PARISH MEETINGS.

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2510, 24 April 1882, Page 4

PARISH MEETINGS.

ALL SAINTS' OUDBOH, SUMNER,

The yearly meeting of parishioners was held on the 19th April, to receive accounts and for the election of ohuroh officers. Mr C. L. Wiggins was elected inoumbent's ohurohwarden, Mr E. W. Roper parishioners' ohurohwarden ; Messrs Tolan, Day, Grlennie, and Kay were elected as vestrymen. The following resolution was unanimously carried : —" That the best thanks of the meeting be aocorded to the Venerable Archdeacon Wilson for the valuable assistance given by him to the incumbent, and also for the extremely liberal and kind interest taken by him in the welfare of the parish. Votes of thanks were given to the members of the choir and Sunday school teaohers ; and very hearty congratulations were offered to the Rev. Mr Merton on his restoration to health and ability to resume clerioal duties.

HOLY TRINITY OHUROH, LYITBL TON.

The annual parish meeting of the above ohurch was hald in the school-room on Friday night; There were but fifteen present, iooluding the incumbent, the Bav. J. Townsend, who oocupied the chair. The chairman in his opening remarks mentioned the fact that seventy-eight baptisms and thirty burials had taken place during the past year. He congratulated the meeting upon a little improvement in the financial position of the church, Che revenue from all souroes having covered the expenditure. The ladies had worked hard to keep up the income of the ohurch, and; had raised quite a sum by subscriptions. The rev. chairman also spoke of what had been aooomplished by the efforts of the ladies in the way of improvements to the church property. The substantial approach that had been made to the parsonage was made solely by their efforts. He also wished to thank the ohoir of the church,; and in so doing would mention Mr Dawe, who had devoted a Jorge, part of his time to their instruction in the evenings. Mr Da we read the. financial statement for the year, whioh showed a debit balance of £4B 16a lid. This was an improvement of some £3 compared with the statement at the last year's meeting. The cemetery account showed £3O 0s Id to to the credit. There was also about £lO outstanding for pew rents. Dr. Bouce pointed out that, while the church accounts showed an improvement of £3 for the year, there had been £52 8s raised by the ladies, and this, it should be remembered, was outside the ordinary revenue. He did not see that there was muoh room, under the circumstances, for congratulation, Mr Gibson, minister's warden, then read the following vei.try report:— " The vestry, in making its annual statement, has some satisfaction in reporting to the parishioners, that, although it it has not been able to lessen the debt that existed at the close of the last financial year to any appreciable amount, yet the receipts during the past twelve months have been sufficient; to meet the expenditure. This result has in a great measure been achieved by the indefati gable canvassing on the part of the laiies during the last six months for quarterly subscriptions, and the liberal manner in which the majority of the parishioners have responded to their appeal. The church itself requiring extensive repairs, the vestry, in order to raise the necessary funds, saw no other alternative than by making preparations for holding a bazaar, and so far the project promises to exceed its most sanguine expectations. It is a matter for the consideration of the parishioners whether it would be desirable to antioipate the results of the proposed bazaar by raising a loan for the purpose of effecting the necessary repairs before the coming winter. During the year several necessary additions have been made to the parsonage grounds, the cost of which, amounting to about £3O, has been defrayed by the proceeds of needlework done by the ladies, which sum does does not appear in the balance-sheet."

The statement of accounts and the report were adopted. With reference to the olauae in the report as to borrowing money for repairing the ohuroh, a considerable discussion took place. It was decided not to do bo, nqr to go into any debt on the strength of the anticipated profit whioh the projooted bazaar might bripg should the bazaar be held, as proposed, at the end of the present year. The officers and vestrymen of the past year 'were re-elected, namely :—Mr Gibson, minisfeFs warden ; JTr Dawe, parishioners' warden; Messrs H. Allwright, B. Puflatt, W. Whitby, J. T. Bouse, H. M. Spencer, and A. Joyoe, vestrymen. The superintendent of the Sabbath school read his annual report, showing a credit balance of £5 lis lOd. The same was duly passed by the zasoting. The incumbent thanked Mr Joyce and his staff of teachers for the good, management of the sohool, referenoe to whioh, was made by the late inspector, who had reported that it was one of the best organised school* in the diocese. A hearty vote of, thanks was passed to the superintendent and; teachers. Dr Bouse spoke of the resignation | of Dr Donald as Synodsman, through ill-, health, as a matter to be considered by the, parishioners. He referred to the great ser-, rices Dr Donald had rendered, and expressed his deep regret that he was not able to retain, the office. Dr. Bouse suggested that who-, «yer should be ohosen as Synodsman, it wouldbe well to recommend that the pariah be,

relieved of the offeitories now devoted to the olergy's stipend aid fund. Mr A. Joyee, in supporting Dr. Rouse's remarks, thought that the receipts of the Church Property Trustees fromjthe lands should be made moro public. A good deal of mystery surrounded the subjeot, and misapprehension probably. All that they received from that source was £SO per annum. The thanks of the parish were passed to the ladies, Mrs Townsend being named ; to the 'choir ; the veatry secrotary, Mr H. M. Spencer Messrs W. H. Lance and B Oollin were reelected auditors. Some discussion took place about the tea meeting given to the sailors in Port, and the question was raised by Mr Puflett as to why the church had not taken paTt in it. The rev. chairman said he hal spoken to thvce members of the_ vottry, and aside from their opinion he, finding the meet ing was to be held in Pasoion Week, made a personal matter of deolining. Mr Puflatt said the explanation given was quite satisfactory ; that he had been asked to mention the subject. After passing a vote of thanks to the chairman, the meeting concluded.

ST. MARK, SOUTH RAKAIA.

The annual meeting of parishioners was held in the Public Library on Friday. There was a very fair attondanoe, the incumbent in the rhair. The chairman read the Easier report, whioh gave the following information amoug othor matters :—During the past year at St. Mark's Churoh there were seventy-five clergyman's services, and thirty-nine lay readers' services. Those in the morning have been nearly always poorly attended, while the evening congregation has slightly increased. There were eleven celebrations of the holy oommunion, with the very small average attendance of five, which reflects but little credit on the churoh membership of those residing in this part of tho district. At St. Barnabas Churoh, Methven, during the year there wore eleven olerical services, and thirty-six lay services. During the year an American organ was purchased for this ohurch. The offertories of this ohuroh amounted to £27 7a 6d. There were ten oelebrations of the holy oommunion, with an average attendance of nine. At St. James* Churoh, Chertsoy, during the year there were twenty-two olerioel servioes, with a very good average attendance. The offertories amounted to £ll 2s 3d. A harmonium was added to the furniture of the churoh, whioh is found to be of muoh assistance. The holy communion was administered three times, with nn average attendance of ten. At St. John's, Bsrrhili, during the year there were twelve olerical services and twenty lay sorvioes, the offertories amounting to £ll Is. The congregations of this churoh were but poor, and although the Holy Communion was administered nine times there was only an average attendance of five. At All Saints', Sherwocd, thti were thirteen clerical services and twenty-eight lay servioes, with, I am sorry to say, very poor congregations, the total offertories amounting to only £7 10s. Under these oiroumitanoes (the report added), I think yon will agree with me, that, oon»idering the wants of othor parts of this parish, clerioal services cannot be maintained in this ohuroh. At Kyle school there wero ten olerical eervioes during the year, with, I regret to say, very poor congregations, the total offertories amounting to but £3 12s Id.

In presenting their annual balanoe-sheet the ohurchwardens and vestry of the parish of St. Mark's, South Rakaia, have to submit the following information:—lhe enlargement of the R»kaia ohuroh, sanctioned last year, has been completed. The reoeipts for the year ending March 31st are slightly in excess of those for the previous year. The expenditure amounts to £3Ol, and the receipts to £294 16j, making the overdraft at the Bank £ll 12s lid. The building fund has not been decreased for a considerable time, and now stands at £149 Bs. The .vestry purpose holding a bazaar about the end of June, in order to pay off the building fund and other outstanding accounts, amounting in the aggregate to £369 19j sd, or the greater part of this amount, and trust the parishioners will do their best to make the bazaar a success. The vestry find that during the past two years the expenditure has exceeded the reoeipts by above £9O per annum. This is a serious matter, and deserves the consideration of the whole parish. Correspondence was read from Mr J. 0. Wason relative to the Sherwood and Barrhill churches, which gave rise to a lengthy discuss on, which resulted in the passing of the resolution :—" That the whole question of the Bherwood ohuroh be referred to the Church Property Trustees." Votes of thanks were unanimously passed to the ohurch officers, Sunday sohool teachers, organists, and choirs for their unremitting attention to their several duties during qhe past year. The chairman announced that he had appointed Mr O. N. Maokie clergyman's churchwarden. The eleotion of parishioners' church ward an was a matter of some difficulty, and was only effeoted by compromise, Mr Hardy agreeing to serve on Mr B. Davieg promising to do the clerioal work. The following gentlemen were elected vestrymen: Messrs E. Chapman, E. Davies, G. Alington, D. G-. Holmes, T. A. Pyke, J. Lyttelton, W. Morgan, O. 8. Alington, L. Mangham, and E. W. Thompson. Messrs OhapmaD, O. N. Mackie, Pyke, and Hardy were eleoted paroohial nominators. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.