CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume II, Issue 138, 16 July 1880, Page 3 (Supplement)

CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY.

ANNUAL MEETING. The annual meeting of the parishioners of the above Church was held at Ewart’s Hall on Monday evening last, for the purpose of receiving the report and balance sheet and the election of office bearers for the ensuing year. The Venerable Archdeacon Butt occupied the chair, and after prayer, explained the object of the meeting. The minutes of three previous meetings having been read and confirmed, the Chairman called on Mr Hustwick to read the Annual Report and Balanee Sheet, which were as follows :

Report of the Vestry of the Church of the Nativity, Blenheim, for the vear ending June 30th, ISSO.

“ At the close of another financial year it becomes the duty of the Vestry to lay before the congregation an account of the work accomplished since the last annual meeting. “ The past year has net been without its anxieties, as your Vestry took office with debts amounting to nearly £l7O, and in order to pay off the most pressing of them obtained a loan of £IOO from the Standing Committee of the Diocesan Synod, the repayment of which is spread over a term of three years, “As regards the income, the offertories (exclusive of specials) show an increase of about £25 over last year, the special offertories being [slightly increased also. The seat rents have increased from £fiS last year to £llß, which is accounted for by the fact that the new church was only occupied for four months of the last church year. The churchwardens are gratified to report a continuous demand for seats, and have invariably had parties waiting to whom seats could be allotted as they became vacant ; this, as well as frequent applications for sittings, point to the fact that increased accommodation must be provided within the next few' years. The amount of the donations received for general purposes is still very small and quite unworthy of the congregation ; those given however, have been unsolicited. It became necessary to appeal to the congregation for funds towards painting the church. Out of 84 seatholders only I S subscribed—in all 26 subscribers —towards this object, and of the total amount raised two-fifths was subscribed by members of the Vestry. Half of the cost of painting still remains unpaid. “At the last sitting ofDiocesan Synod the annual grant of £SO to the Missionary district of the Wairau was discontinued and the Synod, by a resolution, expressed a hope that this parish would see that the services in the outlying districts were continued until a separate organisation could be effected. The necessity of the Archdeacon discontinuing these long and trying journies and giving his entire services to this parish has so long been apparent, that your Vestry agreed to increase the stipend £SO yearly, and requested the Archdeacon to continue the outlying districts until the 30th June last ; after which date he will devote his services to this district, with the exception of occasional duties in our nesr neighborhood, T}je Wairau Valley and

Spring Creek congregations have contributed £22 towards the additional stipend voted by the Vestry for the past half-year, and were duly notified that existing arrangements with them would cease on the end of June last. 1

The painting of the church was perfoi med at a cost of £42 10s, the second moiety being due on the 18th August, and the account for new seats due on the Ist August require the earliest consideration of the new Vestry. “ A careful computation of the probable revenue and expenditure for the ensuing year reveals the unpleasant fact that there will most probably be a considerable deficit ; it remains for this meeting to decide, upon the best course to adopt by which this deficiency may be met. “A new bell, pro -id d from funds collected by Mrs Wiustanley, has recently been hung at the expense of Mr Wiustanley, to both of whom the best thanks of the congregation are due ; in every point the new bell is a vast improvement on its predecessor.

“As the congregation is aware, a new ami valuable American organ has been procured for the church, mainly through the laudable efforts of Mrs Jas. Godfrey, and for which a hearty vote of thanks was duly tendered her by the Vestry ; there is still a debt of about £2O owing on it. which it is anticipated will be met by the sale of the harmonium.

“The thanks of the congregation are due to the lay readers ; to the teachers of the Sunday school ; to the organists, Miss Clark and Mr Rogers, and to the Choir, for their valuable services ; for years past not only have the services of the ('hoir been given gratuitously, but the expense of books and music has been borne by them also, which in the course of each year is a considerable sum, we think the time has come when the annual vote of thanks ought to be supplemented by a grant from the Vestry towards the purchase of new books and music. The services of this body arc undoubtedly of great value, and the expense of materials should not be allowed to fall on them for the future. “In conclusion, the congregation is earnestly requested to second the efforts of the Vestry, and strengthen the hands of the churchwardens by a cheerful response to the ircalls for funds, and especially by a prompt discharge of fixed payments, such as pew-rents, the collection of which entails much needless waste of time on the churchwardens. Henry F. Butt, Chairman, “T. 11. Hustwick, l “ Samuel Johnson \ Churchwardens.”

The balance sheet showed the expenditure for the past year to have been £415 2s lOd, and the receipts £404 J3s fid, leaving a credit balance of £49 1 Os 7d, Mr Hustwick explained that there was a balance due for painting the church of £22 14s. The total cost of the work was £4O, and of the amount which had been raised L 9 odd had been contributed by the Vestry. It had not been deemed advisable to make a personal canvass for subscriptions but friends had been appealed to by circular and he did not think the result was a fair or substantial one from the congregation. Several who had subscribed when appealed to at other times had failed on this occasion. He knew that times were bad but thought there should have been a better result. The amount owing for the painting was not large, but small as it was, it was more than the ordinary funds of the Vestry could meet. With regard to the seat rents the collection of them entailed great trouble and loss of time upon the churchwardens, and he thought a collector should be appointed to relieve them of this very unpleasant duty. He himself had to leave bis business, which required constant attention, and go day after day from house to house to try to collect these small amounts, and he felt on these visits like a man going round to collect the new Property Tax. It was a vety unpleasant task and was really no part of a churchwarden’s duty, but it had to be done and no other provision was made for it. Properly speaking, the seat holders should call and pay their rents. Mr Hodson moved and seconded the adoption of the Report and Balance-sheet. Mr Hodson said he would like Mr Hustwick to explain the liabilities. He himself knew how they stood but the whole of the meeting might not quite understand it. Mr Hustwick said the vestry had no liabilities of its own, except a small balance of some £lO, due to Robinson Bros. There was a sum of £O3 owing to Messrs Davies Bros, for seats and the balance of the painting account be f o’'e referred to. Mr Hodson said they were indebted to the Church Synod £IOO for money borrowed. This was to be paid back in three years. Mr James T. Robinson said in reference to the £22 14s, owing for painting, it certainly ought to be paid, and it was no use putting up notices on the church door for people to come and pay. They could not get money without going round and making a personal canvas amongst the people. The Church officers should see to this, or else make a composition. He believed if the matter were set about properly that the money could be got as it had been before. The motion that the Report and Balancesheet be adopted, was put and carried.

Mr Hodson said he concurred in what had previously fallen from Mr Hustwick that the duty of collecting seat rents should not fall upon the Churchwardens. In Nelson and other places certain times were appointed for the parishioners to come and pay their seat rents, and as a rule they did so. The seats of all holders who diil not pay their rents within a reasonable time should be let again. Mr Hustwick, in reply to a question, said he estimated the probable receipts and expenditure for next year thus—receipts £330 and expenditure £4OO. He had forgotten to mention that there was £l7 owing for lamps, but a lady had undertaken to see this paid. Mr Jas. T. Robinson asked if the church was insured. He understood it had been insured in one office and policy allowed to lapse. Mr Hustwick said the Church was insured in the Victoria for £4OO and £4OO in the Colonial. This was a temporary measure, and when it was time to effect a fresh insurance he thought it doubtful if one office would take the whole risk, and that it should be divided. He proposed to insure in the office he represented. [Mr Hustwick was apparently going into further explanation, but Mr Robinson said he did not want to hear any more; all he wanted to ascertain was that the church was insured.] Cr Rogers said the Vestry had heavy liabilities, and he did not think it was reasonable to ask people to take office without providing them with ways and means. There was a deficiency of £BO apparently, and this he proposed to put on the seats They could not get it from the offertories, and the seat rents at 12s a year were below the average. He proposed that the rent should be raised to£l, otherwisethey could not make up the deficiency without making a few pay for the many. The extra amount was only one penny for each service or two pence for every Simday throughout the year. On principle he objected to seat rents, but here they were the chief and

) almost the only means of raising revenue 1 for the Church, and the principle was not | involved in the proposed raising of the i rent. He moved that the seat rents be rais- ! ed from 12s to £l. Mr Inspector Smith said this would be ! very hard on a man with a large family, ! who took perhaps half a dozen seats. This I meant taxing him £(> a year, and went on j the principle of taxing the man m<*t who | was least able to hear it. He would not object to a sliding scale, but decidedly objecti ed to the motion as proposed, and believe ' its effect would be to drive away people from the Church. Mr Evans said he objected to tiie motion, hut would second it />»'« so as to elicit discussion. Mr Robinson said he did not think it would he right in so thin a meeting as the present one to pass a motion involving such a radical change, especially ns it had not been notified in the advertisement calling the meeting. He thought there should lie a special meeting called to consider the question, of which notice should he given. Mr Hodson concurred, and suggested that the matter should ho considered at an adjourned meeting to be held that day week. [lt was subsequently agreed that the meeting should adjourn to Wednesday, the 21st inst.] Mr Evans said it was not competent to the meeting to make the proposed alteration no v, as the seats had been let for fi months and that period had been entered uopn, therefore they could not legally raise tinrents during that time. The Chairman said he understood that in Wanganui the full rate was not charged beyond two seats. Mr Smith said he thought the Church ought to he open free to anybody, and not he worked like a theatre. 'ffiie Chairman .said the subject was a painful and a difficult one. Tlicy -lid not wish to do anything to drive away people from Church] hut on the contrary to attract as many as possible to it. Means, however, must be found to meet expenses. It having been agreed that the further consideration of the matter should stand over until the adjourned meeting, the meeting proceeded to the election of officers. The Archdeacon nominated as his Church warden, Mr Rogers. Mr Rogers said he must, with very great reluctance, decline the offer unless some arrangement was made to relieve the Churchwardens from collecting seat rents. It was agreed that this should stand over until the adjourned meeting. Mr Hodson proposed the re-election of Mr Samuel Johnson as Parishioner’s Church warden, and said lie had been requested to apologise for that gentleman’s absence from this meeting. Mr Hustwick said Mr Johnson had told him emphatically that ho was not going to stand for re-election, and was going to leave the Colony. Mr Hodson said he understood from Mr Johnson that he was willing to stand again. Mr Furby seconded Mr Johnson’s nomin-

ation. Mr Robinson said he had no objection to Mr Johnson personally, bathe ha-1 a very great objection to Mr Johnson being again elected Churchwarden, as he was seldom here to look after the duties, being frequently away on business all over the Colony, and it was understood he was going to England in a few months’ time. He hail not been on an average one Sunday in a month attending to his duties, therefore, all the work was left to his colleague. Mr Rogers said he had much pleasure in proposing Mr Dobson as Parishioneis’ Warden, and again said lie thought the duty of collecting seat rents should lie left to a collector. Mr Robinson seconded the nomination of Mr Dobson. Mr Hodson said he would, with the consent of the meeting, withdraw Mr Johnson’s name. This having been done, Mr Dobson was elected Parishioners’ Warden for the ensuing year. The following were elected Vestrymen, in addition to the Chairman and Churchwarden’s ex oflieio. Vestrymen—Messrs Hodson, Pasley, Wiustanley, Birch, Holmes, Fildes, Rogers, and Hickson. Votes of thanks having been passed to the Chairman, the past office-bearers, and the Choir, and the benediction having been pronounced by the Chairman, the meeting adjourned until Wednesday, the 21st inst.