ST. PAUL’S CHURCH.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4590, 25 July 1923, Page 2

ST. PAUL’S CHURCH.

DIVISION OF PARISH. After the service last Sunday night the parishioners of St. Paul’s Church held a meeting in the Parish Hall. The vicar (the Rev. F. B. Dobson), presided over a lair attendance, and explained that the meeting had been called to discuss the division of the parish, and matters affecting financial arrangements, m moving the resolution that the parish .should be divided, the Paeroa parish to comprise Paeroa, Hikutaia, Netherton, Tirohia, and Wharepoa, and the Hauraki Plains to comprise Turua, Ngatea, Kerepeehi, Patetcnga, Waitakaruru, Kaihere, and Pipiroa, Mr W. L. Lawrence said that he thought it was generally agreed that the parish as it stood at the present time was far t.oo big and unwieldly to be administered properly by any one man. The population on the Hauraki Plains had grown very quickly, and the residents there felt that they were not getting a sufficient number of services. It had been impossible for the vicar, with such a large area to cover, Jo adequately maintain sufficient services in tlie different places., and it was felt that the Paeroa church was not progressing as it should, and for those reasons a divi sion of the parish was considered most desirable, and in the best interests of all concerned. The resolution was seconded by Mr F. Thorp. A letter from the Hikutaia congregation strongly supported .the resolution was read, after which the resolutio’n was put and carried unanimously.

A reply was received from the Diccesan secretary advising that if a division of the parish was .decided.on the Central Fund would contribute £29 per annum towards the stipend fund «in Paeroa and an amount to be decided on for'the home mission to be stationed on the Hauraki Plains. Mr Cane moved, and Mr E. Edwards seconded, the resolution that the Paeroa congregation should contribute at least £lBO towards the stioend fund, and that the balance should be collected from Hikutaia, Netherton, and Wharepoa.—Carried.

Mr F. Thorp said that ne did not see why there should be anv difficulty in arranging adequate finance for.-.the Paeroa parish. It had been done for many years before the advent of the Hauraki Plains.

The vicar said that very good results had been obtained" by the envelope system of contributions, but he thought the system might be further extended.

Mr W? H. Blakeway said that he would like to see a finance committee formed, comprising representatives from the Vestry, Ladies’ Guild, Choir, and Sunday School. If this was done the whole of the finances of the church would be centralised, which, he considered, would be much more sa+isfactory than the methods adopted at present. >

It was decided that, the matter would be discussed by the Vestry, an.i then recommendations would be submitted to other branches of the church workers.

Mr R. W. Evans said that he thought the idea a good one on the face of it, but he was of the opinion that by forming such a committee great care should be taken not to kill individual effort. Mr Edwards said that the suggestion wanted careful consideration, and the Ladies’ Guild should be given a full opportunity to consider the matter before any definite action was taken.