MEETING OF ST. LUKE'S PARISHIONERS.

Oamaru Mail, Volume II, Issue 550, 5 February 1878, Page 2

MEETING OF ST. LUKE'S PARISHIONERS.

The annual meeting of tlio parishioners of St. Luke's was hokl last evening in the Waitaki Hall. Prese it—The Rev. A. Gilford (in the chair), Messrs. Uooth, Williams, Martin, Filleul, Thornton, Six-ward. Smith, Clowes, L'earee, Allen, Kerr, Isles, and Dr. Garland. The minutes of last meeting were read and continued, and the treasurer, in the absence of Mr. R. Thompson, read the report and balance sheet. The latter showed the receipts to be L7<i.'J 15s. (id., and the expenditure LSI'.) l!)s. ; the di licit being due to the amounts for pew rents uncollected. HKl'nitT. '•'The. Churchwardens and Vestry in nrcsenting ciieir report, ami li/iancal '•tatement for the past year (1K77) are 1,,,,-mkful to s.y tiiat i imy have been able io carry out their duths with results which they h 'pe will bo considered satis- 1 r'ae.tory. A year ago tlio loan for enure i . nlargement had been newly ■ ffeeh d. I'his lo.ii! lias lieen reduced by L7<l, and the interest duly ] aid upon the, debeii,tu\s that are still outstanding. The stipend of tie clergyman lias b-en regu[.irly paid, including the special voce of Lsofor lS7li. and the same addition for ; he current vcar. '• The salur es of other niii-v rs have also be n niei, a. 'd the est of ligh'ieg the C lurch wit.i gas, %■■;:., }.A'). defrayed. ''But tiiey desire i" state tint, although thankful for lie- result as it, is, u ought, to liav ■ been, a>.l mij.t have been, bett r still. I'li'nf, 1" all church members instead of oniy an increased number had responded to vhe cab nude in last year's report; s ■cm iiy, it tie pew rents had been piviti,>: iy pa'd up to dale: ami thirdly, if t.'.';e congregation generally : would remember that tiie weekly offertories are a chief means of support. They earnestly hope that the zeal and liberality of those who have aided in the past year ' will be sustained, and that many others : will participate with them in the duties and burdens of the year on which we have '' now entered for the encouragement of those who may succeed them in oliiee, and for tho credit and well-being of the / Church. "As will be seen by a reference to flu preface of last year's report, the credit balance therein shown was more apparent ' than, real, a sum of Lllo being then held : . by the Vestry for the purpose of redeeming debentures. During the year under review, the extraordinary charges have been unusually heavy, amounting in nearly LoiX). These amounts include the L7O above-mentioned, the lighting of (he Church with gas. the increased payment ! to the Incumbent, and the liquidation of interest upon loans. On tiie whole, therefore, the Vestry venture to think ■ that the year has been a successful one financially speaking, and they would reiterate the hope that this should only I e the first of a series of reports indicating increased zeal and liberality on. the part of the congregation. '; 9' £ u;ul '' m " ' Churchwardens." '• J. 1 HOISNTCIN, ) On the motion of Mr. J. liooth, seconded by Mr. Clowes, the report and balance sheet, were adopted, and it was resolved that the latter bo published with statement, showing the position of the several church accounts. The liev. A. Gilford nominated Mr. Sampler as clergyman's churchwarden. Proposed bv Mr. Kerr, and seconded by Mr. Smith]' " That M>. 0. S. Aden be iccied parish churchwarden." —Carried. Proposed by Mr. Filleul, seconded by Mr. Booth, and carried, "Tuat tiie liiiniii..r of the vestrymen be eight for the ensuing year." The following gentlemen were declared duly elected ; Messrs. R.. Thompson, Boulh, Martin, Steward, Thornton, Of-erson. Kidd, and Medlicott. Proposed by Mr. Booth, seconded by Mr. Smith, and carried, " That Mr. Fill-ill's off r to sell section 15, Block XXVI, he accepted with thanks, and that t ie vestry b-i recommended to make an eilbrt to' pay t :is year's instalment by special contribution. . Proposed by Mr. Steward, seconded by Mr. Gilford, and carried, " That a hearty vote of thai.ks be accorded to tho out•join,' Vestry, Lay Readers, Parochial Ward'-ns, Superintendent, and Teachers of Sunday School, organist and choir." Thanks were accorded to the Committee of tho Mechanic./ Institute at Otepopo for use of room. Proposed by Air. M-- ii. .. e ■• ■ ed by Mr. Steward, and ■••;.• ried, "Tiiat the matt, r of notifving w •„••! fie siaiiijaaro free bo taken into c e.>;deration by the Vestry with a view te -neh recommendations thereaneiit as ! .'wy may deem advisable." Proposi d bv M Allen, seconded by Mr. Booth, and c* lied. "That the matter

of church completion bo remitted for tlio serious consideration of tho Vestry, to he reported upon at a special meeting of parish."