ST. LUKE'S CHURCH.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1181, 29 January 1880, Page 2

ST. LUKE'S CHURCH.

The adjourned annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Luke's Church was. held at the Oddfellows' Hall last evening. The Rev. A. Gifford occupied the chair.; The attendance was small. The meeting having been opened with prayer, the minutes of the last annual, meeting were read and confirmed. Mr. Roberts read the annual sheet, and in his remarks thanked Mesdames Garland, Otterson, Booth, and Iles,_ for the very material assistance they had given in collecting the supplementary fund. After some congratulatory remarks from the chairman with reference to the manner in which the treasurer had drawn up the balance sheet, the following report from the wardens was read : In submitting our annual report and financial statement for the consideration of the parishioners, we may congratulate you that although we have reduced the amount owing on debentures by L 55 during the year, our liabilities are only Ll3 3s 5d more than they were at this period last year, which, considering the depression that has existed, is very satisfactory.

We are pleased to notice an improvement in the contributions to the supplementary fund. Our best thanks are due to the ladies who have assisted in collecting, namely, Mesdames Garland, Otterson, Booth, and lies. There are a number of parishioners who have not paid their promised subscriptions, but we hope they will be immediately forwarded, to enable the Treasurer to pay arrears _of the clergyman's stipend, now due, viz., LIOO. We regret that this amount could not appear in the bank overdraft, which we are sorry to say is now restricted to a small limit, During the past year there has been a falling off in the amount collected for pew rents, but we must bear in mind that in 1878 a large amount was collected for outstanding arrears. At pi'esent the amount due for pew rents to May next, with arrears, is LB7. A third of this sum may be written off. The total sittings in the church, exclusive of choir, number 278, of which 52 are free, leaving only 226 for revenve purposes. There are numerous applications for sittings, therefore it is desirable that an effort should be made to increase the small sum which is now lying at interest, viz., Ll7 9s, for church completion. The recent dull times have prevented any steps being taken to increase this fund during the year. The report and balance-sheet were, after a little discussion, adopted and ordered to be printed and circulated in the usual way. The election of office-bearers was then proceeded with. The incumbent nominated Mr. J. Booth as clergyman's churchwarden, and Mr. J. Allen was elected parochial churchwarden. The following gentlemen were elected to form the vestry :—Messrs. Octersoti, Roberts, lies, Sumpter, Filleul, Thompson, Robinson, and Rr, Garland. The usual votes of thanks were accorded to the outgoing Vestry, lay readers, parochial wardens, superintendent and teachers of Sunday School, organist, and choir. On the motion of Mr. Sumpter, seconded by Mr. Medlicott, a special vote of thanks was accorded to the ladies who had done such material service in collecting, and, with a vote of thanks to the Chairman, the meeting closed.