ST. THOMAS' CHURCH.

Motueka Star, Volume IV, Issue 200, 21 July 1903, Page 3

ST. THOMAS' CHURCH.

At the Parish meeting of St. Thomas' Church held on July 15th, 1903, there were a fair number of Parishioners present, particularly ladies, who outnumbered the other sex. After prayers, and the confirmation of the minutes of the last annual meet ing, Churchwarden Tarrant read the following report:— The Church affairs have been going on throughout the year satisfactorily, and very much the same as previously. The insurance on the church and vicarage has been renewed. The vicarage roof requires a little more repair, and the man who has undertaken the work will no doubt do it as soon as he has completed what he has now in hand. About £Z will be reqnired for the work, which the Vestry feel quite sure will be forthcoming when wanted. The Vestry desires to point out (as was done last year) that a new church should be built,, the present one being very old, but so far very little more money has been promised towards it. The Synod having made the church's financial year to expire on the 31st March, instead of the 30th June as heretofore, the church's accounts were made up to the former date, and have again very kindly been audited by Mr Symes, of the Bank ot New Zealand, and certified to by him as being correct. We are pleased to be able to state that the minister's stipend has been paid up to I date, but the quarter upon which we have just entered will, it is feared, be somewhat behind unless some extraneous means are adopted for making up the quarterly payment. There are about due for pew rents, but there are a few bills to come in for lighting, etc., which will more than absorb the amount we are likely to obtain. It was resolved on the motion of Mr, Wratt, seconded by Mr A. R. Edwards," that the leport and Balance sheet be adopted.

The Vicar then appointed Mr Gilbert as his Churchwarden and Mr Tarrant was unanimously elected People's Churchwarden. The following were elected members of the Vestry :—Messrs Wratt, Jordan, Edwards, Holder, Rhodes, Haycock, Staples, Symes. Findlay and Park. Resolved, That this meeting strongly urges the Synod to so alter the Constitution as to give ladies a vote at Parish meetings. Resolved that a hearty vote of thanks be accorded to Mr Symes for auditing the accounts ; to Mrs Symes for acting as Organist; and to Misses Jordan |and Gilbert, her assistants, and also to the outgoing Vestry.

Resolved, that a hearty vote of thanks be given to the Rev. the Vicar, for the very excellent extemporary sermons which he has preached throughout the year, which had been very much appreciated by his congregation's and had no doubt done much good. A Building Committee consisting of the Churchwardens and Vestrymen, together with the following ladies, was appointed to collect subscriptions for building a new Church:—Mesdames Johnston, Jennings, Leslie, Rankin, Symes, Banfield, Edwards, Mead, Findlay, Staples, and Park; Misses Tarrant, Johnston, Gilbert, Bullard, Jordan and Fearon.

The meeting then proceeded to the election of two Synodsmen for the ensuing three years, when Messrs Tarrant and Edwards were unanimously elected, and a hearty vote of thanks accorded to them for their past services.