CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY.

Marlborough Express, Volume IV, Issue 171, 17 April 1869, Page 4

CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY.

The Annual Meeting of the congregation was held on Thursday evening, 10th inst., in the Provincial Hall. The attendance was very limited. Archdeacon Butt took the chair. He said the proceedings of the year past did not call for much comment ; the attendance at Church had been better, and the Sunday School had largely increased its numbers. He also acknowledged the gift to the Church of a set of chandeliers, and a new carpet for the chancel, by the members of the congregation. Mr. Hodsbn, one of the Church Officers, in rising to present the accounts for the year, remarked upon the decreased funds at their disposal. The balance at the commencement of the year was £42, while at the close it was only 245. ; the offertory had fallen off, while the sum received for pew rents was very much less. He attributed the decreased fund principally to bad times. In respect to the expenditure, the Bishop had ordered the proportion of Mr. Butt’s stipend to be increased £SO in respect of this district, and there was still a sum due for bell-ringing. The Accounts were as follows : Balance Sheet of the Church of the Nativity, Blenheim.

Henry F. Butt, Archdeacon. On the motion of Messrs. James T. Robinson and Guilford, Mr. Hodson was re-elected a Church Officer for the ensuing year. On the motion of Messrs. Dobson and Earll, Mr, Litchfield was also elected a Church Officer,

On the motion of Messrs. Robinson and Dobson, Mr. Kissling was re-elected Auditor.

A vote of thanks* was passed to the retiring Officers. A conversation ensued respecting the course to be adopted with regard to the pew rents in airear, a strong opinion being expressed that the rents ought to be made payable half-yearly. On the motion of Messrs. Litchfield and Robinson it was resolved— * "That the seat rents be made payable halfyearly in advance. That notice be given that the Church Officers be in attendance at a given place on a day in January, and a day in July. If the sittings are not paid for within one week from the day appointed for payment, that the seat be re-let.”

On the motion of Messrs. John S. Carroll and Guilford it was further resolved—“That a day be appointed by the Church Officers for the payment of all arrears of seat rents now due, and that if any such rents remain unpaid for one week after that date, the seats to be re-let.”

A lengthy discussion took place respecting the playing of the harmonium, during which the chairman stated that a new instrument was required, and urged that subscriptions should be solicited far the purpose of procuring one. He aafd that since the bellows of the present haraaonium had been repaired, they were so difficult to work that ladies were not equal to the task, and the playing was therefor/i confined to the gentlemen.

Messrs. Robinson and Earll moved—• “ That subscriptions be obtained for paying a person to play the harmonium regularly.” Mr. White moved that Mr. Robinson’s motion be amended by adding *to it the following words—- “ And that this meeting expresses its thanks to Mr. Carey for the efficient manner in which he has presided at the harmonium, and requests Archdeacon Butt to endeavor to make arradgements for the harmonium being played at each service of the Church,” The amendment having been carried, the motion as amended was passed, and after a vote of thanks to the chairman the meeting came to a close.

Dr. £ s. D. To Balance from last year ... 42 15 1 Offertories... 80 8 10 Seat Rents for 1868 17 16 0 Ditto for 1869 24 18 0 Offertory at Big Bush for enclosing Church 1 10 0 Offertory for Malenesian Mission 3 5 0 Contribution to gravelling footpath to Church 6 0 0 Sale of Hymn Books 0 16 6 £177 9 6 Cr. £ s. D. By Minister’s Stipend 125 0 0 Ditto Life Insurance 5 1 0 Synod expenses ... 3 0 0 Malenesian Mission ... ... 3 5 0 Ball-ringing to 30th June, 1868... 5 0 0 Lighting 5 4 8 Cleaning Church ... 5 18 10 Printing and Advertising 2 18 3 Forming Foot-paths to Cuurch... 20 9 0 Sundries 0 8 6 Balance at Bank of New Zealand 0 19 9 Cash in hand 0 4 5 £177 9 5