PARISH MEETINGS.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2509, 22 April 1882, Page 4

PARISH MEETINGS.

BT. SAVIOUR'S, SYDENHAM. The annual general meeting of parishioners took place in bt. Saviour's Ohurcb, r-ydeii-ham, on Thursday, commencing at eight o'clock, the Bev. H. B. Cocks, incumbent, in the chair. There was a limited attendance. The Chairman, in oper.ir g the meeting, said that he believed the accoui.ts would show tha. the affairs of the pariah financially were not so flourishing as they had hoped for. He accounted for that by the fact that numbers of families had left tho district, and perhaps ■the opening of the Cathedral had hud some influence. There was, however, lately a marked increase in the attendance, and the number of communicants was considerably greater than ■what it had been in the early part of the year. He hoped they would all use their influence to further the good of the parish, as their utmost efforts were required. Mr Holdemeas read the balance-sheet for the year, whioh showed that they had oommenced with a credit balance of £4B lis 3d. Inoluding this the total receipts had been £505 2s id. After paying all ourrent expenses there remained a balanoe in hand of £32 15s 2d. There was, however, a considerable debt made np as follows : £3OO on the building of the church, £2OO on the building of the Sunday school, and overdraft at Bank £127, total £627. To extinguish the debt, shares were held in the Permanent Investment Society. The offertories during the year had fallen off somewhat, being £lB2 183 9J, against £196 llu id received in the previous year. The affairs of the Sunday School were very satisfactory. In the p«Bt two years it had been more than self'supporting, and they were looking forward to a .speedy enlargement of the building, as they already found themselves cramped in that direotion. He hoped that during the present year the congregation would rx ako a special effort to increase their revenues, and lecommended for their consideration a plan which he thought, under the circumstances, reasonable and proper. It was that all who were able should subferibe at such times as would be convenient a sum not to exceed £1 per annum eaoh, this, of courae, to be exoluoive of tha ordinary contributions to the offertory. Their liabilities were not very heavy, and if a plan like that proposed were adopted, they would soon free themselves from incumbrance and stand ready to meet the demands that in jach a growing district were sure to arise. The balanoe sheet was adopted. The Incumbent nominated Mr R. J. Holderneas as clergyman's ohurohwurdon. Mr O. Peacock was elected parishioners' churchwarden. Messrs Dntton, Packer, Kirk, Munday, Sherlock, Jaokson, Danham, Hawkins, Pavitt, and Doran were elected vestrymen. Votes of thanks were passed to the choir, lady workers of the congregation, and to the teachers of the Sunday eohool, and the meeting terminated.

AVONSTDE. The annual meeting of the parishioners of Avonaiae was held in the schoolroom _ last evening, at eight o'clook; prior to whioh a meeting of the retiring vestry was hold in the parsonage house. The Bev. W. A. Pasooe presided at the former; about thirty parishioners were present. The incumbent state i that Mr O. Ouff had written apologising for hia absenoe through indisposition. In referring to the work of the past year, during which they had received a considerable increase in population, Mr Pasooe said there waa good cause for congratulation, as they had not suffered in attendance at church through the opening of the Cathedral, and the offertories had been up to the average. He had to tender his thanks to the churchwardens and vestry for their assistance- One matter to be brought before them, viz, the purchoso of a new organ, he wouid briefly refer _ to, hoping the question would be fully and fairly discussed, and if any present objected let them apeak out fairly and at onoe, not keeping anything back to be said at a future time. He would now call upon Mr W. B. Sharp, the incumbent's ohurohwarden, to xead the annual report and statement of receipts and expenditure. Mr W. B. Sharp asked that they would take the report and balance sheet as read, seeing each person present was furnished with a oopy. He would, however, refer to one or two items therein. The contribution to the oburch sustenance fund during the past year amounted to £287 15s 65, being an increase of £BO over the previous year, the number of contributors being eighty-one as against fifty-nine in the previous year. Although the residents had increased in number, the offertories were the eame ai in the year ending Eister, 1881, whioh could not be regarded as altogether satisfactory, as a considoiable sum would be •hort'.y required for repairs to the fabrio of of the ohuroh. Although he hoped the day was not far distant when they would be enabled to replace the old portion of the church by building three arches, at a oost of £IBOO, the old.'ohuroh being very shaky. The private debenture account, amounting to £240, had been satisfied. The year's offertories amounted to £209 18j Id, the general expenditure being £728 18s, the total liabilities of the parish being £423 19i 6d. The report and balance sheet were unanimously adopted, on the motion of Mr Cowlithaw, sooonded by Mr Wilkin, sen.

The eleotion of church officers was next prooeeded with, the incumbent again nominating Mr W. B Sharp as his oh<jrohwarden. Mr T. Hardy • Johnston was eleotad parishioners' churohwardeD, Meisrs Gowlishaw, Denham, Slatsr, Dingle, H. Ootterill, Oathbert, Melville, Seyarour, 0. Cuff, and G. L. Lee being elected vestrymen. Mr Hennah was re appointed auditor. Mr W. B. Sharp then stated that Mr Jenkins had offered to build them an organ for the sum of £3OO, the ereo'ion of which would entail a cost of £ls. They had £lO5 to the credit 'if the organ fund, and Mr Jenkins had agreed to take the prepent organ for £IOO. This would leave £llO to be raised, and as the organ would be six months in building, he did not apprehend any diffioclty in getting the money together by the time it was required. The vestry, at its meeting this evening, had recommended that it should be ordered at once, and it was for the present meeting to say if the money ■hould be all raised before the order was .given or give the order at once. Mr Cowliahaw moved, and Mr Danham seconded—" That the recommendation of the Tettry bo accepted by the parish meeting." A parishioner asked if Mr Jenkins would build them as good an organ as could be imported for that sum. The inoumbent replied that the Merivale organ, recently used in the Cathedral, was built by Mr Jenkins ; indeed, the only question was, should an organ be built here or ordered from home. The resolution was then put and carried nem cn/i. Totes of thanks were then accorded to the ladies for their aid to the organ fund by the •ale of work, &3., to Mr Hennah for auditing the accounts of the parish, to tho various donors of gifts and donations in aid of the organ fund, avenue account, parsonage grounds fund, and also to tho ladies who kindly attend to the church deoorations, the choir, and churchwardens. The Incumbent asked the inooming vestry to render him all the assistance possible, such as telling him of any work that required to be done, or oases of sickness, or any sore feeling on any subject; indeed he would aek that of all the parishioners, hoping that next Baster would find all the liabilities of the parish wiped ont and perfect harmony existing amongst them. Mr W. B. Sharp, in acknowledging the meeting's vote of th inks, would ask that all who took an interest in the parish would assist in wiping off the debt. The Incumbent stated that the Sundayoohool was in a nourishing condition, the number of teachers and scholars having increased considerably. Its only want vas a really good superintendent. At present Mr Slater was acting temporarily in that capa-

city. The meeting was bronght to a conclusion by a unanimous vote of thanks to the Sundayschool teachers being accorded.

ST. JOHN BAPIIBT, B&NGIOBA. The annual meeting of parishioners of the above Church was held in the Sunday sohoolroom on Wednesday evening last, at 7.30p.m. The attendance was somewhat limited. The Venerable Arcbdncon in the chair. The meeting having beon opened with prayer, the Chairman read the notice convening semo, and then the minutes of the preceding annual meeting of 1881, as also the adjourned parish meeting, to consider the necessity of enlarging and thoroughly completing the building of the new church, both of which were duly confirmed. The chairman having addressed those present, shortly reviewing the church affairs for ihe past year, called upon Mr B. Aherno, the parishioners' churchwarden, to

read the audited balance sheet, whioh was m follows :—fStoeiptß—Stipend account, £209 , 12i 8d ; ordinary expenses and missions £134 Ss SA ; school aoocunt, £4B 83 6i ; cemetery account, £3l Oa 2d ; total, £423 4•■ Expenditure—Paid diocesan trensurer, £209 12* 81 ; do mißsions, £49 18a 5d ; do ordiunry expenses, £7B 3a 3d ; balanen in hand, £5 19j 7i ; school aooounta, £4l 12a 6.1 ; balance in hand, £6 161 ; cometr.ry account, £l9 8< 61 ; balonce in hand, £ll lis 8d ; total, £423 4i. Tho Chairman called atte> - riou to tho very satisfactory 6fcate of tbe financial position o£ the church. Mr G. J. Loeob eaid he had the greateat pleasure in endorsing the chairman's remark*, and moved —" That the audited statement of account for th» past year, ns rend, be received ard adopted." Mr C. B. Tribe seconded the motion, which was oarried unanimously. Mr G. Shorland proposed, and Mr J. G. L. Sco;t aeoonded a cardial vote of thanks to the outgoing ohurch officers. Oarried. Vote* of thanks were duly accorded to Meiers Scott and Tribe for the time and attention they had gratuitously given to the necessary repairs required to the organ ; to the ladies who had so kindly contributed towards the ohurch expenses from the receipts of their " working bee " ; to Mrs Dudley as superintendent, and the teachers of the Sunday school; to Mi?s Dudley for her voluntary and kind aid ae organist, and the many services she so willingly performs for the advancement of the ohuroh ; to Mr Soatt as precentor, and to the members of the choir. The rev. chairman having vaoated tho chair, said he had now a slight duty to perform, that though one of regret was at the same time one of pleasure also. It was unnecessary to allude to tho departure from the pariah of a gentleman who hod resided hero for some time, during which period he had gained the kindest wishts of all with whom he had been brought, directly or indirectly, in contact. He (the epeakei) could say from his heart that ho deeply regretted the loss of one who had rendered minh valuable help in the pariah generally, and that in expressing his own regret ho was only doing that which tho entire oongrega tion did also. He trusted every blessing and happiness would attend Mr J. G L. Scott in his new field of labor, and wished his acceptance of a small souvenir from hia friends, to show the great esteem in which he was held in Bangiora. The Ohairman here presented Mr Soott with a beautiful marble clock, suitably insoribed, and again wished him every happiness, proposing a vote of thanks, which was given unanimously. Mr Soott fet»;i:igly replied, thanking hiß friends for the present, which he would always keep in remembranoa of thom and Bangiora, _ but more eepooially for tbe kindly expressions, which would oheer him on whilst pursuing his duties in another district. The Chairman having resumed his seat, proceeded to the election of churoh officers for tho ensuing year, and said he had great in again nominating Mr O. G. Chapman as his churohwarden. Mr Chapman thanked the Archdeacon for the honor conferred, and would endeavor to give moro time, if possible, during the ensuing than be had during the past year. Mr B. Aherne was again proposed as parishioners' ohurchwarden, but on fully stating the reasons he had against again acceping that offico, Mr Tribe proposed, Mr cshorland seconded, and it was oarried — " That Mr G. J. Leech should act as churchwarden," whioh cfEao that gentleman nocepted, after thanking the parishioners for the honor aooorded him. The following gentlemen were thon eleoted veetrymon: O. E. Tribe. G. M. Thomson, W. Thomson, R. Aherne, S. Stephens, Herbert Jones. It web proposed, seconded, and oarried—"That Mr H. Blackett bo appointed ohurch auditor for the ensuing year. The Chairman stated, in conclusion, that he trusted the pariah would aoon be able to appoint and support a resident assistant curate, and that ho should have the greatest pleasure in assisting and doing all in hia power to aid in furthering suoh an object. Prayor brought tho meeting to a close.

Si 1 . STEPHEN'S, ASHBURTON.

The annual pariehioners' meeting of this church took place on Wednesday evening in tho upper room of the Town Hall. There were about fifty pari«hioners present, including a few ladies Tao Rav. B. A. Soott, the incumbent, took the chair and opened tho meeting with prayer. The chairman, in his opening remarks, spoke highly of the very efficient stuff of Su-.day School teachers, and the attendance of which was very satisfactory. He also spoke of the way in which he found a good ohuroh, and said he thought he had far more favorable oiroumstanoes than hia predecessor. The minutes of the last annual meeting were read, as were also the minutes of several special meetings. The animal report and balanoe-shoct was read by Mr Gundry and adopted. Mr Ward moved a vote of thanks to Mr Gundry as churchwarden, and spoke of the efficient manner in whioh he had oarried out his duties. Thia was seconded by Mr W. R. Boyle and carried unanimously. Mr Gundry replied, and stated the duty he bad performed was one of love. Mr Fooks, superintendent of the Sunday school, read bis report, whioh waa adopted. Dr. Trevor proposed a hearty vote of thanks to the choir for their very efficient services, and spoke in a very high manner of Miss Gates as organist. Seconded by Mr Ward. Mr St. Hill proposed a vote of thanks to Mr H. Gates, for the way in which he conducted the choir. Mr Gateß suitably replied, and proposed a vote of thanks to Mrs Grige for forward : ng a parcel of linen for surplices. Oarried. A vote of thanks was pissed to Mr Fooks, tho superintendent of the Sunday- school. Mr Fooks briefly aofenowled the same. Mr St. Hill nominated Mr Gnndry as ohurohwarden for the ensuing year, and Bpoke very highly of the W:iy in whioh he had oarried out his du'ies in the past. The ohairman norrinated Mr Geo. Jameson as churchwarden; Mr Fooks nominated Dr. Trevor for the offloa of ohurohwarden. The elootion was proceeded with, and resulted in the eleotion of D?. Trevor by a majority of two votes. Dr Trevor was therefore deelected. The election of vestrymon resulted as follows : Messrs Hunt, Wood, Quintan, Ferrimore, Fookß, Mark, Boyle, B«mn, Curtis, and Ward. Messrs Ward and Boyle withdrew, as tho vestry were going to incur more debt in the orection of a Sundayschool. After a little other business had been transacted the meeting adjourned.