ST. PETER’S PARISH MEETING.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5340, 9 May 1878, Page 3

ST. PETER’S PARISH MEETING.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE NEW ZEALAND TIMES. . Sin,—Will you permit us to correct certain misapprehensions under which your report, of last night’s parish meeting at St. Peter's Church evidently was written, as if suffered- to pass unnoticed they may give rise to serious misconception. ' 1. The meeting was not called “for the purpose of ascertaing tho desirability *of raisa loan of .£4OOO for building a new church,’.’ that question having been definitely decided in the affirmative by the congregation more than two years ago. The sole purpose for which the meeting was called was to consider the proposal of the vestry, made at the suggestion of the incumbent, that the interest on the necessary loan should be made a first charge upon the revenues of the parish, as expressed in the resolution moved by the! churchwardens.. This, the sole and special object of the meeting, is not once alluded to in any part of your report, and is omitted even from the resolution itself, of which it formed the operative portion. It is very important to us that this point 'should be clearly understood; 1 . ,2. With reference to the financial position of the parish, the statement of the churchwardens was that the present surplus income -amounted to about £250, which was expected to be more than doubled when additional seat room should be obtainable. Hence, if the interest amounted to £320 per annum, about £2OO still would be left to be employed as a sinking fund.

3. It was not stated that “the architects had sadly misunderstood the committee, as none of' the plans submitted to them could be built for the stated sum.” On the contrary, the competitors were particularly careful, to adhere to the prescribed conditions. ■; What the mover really stated was that the subcommittee .appointed to , procure . designs apparently had overlooked the fact that the entire outlay ou tho new ohurohyvas' not to Exceed £6000,. and treated that sum as the mere cost of the building alone. This, with arohitedts’.feca and other necessary expenses, involved a total outlay of uearly£7ooo, or about £IOOO more than originally intended. V" We regret.having to trouble you with these corrections, but it is very important; in the interest of the .object • sought to be attained, -that no misunderstanding should‘exist, either, as to the financial position of tho parish, or as' to tho course proposed to he adopted.—Wo are; &c,, .ri- '-■■■ ■' The Churchwardens, St. Peter’s'Parish.