LYTTELTON PARISH MEETING.

Globe, Volume V, Issue 579, 27 April 1876, Page 3

LYTTELTON PARISH MEETING.

This meeting took place at the Church schoolroom on Tuesday night last. The attendance was good, the best for years. Proceedings, as usual, commenced with prayer. The Rev E. 0. Lloyd said that, in opening the meeting, he had nothing particular to say except that he saw every prospect of being very happy in Lyttelton. They would now proceed to business, and he would call upon Mr Edge, the parishioners’ churchwarden, to read the balance sheet for the past year. Mr Edge then read the ba’anco sheet, which was as follows Receipts—Balance in hand from last year, £4O 3a 6d; general offertories, £205 14s 2i; special do, £39 12s ; parochial do, £2O 8s Id; pew rents, £137 18s 9d ; organ fund, £2O 14s ; total, £477 10s 6d. Expenditure—£ll6 10a 8d ; balance in bank, £6O 19s lOd ; total, £477 10s 6 1. Dr W. Donald, clergyman’s churchwarden, rose to move the adoption of the balance sheet; he congratulated the parish on the state of the finances. The year that had closed had not been an uneventful one in the parish. When last they met the incumbency was vacant, and considerable impatience had been shown at their being so long in appointing a clergyman ; but now, looking'back, he thought they would acknowledge the wisdom they had manifested in not making too hasty a choice; the fruits of their waiting.being the residence among them of a minister they had all learned to esteem and love. That the services now held were acceptable to most, was proved by the increase of the offertories aod the attendance, and the latter was a question deserving their special attention, as it had now become a matter of difficulty to find sufficient room, and before another year they would have to arrange for increasing the accommodation. He viewed this increase in the attendance with the greatest pleasure, as it proved a very satisfactory state of things. His speech might be considered as a valedictory one, as tonight he concluded twenty five years’ service as churchwarden at Lyttelton—the Rev Mr Lloyd having been good enough to spire him further labour. During that long term he had done his best to administer the parochial and other interests. Last year they had had for the first time a credit balance at their banker’s, and they exulted in it, but this year it must be a pleasure to all to know that it was nearly doubled. He had another little account to read to them, that of the church repairs fund. This fund had been raised by subscriptions, &c,; they comm l need the year with a balance of £7 Ils, and had had been able to increase it to the sum of £lO6 3s Id. This sum had been at their disposal for necessary repairs to the parsonage, which they were all aware was in a very bad state prior to the arrival of their new Incumbent. At that time some of the rooms were perfect shower baths gratis, and they had decided to try the effect of cementing the front, which proved a great success. They had also to expend £4 16s in giving the house a thorough cleaning. An architect’s advice had also to be procured and paid for, and the balance now in their hands was £34 9s 3d. Against this, however, was a claim of £42 odd shillings for fitting the church with gas, and he would ask them to pay the few shillings necessary to be added out of the general fund to their credit at the bank. He would ask them to put another portion of the surplus funds towards an addition to the stipend. In the poor times, when everything was bad, they had guaranteed the minimum stipend of £2lO per annum, but he thought in these prosperous times they should add to this. However, this was for them to decide. He sincerely hoped that the church would go on and prosper both outwardly and spiritually. There was one other matter to speak of, and that was the cemetery fund. There was now a sum of £44 14s 3d to its credit, and he hoped a sufficient sum would soon be raised to erect a mortuary chapel. There were many cases in which it was not desirable to bring corpses into the church. If such a chapel were erected It would, he was sure, conduce to the public comfort and public health. He begged to move the aloption of the balance sheet. Feconded by Dr Rouse and carried. Mr Edge proposed a vote of thanks to the ladies who had collected money for repairs to parsonage, organ fund, and lighting church with gas, and to members of choir ; also to Mrs Bouse for her donation of offer tory bags. They were much indebted to these ladies and the choir for these services, rendered at considerable personal inconvenience. Seconded by Mr J. O. Boddington and carried. A vote of thanks to the vestry, churchwardens, and vestry, was moved by Mr Cotton, seconded by Mr F. Ward, and carried. The Rev Mr Lloyd had much pleasure in joining in with these votes of tha’ ks. Ho thanked the choir and vestry personally for the cordial manner in which they had worked with him, and particularly so in the case of Dr Donald. The way in which that gentleman had spoken had much affected him. He was sure the thanks of himself and of all his prcdecesssors were due to Dr Donald for the manner in which he had filled the post of clergyman’s churchwarden for so many years, but at the same time he was of opinion that the burden should not be thrown on one man, but should be shar d by the residents. They must not think that in claiming his right of selecting his own man he had any intention of slighting Dr Donald ; no one could have received greater kindness from that gentleman than he had, and he was sure none had more appreciated it. Their next business was to elect churchwardens and vestry for ensuing year. The chairman then nominated Dr Rouse as his churchwarden. Mr F. Ward proposed Mr Edge as'parishioner’s churchwarden. During the past year he had proved himself a very fit man for the post. _ This was seconded by Captain Gibson. Mr Edge refused to stand, He thought some other gentleman should give a portion of his time to the work ; in fact he approved of a general change. He begged to propose Captain Gibson for the post. Seconded by Mr W. B. Allwright and carried unanimously. Captain Gibson returned thanks; he would do bis beat to look after the interests of the parish. M r Oarrell said that as Mr W. Graham received emolument from the church, he was not eligible for election as vestryman, but he found they had the power, by passing a special resolution, of enabling him to stand ; he thflßSf<fte moved— “ That this meeting consideipar W. Graham eligible for the post of vestryman.” This was seconded by Mr Hillier and carried.

Messrs W. Graham, F. Ward, T. A. W Parsons, Captain Rose, A. B, W. Parsons, H. R. Webb, and W. B. Allwrigbt were then proposed for vestrymen, and a ballot was taken, -resulting in the election of the last six. Dr Rouse said he felt deeply the mark of confidence placed in him by Mr Lloyd in naming him as his churchwarden, and would be happy to accept the office and do his best. Dr Donald had touched on one or two subjects it would' be necessary for them to con side? before long ; one of them wan church ac-.oramodation ; they must either enlarge the church, or utilise the plot of ground in Damoier’s Bay by building another church there'. This would no doubt engage the attention of the present vestry. The building a small church on the site named would, he thought, he productive of great benefit, and was quite possible, as there was not only the ground, but a considerable sum of money accruing as well as a small endowment. Lyttelton was getting so large, the shipping in particular having so largely increased, that there was too much work for one minister to do, and an assistant curate would be a great relief to the Incumbent. He merely threw this out as a hint; the matter would have to be fully considered by the vestry during the year. On the subject of the position of the parsonage, he thought they should get the consent of the Church Property Trustees to sell the Ripon street properly, andgeta more central site. It was great toil for the Incumbent to have to climb tbe hill to the present parsonage many times a day, and he thought, with land at its present price, they could get enough to erect another parsonage, and no doubt the Rev Mr Dudley, who had given three sections in Winchester street for the schools, would allow one of them to be used for building a parsonage on. He had a proposition to make, but had some delicacy in doing so. Their finances were in a flourishing state, and they could not use a part of their money better than in increasing the Incumbent’s income. It was a disgrace that in a parish like Lyttelton, where to much money was spent in pleasure and vice, the very smallest possible sum should be guaranteed for the support of the clergyman. He begged to propose “ That in the opinion of this meeting, in the present promising state of church finances, the slip; nd guaranteed by the parish to the incumbent be atonce raised to £‘2so, and that those present will do their best to enable the vestry to carry this out; and that asum proportionate to i he ti mo (hat our i ecumbont has been among us, to raise his stipend, to that amount during his term of office already past, be appropriated from the balance now in the bank.” On the motion of Mr Nalder Dr Donald took the chair. The chairman having resumed his seat, he returned thanks for the.ir kind sympathy ; os he told them when he first arrived, he came there to work for the good of the church and the souls of the people. Dr Donald said a v®te of thanks should be passed to the auditors, Messrs Rogers and F. Graham for their kind services ; he had much pleasure in moving a resolution to that effect, and also that they be asked to act again. Carried unanimously. Dr Donald said there was one more question he wished to speak of, and that was the unsatisfactory way in which the organist’s stipend was raised. The lad>es did not like begging for this money. The sura they paid was only £45 par annum, and surely this could be raised by four offerMr’ Mahler said that as the matter of church extension had been touched on ho should like to say a few words. He thought it a matter of great importance, and if this meeting approved, should like to see a commiDee formed, including members of the vestry, to consider the whole matter. Ha would some gentleman to propose such a resolution. With reference to the cemetery, he was of opinion that it should be removed from its present site. It was getting overcrowded, and it was better to take this opportunity to get another site out of the town now, than to wait till such a course became difficult. There were several good sites to be had out of the town, particularly one on the Sumner road, and he thought it would be unwise for this reason to expend money on a mortuary chapel, which would have to be moved shortly, as no doubt the Board of Health would interfere if burials were long continued in the present ground. He hoped the townspeople would take the bull by the horns, and adopt some scheme for removing the burial place outside the town. He and others, though not able to attend as vestrymen, yet took warm interest in church matters. The Rev Mr Lloyd said lhat with regard to increased church accommodation he was of opinion it was far more desirable to build another church, than to remove the parsonage, as he thought the former obj 'ct of far more importance. The one object of his ambition was to see a church erected in Dampier’s Bay. He was glad to see gentle men not in the vestry took such interest in the work. Ho would much rather see a new church than have the old one added to. Mr Hawkins thought they had better defer building the Dampier’s Bay church to some future date, instead of going to the expense now. Many were interested in the church who could not attend the vestry. As to (he cemetery its removal was a most important matter, and ought to engage their earnest attention. He should be happy to help on the committee. Mr G. Taylor understood that unless the site in Dampier’s Bay was not utilised within two years the endowment was forfeited. Mr W. Graham said the endowment was £75 per annum, and had been made perpetual. Dr Donald said it was not possible to enlarge the present church. They would have to build on the Dampier’s Bay site, and at first alternate services could be held. Ihe expense need not be great, as they could erect a building plain, but capable of ornament afterwards. A church holding 100 seats would do at first. A Sunday school was also much needed in that locality. He hoped Mr Nab’er would not stop, but would move that certain gentlemen be placed on such a committee. Mr F, Graham then rose and proposed Dr Donald, Messrs Hawkins, Nailer, Edge, and the mover, with power to add to their number, as members of the sub committee to consult with the churchwardens and vestry re church accommodation and removal of cemetery. He thoroughly hoped to see the church erected in Dampier’s Bay. _ Mr Boddingtonbadmuch pleasure in seconding the election ofthe proposed committee, but as°Mr Graham had indicated his feelings on the subject of church extension, he (Mr B.) begged to say that his was entirely in the

opposite direction, as he thought the time had not yet arrived for Lyttelton requiring two churches. Much better extend and improve the ['resent one, and by making that more comfortable and attractive, a greater number would be induced to attend. Dr Donald had a vote of thanks to propose, Their suffrages had excluded one gentleman from the vestry who had many years woiked for the church, he alluded to Mr W. Graham, Mr Edge had mich pleasure in seconding this. He thought Mr Q-aham had been treated very badly. It was bad taste to exclude a gentleman who for years and years had worked for the Lyttelton church. During his year of office he hid found Mr Graham indefatigable. Ho had always been ready to undertake any duty, no matter how undesirable, for the good of the church. Resolution carried. Mr Graham said that he was at first very much disappointed when they had rej .-ctcd h : m, and his first impulse had been, to retire altogether. Ho had made up his mind for some time to give up all woik but that for the Church. On refl :ction he thought it his duty still to go cn and hold office He wished (hem to help him on Sunday in his position as verger and come early to Church. The Rev Mr Lloyd said he took it that the reason Mr Graham had not been elected a vestryman was because it was a m-itter of principle with Close who voted that a salaried officer should not hold the position of vestryman ; it was not a question of personal dislike.