming to a decision. In the meantime Rev. J. H. Wills, late of the Ashburton, had undertaken the temporary charge of the parish. He might state that the Primate had appointed him minister's warden, the appointment being vested in the Bishop during the vacancy of the cure. The business of the meeting was to elect parishioners' churchwarden and vestrymen. Dr Rouse said that he was sorry he was not able, as in previous years, to submit to them that evening a balance-sheet of the past year, owing to the pressure of his professional duties and his having suffered from home afflictions. He would suggest that another meeting should be held in a week, when the accounts could be presented properly audited. He then gave the various items of a rough balance-sheet, shewing that the amount collected from offertories was in excess of last year. He referred to the arrears due for seat rents, and said he would lay before them a detailed account of the pew rents due. This he hoped would induce some of the defaulters to pay. During the current year they had had to raise a special sum to secure the services of an organist, and hid a credit of £4 at the end of the quarter. For this result they were indebted to the kind exertions of a number of ladies. As to the general account he believed there was at present a small debit, but he hoped that in a week they would have £3O or £4O to the credit. There was a credit of £4l lis 3d to the cemetery fund. During the coming year certain repairs were urgently needed, as follows:—The parsonage, fencing round the church, and gas required to be introduced into the ohurch. He concluded by moving " That the meeting adjourn till tomorrow week for the purpose of auditing the accounts." Carried. Mr Cotton proposed, Mr F. Ward seconded, " That Dr Rouse be re-elected churchwarden." Dr Rouse said he would rather not be reelected. Mr Parsons had much pleasure in proposing Mr W. L. Edge. Dr Rouse seconded the motion, wh'ch was carried. The following gentlemen were then proposed as vestrymen—Messrs H. R. Webb, Dr Rouse, W. Gr»h*w, G. N. Phillip*, T. A. W.

Parsons, Makeig, A. B. W. Parsons, F. Ward, and R. Cotton. On a ballot being taken, Messrs T. A. W. Parsons, H. R. Webb, Dr Rouse, Phillips, W. Graham, and A. B. W. Parsons were declared duly elected. Mr F. Ward proposed, and Mr Cotton seconded, and it was carried—" That Messrs H. J. V. Rogers and Packard be appointed auditors."

A long discussion then followed as to the manner in which the services of the church were conducted.

Mr H. Allwright asked when it was probable a permanent minister would be appointed ?

The chairman said he could not tell. Mr H. Allwright asked why no one had been yet nominated to the vacant cure 1 The chairman replied that the reason was there was no one to nominate. He had been told by the Primate some time before that in two months from that date there would be a greater opportunity of selection. Votes of thanks to the retiring officers and the chair terminated the meeting.