PARISH MEETING.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 166, 13 July 1880, Page 2

PARISH MEETING.

Christ Church. The annual meeting of the parishioners of Christ Church was held last night in the Shelbourne-street Sunday-school room, when the balance sheet for the year was produced, which showed a credit balance of £3, in addition to uncollected but available pew rents, amounting to £24. The oifertones for theyear showed a falling off of £32 as compared wilh the previous year. Dr. Scaly and Mr J. R. Dodson were respectively re-appointed and re - elected Minister's and Parishioners' Churchwardens. Eleven candidates were proposed as Vestrymen, and on a ballot beihg taken the following were declared to be el ected : -Messrs A. Jones, F_ J. Blundell, A E. Moore, C Hunter Brown, A. Pitt, S. White, and P. Cooke. Votes of thanks were accorded to the retiring officers, and to the organist and members of the choir, the value of whose " services was warmly acknowledged . The question of enlarging the present building was then brought forward, the proposal being to add two side aishs, one oa each side of the main aisle, and to extend the chancel eight feet, thus giving additional accommodation to the choir. The cost of this, together with that of re-shingling the whole. building, was estimated at about £450. A letter was read from the Bishop of Nelson expressing his entire approval of the project, and offering as his owu and Mrs Suter's contribution a donation of £30, to be paid in tbree annual instalments of £10 each. A letter was also read from Mr Pitt, disapproving of the proposal. In favor of the enlargement it was urged that every sitting was now let, and that there were between sixty and seventy applications which could not 'be granted owing to the want of accommodation.. The additional revenue which would be derived from the pew rents alone of those who are at present desirous of obtaining sittings would amount to nearly £50, which, if £250 were borrowed, wonld not only pay the interest, but allow a considerable amount to be set aside each year as a sinking fund. Those who were opposed to the proposed additions argued that although every sitting was let, a number of them were unoccupied, and that there was always plenty of room in the church; and further, thut the present was an inopportune time for appealing to the parishioners for subscriptions. A motiou affirming the desirability of enlarging tbe building was then pot, and carried by a small majority. ' This was followed by another resolution to (he effect that the enlargement should not be commenced until £200 had been subscribed. A vote of thanks to the Chuirman brought the meeting to a close. All Saints. The annual parochial meeting was held in the Institute, when the churchwardens' accounts were passed, showing a sum of £470 raised in the parish during the past year, which had been all paid in liquidation of current liabilities, leaving only the original building debts. The following were appointed of" eers : — Churchwardens : Dr. Boor, and Mr J. Browning. Vestry : Messrs H. Edwards, H. V. Gully, M. Andrews, 11. .Andrews, T. Crooke, J P. Cooke, J. Hodgson, G. Hodgson, C. Y. Fell, aud B. West. The usual votes of thauks were passed, and a special one to the Bishop for his assistapce to the parish during the past year.