ST. PAUL’S CHURCH.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXVI, Issue 4824, 24 April 1925, Page 2

ST. PAUL’S CHURCH.

MEETING OF PARISHIONERS. The annual meeting of parishioners of St. Paul’s Church was held in the Parish Hall, Paeroa, on Tuesday evening, the vicar (the Rev. F. B. Dobson) presiding over a large attendance. The vicar reported that the General Synod had passed a statute authorising the establishment of the Diocese of Waikato, to include all the present diocese of Auckland south of an air line drawn from the Waikato Heads to a. point on the railway line two miles north of Te; Kauwhata; thence along the railway line to Rangiriri, and thence again by van air line to Whangamata, leaving the townships of Te Kauwhata, Rangiriri, and Whangamata in the proposed diocese of Waikato. A total of £312,000 was required before the diocese could -,e formed, and the district of Paeroa. had been asked to £3OO of that sum. ; ■ - ..... , SUNDAY SCHOOL. • .. - Up io. the Christmas holidays the School had done good work, and had provided a larger number oi candidates for confirmation in June last. The finances of the Sunday School from all sources were: Receipts £7o> fa 6d, and expenditure £62 0s 9d, leaving a credit balance of £8 17s: 9d. ' LADIES’ GUILD. The efforts of the Ladies’ Guild have exceeded those of past years, and have been the means of raising £279 4s 2d, including £194 as ii result of a bazaar. The expenditure amountfo £248 4s Bd, leaving a credit balance of £3O 19s. 6d. NEW CHURCH FUND. Together with the Moore legacy, tlie funds in hand for the new church building fund amount to £458 4s 9d. GENERAL. During the year there were 23 baptisms, 8 marriages, and 10 burials. His Lordship the Bishop in expected to visit the distinct in June,' whe i it was hoped there would be confirmation services held at. Paeroa, Hikuktaia, and Karangahake. The vicar stated that lie would reach the retiring age this month, and as soon as he could obtain a suitable living together- with a pension he 'proposed: leaving .Paeroa- and entering upon that work. - ■ J The report was- adopted. BALANCE-SHEET. Tho balance-sheet, which was adopted, showed that the finances of tlie church were in a healthy condition. 1 , SUNDAY SCHOOL BUILDING. The vicar suggested that an additional room 20ft by 16ft should be bu'J to accommodate the senior Sunday School scholars. Several of those present opposed i he erection of further buildings until s>!Cii time as the Parish Hall was lined. The vicar stressed the point that extra accommodation was urgently require'!, and stated that in the kindergarten department there were six teachers and 33 scholars; and the main School comprised nine teachers and ever 50 scholans. The practice of some of the classes being conducted in the church was undesirable. The.teachers had often complained of tiic-lack of interest displayed by parishicners in Sunday'School work, and it was an urgent matter to provide adequate facilities for the religious instruction of the younger generatioii. The matter was referred to the Ladies’ Guild and Vestry; with power tc act. ' INVESTMENT OF FUNDS. It was resolved that the.three fluids .‘or the building of the .new churcn lie amalgamated and the money invented with the Diocesan Trust Board for a term of two years, and that the vi?sr Dr. Smith, and Mr W. J. Ellis he a sub-committee to attend to the matter. THANKS. Mr W. H. Blakeway moved a vote of thanks and appreciation to the vicar and Mrs Dobson. He said it

was generally agreed that Mr Dobson had seived the parish faithfully and well, and it was earnestly hoped that he would be spared to long enjoy his pending retirement. —Carried with acekinatioii B. arty thahjis wer-j also accorded Mr R, W. Evans (sacristan), the choir,, organist (Mfes Hart), Ladies’ Guild, and Sunday School teachers. OFFICERS. The following officers were elect ed; Vicar’s Warden, Mr C. Moorhou-j >; People’s Warden,. Mr l>. C. Cane ; Vestry, Messrs A. KClrant, F. Thorp, W. J, Ellis, J. Hubbard, C. E. Gwllliam, E. Edwards, W. H. Blakeway, A. E. Say, and R. E. Thorp ; Archdeaconry Board, Dr. T G. Smith and Mr E. J. Smith.

At the conclusion, of the meeting refreshments were handed round and Mr Evans contributed a. number if gramophone selections.