KAIAPOI PARISH MEETING

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1913, 12 April 1880, Page 3

KAIAPOI PARISH MEETING

The Easter meeting of parishioners of the Church of England was held on Friday evening in the Sunday Bchoolroom. Nineteen were present and four ladies. The Rev. D. O. Hampton, curate in charge, presided. A letter was read from Mr O. Whitefoord, apologising for being unable to attend, but expressing his willingness to fill any office to which he might be elected. Mr E. Bevell, churchwarden, read a statement of the accounts, duly audited, showing the receipts to have been £252 14s lid, and a balance in hand of £27 17s 9d, against which there were outstanding liabilities, including three quarters of the stipend, £lO9 14s sd. An amount of £4O was due to the parish from'the Church Property Trustees for repairs to the parsonage. The accounts were adopted, it being decided that in tulure the cemetery account should be kept separate from the general account. The Chairman stated that, during the year there had been daily morning prayers in the church, and during Lent and Advent also evening prayers. The Holy Communion had been administered by him in the church on all saints days, on every Sunday, either at morning or midday, and at the high festivals of Christmas and Easter at both those times. In addition to conducting th„- children's services and the services at the Island, he had acted as superintendent of the Sunday school till the beginning of this year, when Mr Porter had undertaken that position. There had been a total of thirty-five baptisms, five or six marriages, and twenty-seven deaths, at all of which he had, he believed, officiated. In addition to these duties it had fallen to his lot to take charge of the choir, in which he hoped to be relieved. He had outside these duties visited as much as he possibly could. During the year a spirit of unify appeared to have commenced, and he hoped by the blessing of God they would become united, and overlooking trivial things, they might all strive to promote the good of the Church and the spread of the G-oßpel of Christ. Though sorry to see the accounts behind, it was to be j hoped that under a better syetem the debt I would be removed. He concluded by asking Mr E. Bevell to allow him to nominate him as his ohurchwarden.

Mr Bevell consenting, was declared duly elected.

Mr Porter proposed, Mr Roll seconded, the nomination of Mr Caleb Whitefoord as people's warden, which was agreed to. Messrs W. W. Storr, O. E. Dudley, H. James Brown, A. Brundel, and J. O. Porter, were elected as vestrymen. The Chairman stated that Dr. Dudley, owing to his frequent indisposition, had expressed his wish not to be elected on the vestry. It was resolved that Mr J. Beharrell be elected auditor. Mr J. Lowthian Wilson moved a vote of thanks to the outgoing vestry, and said he hoped the new vestry would take steps as soon as possible to propose a scheme for paying off old debts. Mr S. S. Powell seconded, and the motion was carried.

A unanimous vote of thanks to Mrs Hardey as organist and the members of the choir was agreed to by acclamation, the seconder of the motion, however, suggesting that he would prefer that where the prayer book provided for anything to be "Baid," it should be said and not Bung. Mr Porter moved —" That in the opinion of this meeting the childron of the Sunday school, when not seated with their parents, should bo seated a 3 nearly as possible together during the momir.g service on Sundays.' 5 Mr Venables seconded the motioD, which, after some discussion, was agreed to. Mr Porter moved —"That the vestry be requested to reserve the seats in the south transept for the childr-an of the parish church Sunday school." Mr Wilson could not support the motion if it was intended to remove the children who perhaps came from some private Sunday school and occupied that transept. Mr Brandt and Mr Venables contended that anyone had a right to a Beat in a parish church, and the latter contended that every Englishman had a right to the services of a churoh clergyman. Mr Revell pointed out that as the clergy were not supported in the colony by State

aid, as in England, they were only bound as a matter of right to give their sorvices to those who contributed to their support, and to others afterwards as a, matter of Christian charity. After some discussion the motion was withdrawn.

The question of voluntary payments for allotment of seats, in place of pew rents, was named, and the chairman said the vestry would consider the same. The churchwarden stated there had been no falling off in the offertory since the seatrent Bystem had been introduced, but some of the donations promised, if the soatß woro rented, had not yet been paid. A vote of thanks was accorded to the rev. chairman, and the meeting terminated with the Benediction.