ST. PETER’S PARISH.-ANNUAL MEETING.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5406, 25 July 1878, Page 3

ST. PETER’S PARISH.-ANNUAL MEETING.

The annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Peter’s was Held in the schoolroom last evening. ’, There was a good attendance; and ‘ amongst those present were several ladies. Tl»©-Venerable Archdeacon Stock occupied the chair. After prayer, the Chairman addressed some preliminary observations to the meeting, and gave an outline of the history of St. Peter’s Church, which was, he stated, originally built >- • thirty-seven years ago, at a cost of £B9l, to accommodate! 250 : persons. The expense was 1 ’ horn© by the Rov. Samuel Williams, who had ‘ confidence .in'being-repaid,-which confidence it bad been proved was ; not misplaced; as the whole amount had been paid. The Archdeacon urged that if in times past, with the then small congregation, they were able and willing to bear • such a burden, how much more able and willing ought they now to be in these days, when the* population and wealth had so greatly increased, to find sufficient funds for their church requirements. They were clear of all liabilities; the church had been enlarged five times ; a parsonage had been built, and a new organ had been .supplied; and be hoped that by next year the new building would be not only commenced but in a fair way towards completion. He thanked the their many acta of kindness towards himself, who* had been minister of this pariah for 22 years. He also desired to thank the Rev, Mr. Do Castro for relieving him of much of the duty at the • gaol, and other matters. He also thanked Mr. Hamerton, who was, he regretted to say, about to resign, for' bis valuable services’ as organist. .• Mr. Didsburt, the senior churchwarden, then read the report, which stated that the affairs of the parish were in a satisfactory condition. The - last annual report recorded a large falling off in the offertories, attributable mainly ,to the subdivision of the parish. There was, how--4 over, an increase this year of £37 Os. 6d. under. % w that head," the offertories amoupting to V £4lO Is, lid. as compared with £373 Is. 6cL - last year. The income from pew rents, on the v other hand, showed a serious due to ‘ the persistent neglect or refusal of many seatholders to pay the sums in which they are indebted for the rent of their sittings. Under this head.a Bum.o£ i .£7l was’still outstanding. The report went on to say *. if this had been paid the churchwardens would have been able to report a credit balance of £203, instead of £l2B, and the churchwardens would have felt justified In recommending a vote of £2OO, instead of £IOO, to the church re-building fund. The churchwardens begged to .acknowledge the services of the choir, and observed that the thanks of the parishioners were especially due to them for the purchase and erection, out of the choir funds, of the water-power - engine recently fltted to the organ, which will enable the parish, for the future, to dispense with, the services of an’-'organ-blower. The thanks 'of the parishioners ’ also are due to the Corporation • for allowing the use of the city water supply for- the engine, free of charge. ’ Under the new Education Act the vestry of St. Peter's parish has ceased to carryout the function's , ■ of a local committee for the school. The committee ' is now elected by the residents within this school district. The churchwardens have addressed a letter to the recently-elected school committee, drawing attention to the fact that since'the school has been connected with the Education Board no rent has been paid for the use of the buildings and grounds, and that the claims of the parish to some, equivalent in . this respect should be recognised, mentioning £75 as a moderate rental, and applying on behalf of the parish for the payment of that sum. They have not yet received any official answer to this application, but understand that they are willing to recommend the Kducation Board to entertain it, provided they can obtain a lease of tho-ground for twenty-one years. The services of the Rev. T. S. Porritfc, superintendent of the Sunday-school, and of the teachers, were pointed out as deserving of the warmest acknowledgment. The list of subscriptions in aid of tlie-Melaoe-slan Mission collected- by the Sunday-school teachers and children was a satisfactory indication of the ■ interest taken by them in the progress of this mission., "The quarterly offertories at. the children’s services '* amounted to £5 Bs. Sd. The balance-sheet orthe St. * Peter's Penny Bank showed that the large sum of £33G 3s. 2d. had been received in the shape of deposits during the year, and the number of depositors was 430. From- the accumulated interest, a sum of £ls had been paid to the Sunday-school library fond, for the, purchaseof books. The churchwardens again recommend that the payment, during the ensuing year, of £IOO from the parish revenue to the church building fund should be authorised- They regret that, from the largo amount of paw rents still remaining unpaid, they ore unable to recommend a larger vote. Mr. Didsburt moved the adoption of the report, and urged upou all in arrears with their pew rents the duty of paying this debt . of honor. He said he trusted the successors of the present churchwardens would not have the ' same difficulty in getting in these outstanding ■ liabilities. In all other respects the report was satisfactory, and he had much pleasure in - imoving its adoption. -Before sitting down he * desired to express his regret at the resignation of Mr. Hamerton. Mr. Rous Marten, the other churchwarden, / seconded the adoption of the’report, and endorsed what his colleague had said in reference . ta the arrears of pew rents. Tf these rents had been paid regularly, th§ balance-sheet would ' have shown’a-credit balance of £2OO instead of < ’ the same thing occurred next year he should be in favor of the names of the defaulters beipg published. These were debts of honor not recoverable by law, and seatbolders ' ought to pay regularly. -- The report was unanimously adopted. 1: The balance-sheet for the year ending 30th June, 1878, showed the receipts to have been £loll' 3s. -3d., and expenditure to the like amount, less a credit balance of £l2B 11s, lid. 1 : The balance-sheet was unanimously adopted. * ’ ' ’‘ ’ THE PROPOSED NEW CHURCH.

Tho Chaxbman read the report of the bmldfrom which we take the following particulars ' Theteport-stated that up.to the present time the ‘ moneys In the bands of tlus treasurer amount to £220110a 2d., and many'sums promised to tho fund, remain to be collected. The estimated cost-was. £O3OO. The report saidA finance sub-committee has been appointed to obtain the names of twenty five persona who. shall agree to sign a bond by which the aignee will make himself responsible for the interest 0n.£250. The ordinary receipts of the church will he able, it is confidently, expected, to bear all tho necessary charges of tho parish/ but the existence of this bond will be a farther security to anyone who may lend money, by debenture or otherwise, to the parish, that the stipulated interest will be duly paid.' The subscriptions to. tho church building fund received since June, 1877, amounted to £lßll2s. Id., of which amount3lr. E. Pearce subscribed £150; Mr. A. Young, £6O; Hon, J. C. Pharazyn,£!.s; Mr. IVhittem,£loloa.; and Mr. Petherict, £2O. Mr. Ecus Marten moved that the report be adopted and printed with the pariah report. The Rev. Mr. D® Castro seconded. Mr, Roxburgh said he thought i£ the building b£ tho new 1 church had been already commenced there would not have been such a laxity in the payment o£.tho pew rents. There waa a sum of £2OOO in hand, and he considered the'work'ought to be pushed on with as little delay as ' possible. : There ; was .an impression that a portion of the old church was to be utilised, and only' half the new church to be builfwith the £2OOO ihhapd. Was that so? The Chairman said it was not intended to retain, any portion-of >the old, church any longer than, was required. The impression referred, to: by Mr. Roxburgh was erroneous.,. -■ ' The report was adopted. , ELECTION OP OFFICERS. j- Tjie ; Chairman announced that Mr. Rous Marten tad' consented ’ to’act as minister’s churchwarden for the ensuing year. Mr. Marten said ho hod contemplated resignation, feeling the duties too onerous j hut' as Mr, Didahury also intended to, resign, he (Mr, Marten) had consented to act- as minister’s churhwardeh. .He begged to nominate Mr. E. Dixon as parishioners’, churchwarden for the ensuing year. ... t Captain Kreefi seconded the motion, which was carried unanimously. ;• ~'o-■ The following gentlemen were elected vestry ■ men Kreeft, Captain Rose, Messrs, Dijl-ibury, Bearce, E, Hunter, Morrah, Lodger, B. Anderson, B. Waters, and W. 11. Holmes. Mr. E. Hunter said ho.nnderstood that Mr., pearco wished his name to ho omitted. Mr. Startup’s name was mentioned for the vacancy. • ■■■ .. . The Chairman said if Mr, Pearce refused to serve as a vestryman, a special meeting could he held, when Mr. Startup’s nomination: would be put to the meeting. : Messrs. Bethune and Bishop wero re-elected auditors,; and votes of thanks passed to them for past services. ' Thank* were voted to Mr. E. Anderson for undertaking the collection of pew rents. ■

Mr. R. Marten moved, —That the churchwardens ho authorised to declare vacant, and to re-let all sittings the rents of which are rabre than three months in arrear. ; Mr. Ledger seconded the motion. Mr. Roxburgh thought the time should be six months, according to the old l rule, and bo rigidly enforced ; therefore lie should not support tho motion, but he did nob propose to offer any amendment. Mr. Waters and’ others spoke against the motion, which was withdrawn. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings.