ANNUAL PARISH MEETINGS.

Globe, Volume XXII, Issue 1915, 14 April 1880, Page 3

ANNUAL PARISH MEETINGS.

RANGIORA. The Faster meeting of the parishioners of St. John’s Church, Eaugiora, was held on Monday evening. There was a fair attendance. The Yen. Archdeacon occupied the chair, and opened the meeting with prayer. A statement of the accounts was not forthcoming, and it was decided that another meeting be held in a mouth to receive the same, some of those present commenting on this unsatisfactory proceeding. A discussion arose in reference to tho singing portion of the Sunday services, to which strong objection was taken by some of the parishioners, but no conclusion was come to, Mr J. M. 1 hompson was nominated ministers warden, and Mr E. Aherne elected people’s warden. The vestrymen elected were : —Messrs Chapman, Cunningham, Leech, Bring, W. Thomson, and S. Stephens. A proposition was made to make a quarterly levy on the parishioners to maintain the services of t'e church. Votes of thanks were passed to the arganiat and choir. It was decided to t bring under the notice of the vestry the necessity for improving the lighting. A vote of thanks to the rev. chairman terminated the meeting. OPAWA. Tbe annual meeting of the Church members of this pariah was held in the church on Monday evening. The Eev. G. J. Cholmondelry presided. The chairman explained that, owing to the illness of Mr Tipping, the churchwarden, it had been necessary to depart from the usual practice of having the accounts audited and printed before the time of the meeting. Mr Tipping had, however, prepared a statement w Inch would show that tho financial position of the parish was satisfactory. During the past year the church had been lighted with gas, tho sitting accommodation had been somewhat increased, and some necessary works had been executed. Although the church had been recently enlarged, there were applications for tho allotment of sittings which could not be granted, and as it was probable that there would soon bo many new houses erected in the district, he recommended tho parishioners to take into consideration tho further enlargement of the church. Assistance by way of grant and lo n might be expected from the funds at the disposal of the Church Property Trustees for purposes of this kind. The foundation of the chuich had been laid by the late Bishop Selwyn on the occasion of the session of the General Synod in 1865, and the appropriation of the offerings on St. Mark’s Day, April 25th, towards the enlargement of the church would be a fitting inauguration of this good work. Ho thanked the various churchwardens for their ready assistance, and asked Mr Har ey to read tho statement of accounts prepared by Mr Tipping. Mr Harley read the statement of accounts, which showed receipts .£487 12a 3d, expenditure ,£482 3s. Ho moved the following resolution, which was carried unanimously:—“That the accounts be received and passed subject to audit, and when so completed, that they be printed and circulated.” The Incumbent nominated Mr Tipping as his churchwarden, and Mr J. Restell was elected by tho parishioners. The following gentlemen wore elected vestrymen : Messrs Bell, March, Pavitt, Ford, Howell, Thomson, Harley, Harper. Parsons, and tho Hon. E. Richardson. Mr McKcllar was appointed auditor. Votes of thanks were accorded to the Ladies’ Working Society, to Mr Tipping, to Mr Hatley and the members of the choir, to Mr Ford (tho superintendent), and tho teachers of tho Sunday school, and to the ladies assisting tho Incumbent in giving religious instruction in the day school. A resolution was passed on the k motion of Mr March “ That it he a recoin ) mondation to the incoming vestry to take into consideration the advisability of enlarging tho church, and to report as early as possible to a meeting of parishioners to bn called for that purpose.” The suggestion of the Chairman was also adopted, that an appeal bo made to the parishioners on St. Mark's day for special offerings towards tho enlargement of the church. A vote of thanks having been pass.d to the Chairman, the proceedings closed with the honediction.

ST. STFBHEVS, ASHBURTON. The annual meeting of the parishioners of the above parish was held last Monday night in the Public Library room. The Rev. Mr Hands occupied the chair. The accounts showed that the offertories amounted to £241 18s 10d, or to £llß 0s Pd less than the previous year. A tea meeting had yielded £33 12s. The parish debt had been reduced to £1192. The Sunday school report was read and showed a debit balance of £3 8s tld. Both report and balance-sin et were adopted, Mr Grigg promising to pay the school debt. Votes of thanks to the incumbent and the church officers brought the proceedings to a close.