Page 5 Advertisements Column 3

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume III, Issue 133, 31 July 1863, Page 5 (Supplement)

REPORT OF THE CHURCHWARDENS AND VESTRYMEN OF St JOHN’S PARISH, NAPIER, TO THE PARISHIONERS. JULY 14, 1863. THE Churchwardens and Vestrymen are sorry to have to report to the Parishioners that the Rev. G. Tugwell, the clergyman nominated to the cure of this Parish in December last, has declined to come; and the Bishop has communicated to the Board of Nominators the grounds of his refusal to accept the nomin ation. The guarantee that the Parish offered, only lasted for three years, and he was afraid lest “ the knowledge that his livelihood depended upon the renewal of his appointment” at the expiration of that term might fetter his speech and action. The Board of Nominators are talking immediate steps to procure a clergyman if possible; but the objection raised by Mr. Tugwell may be felt by ] others; and the Bishop has expressed his opinion to the Vestry, that unless there is a 'partial endowment of this and other Parishes it will be found a very difficult thing to induce Ho Ethrow themselves into the entirely voluntary system. Circumstanced as the Parish now is, the 'Bishop has asked the Rev. H. W. StHill to give his services again for six months from the present time, and at the end of that period, the Bishop will return and complete the three months services that he offered the Parish. This being a deviation from the originally proposed plan, the Vestry have taken it into consideration, and have concluded that it is to the advantage of the Parish to renew the guarantee for the sum of AIOO towards defraying the outfit of a clergyman from England, to be made np of the salary accruing to the Bishop’s services for the three months and of the deficit which is to be supplied by the Parish. The subject of next importance after the maintenance of a Clergyman, is that of the fabric of the Church; on this the Churchwardens and Vestrymen have to report that, in the {.beginning of tins year, the Church was duly consecrated by the Bishop of the Diocese, and called the Church of St. John the Evangelist. The Churchwardens having had applications fur Church sittings beyond what they are able to meet, have considered the necessity of providing more accommodation; to farther this object the Standing committee of the Diocesan Synod, have voted the sum of .£IOO out of the Block Grant of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge; but in the present uncertainty of affairs the Vestry have considered it advisable to defer taking any active steps in the matter, and have preferred investing the £IOO for a period of six months (bearing interest) in the Union Bank of Australia. The plan proposed was to erect a Tower and Spire, which would provide a Vestryroom on the base, and an Organ-loft and Choir gallery on the first floor, with A Belfry above. The Church is insured in the Northern Fire Office for the sum of £SOO (five hundred pounds), and the Parsonage with theHondou and Liverpool office to the amount of £3OO (three hundred pounds). Certain expenses have been incurred in the repair of the Parsonage, and in sloping the ground at the back after a landslip occasioned by the heavy rains in June last. Wo now pass to the Finances of the Parish, in reference to which it is to be regretted that in consequence of the Treasurer of the late Church of England Building Committee refusing to deliver up the Records, Minutes, and other documents of that Committee, a full report of all the money transactions cannot be presented to the Parishioners. The main sources of Income have been the Pew rents, Offertories, Annual Subscriptions, Stipend of Military Chaplain, and an annual grant of £3O (thirty pounds) from the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, to whom the sincere thanks of the Parishioners are due for their generous support in the early and most trying days of the settlement. In reference to the Offertories, a larger sum has accrued from that source than was expected. Particular attention may be called to one item which was forwarded to Bishop Pattesou in behalf of the Melanesion Mission, in which he and the Bishop of New Zealand take such an active part and interest; it was a small but important testimony to the principle that the charities and sympathies of aXhrislian community must extend beyond their own locality. In conformity with Act 4, Clause XVI, of the Diocesan Synod of Wellington, Mr. V. Jiinisch and Mr. Brandon were elected Auditors. The Churchwardens, with the approval of the Vestrymen, have appointed Mr. Mogridge, to collect the Pew rents, allowing him 5 per cent as an equivalent for his services. Mr. T. I). Triphook having resigned the office of Diocesan Churchwarden, the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Wellington have appointed Mr. 11. S. Tiffen, whose term of office lasts until a clergyman is inducted to the cure of the Parish, who will then nominate his own Churchwarden. H. S. TIFFEN, Diocesan Churchwarden. T. A. BRIDGE, Parishioner’s Churchwarden. St. JOHN’S CHURCH ACCOUNT FROM 24th NOV. TO 14th JULY, 1863. RECEIPTS. £ 9. d. Balance from T. D. Triphook ... 8 7 3 Cash from T. A. Bridge 15 8 2 Cash from Rev. 11. W. StlTill ... 25 0 0 Cash from T.B. Triphook, bell fund 11 0 0 Cash from T. A. Bridge 3 13 3 Cash from Edwards 1 0 0 Cash from T. A. Bridge 2 0 0 « “ 3 9 10 « « ... 18 0 «. «... 2 5 3 »< “ 4 19 10 <t « 7 0 0 « «• 24 9 1 “ “ ...... 5 0 0 « “ 6G 4 2 Cash Trustees Bazaar Fund ... 119 8 Cash from T. A. Bridge 2 0 0 ««2 4 6 « “ 6 8 10 cc « 4 0 0 Cash from Mr. Brathwaite 1 10 0 Cash from T. A. Bridge 13 5 10 Cash from H.S. Tiffen ... 1 2 4 Cash from H. S. Tiffen ... ... 2J.7 8 Cash from Lord Bishop of Wellington 100 0 0 Cash half-yearly grant from S.P.G. 15 0 0 Cash from H. S. Tiffen 1 13 10 Cash from T. A. Bridge 5 8 1 £338 16 7 EXPENDITURE. £338 16 74 July 14, By Balance 83 2 4 J. B. BRANDON. Auditor. V. JANISC E, Auditor.