REPORT OF THE VESTRY OF St. JOHN’S PARISH, NAPIER.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume IV, Issue 184, 22 July 1864, Page 3

REPORT OF THE VESTRY OF St. JOHN’S PARISH, NAPIER.

, JULY 2 Ist, 186 J. THE VESTRY, in furnishing the Yearly Report of its proceedings, and of the Receipts and Expenditure of the Parish, beg to acknowledge, with pleasure, the regularity with which, on the whole, the Guarantors and Subscribers have met the demands upon them for the amounts promised at the formation of the Parish. Their attention is called to the arrangement by which the Bishop of Wellington, durinothe past year, has kindly undertaken the duties of the Parish for 3 months of the period elapsed since the resignation of the Rev. H. W. St. Hill. The stipend for these 3 months, he stipulated, should be set aside to assist in defraying the expenses of the passage and outfit of a clergyman from England. Some difficulty has been experienced in inducing an efficient minister to accept the appointment to this Parish. Colonel Russell was deputed by the nominators to act for them. Two clergymen successively had partly engaged to come out, but both eventually declined the nomination. He then refused to act any further, and the appointment has since lapsed to the Bishop ; and his Commissary, the Rev. John Laurell, of St. Matthew’s City-road, has appointed the Rev. Lemuel Say well, after seeing his testimonials, and having had a personal interview with him, and also having got infor° mation about him from private friends. The Bishop, in a recent letter, informs the Vestry that Mr Say well is to leave England in June, he also encloses copies of testimonials from the Vicar and Churchwarden of Sutton, Isle of Ely, speaking in high terms of his earnest and diligent attention to the duties of the Parish. The Rev. H. W. St. Hill has officiated alternately with the Bishop, and will comtinue his services until the arrival of the Rev. Mr. Saywell. The necessity for increased Church accommodation is becoming manifest. Additional Free Sittings are required to fulfil the obligations imposed by Act 4, Sec. XIII, Ist Session, 3rd Synod, Diocese of Wellington, which prescribes that one-sixth at least of the whole number of sittings shall be free. Although regular attendants at Church will, no doubt, contribute to the expense of maintenance of Divine worship by paying for their sittings, it must be borne in mind that the number of casual town residents and of country people visiting this Port is by no means inconsiderable, besides which the increase of steam communication is likely to swell the number of strangers passing through Napier. The head-quarters of the 14th Regiment being established here,, furnishes au°additional reason for increased accommodation. Some 40 applications are at this time registered, which cannot be met. The Vestry would recommend that it be empowered by this meeting at once to proceed with the enlargement of the fabric, and to collect subscriptions. A sum of T 167 17s. 10d. is in hand for this purpose, and it is believed that the members of the Church will, with their usual liberality, contribute a sufficient amount in addition to justify the Vestry in proceeding with the work if sanctioned by this meeting. Believing that many of the congregation who attend the Evening Service would be willing to contribute to an offertory, the Vestry recommend that one be instituted, and that it be specially applied for a time to the fund for enlarging the Church. Mr. Tiffen, who was authorised to procure a Church Bell, was unable, during his visit to Australia, to obtain a suitable one. It will seemingly be necessary to send to England for it. St. JOHN’S CHURCH ACCOUNT, FROM JULY Mtii, ISG3, TO JUNE 30th, 180-1. 1863 £ s. d. 1863 £ s . d. .July Paid to deposit account U.8.A., July 14 Balance in Union Bank AusChurch enlargement 67 16 4 tralia 83 2 4 “ Account of Colonel Rus- Amount of Offertories 93 2 7 sell, Passage of a Clergy- “ “ 0 n acman from England 100 0 0 count of Melanesian Mis- “ To account of Professor sion 5 18 4 Selvvyn, hymnals 10 6 6 Pew Rents to March, 1864 70 10 0 “ Clergyman’s stipend 189 3 4 Do. in advance to Sept. 1864 15 10 0 “ Sheppard, Harmonium Do. do. to March, 1865 63 10 0 playing 21 5 0 Annual Subs, to Sept., 1863 23 15 6 “ Yerger’s Salary 15 6 0 Do. do. to March, 1864 18 2 0 “ Insurance, Church and Do. do. to March, 1863 6 2 0 Parsonage 8 7 6 Donations 7 9 0 “ Repairs, do 31 15 0 Guarantors (75 per cent, of “ Lighting Church 6 6 4 amount guaranteed) 79 13 6 *' Interest to Bishop of Military Chaplaincy 78 8 2 Wellington 45 0 0 Donation from S.P.G. (i-yr.) 15 0 0 “ Printing and Advertising 4 7 6 Do. do. Endowment Eund... 30 0 0 “ Melanesian Mission, proceeds of offertory 5 18 4 “ Stationery 1 5 0 1864 “ Postages 2 6 “ Crown Grant Fee (Blackhead section) 1 0 0 Juno 30 “ Cash, U.B. Australia, in- j eluding £ll, bell fund ... 81 4 1 £589 3 5 £589 3 5 Receipts and Expenditure, Examined, S. G. BRANDON, Auditor. Y. JANIBCH, Auditor.