ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH.

Patea Mail, Volume IV, Issue 342, 27 July 1878, Page 2

ST. GEORGE'S CHURCH.

The annual meeting of the members of St. George’s Church was hell in the Land Office, Patea, on Tuesday, the 23rd July, at 7 p.m. Present ; Rev A. Dasont (chairman), Messrs G. A. Wray, R. Horner, R. C. Tennant. S. Taplm, C. Finnerry, Dr Croft, Major Baddeley, am! G. N. Baggett. Mr Aitehisou attended to explain re proposed alterations to Church. The chairman then mentioned the chief subjects for discussion. Minutes of last annual meeting were read. The report and balance sheet for the past year were then read by the Churchwarden. Proposed by Dr Croft, seconded by Captain Wray, and carried, “That the report and balance sheet, as read, bo adopted.” Proposed by Mr Taplin, seconded by Mr R. C. Torment, and carried unanimously, “ That a vote of thanks be recorded to the Rev A. Dasent and Mr TI. F. Christie, for their handsome presents to the Church.” In accordance with the suggestion of the Bishop, it was resolved that immediate steps be taken to pay oft the arrears of interest on the Parsonage Debt, and that Air r iVi)nont, in conjunction with the members of the Harmonic Society I and others willing to assist, be requested | to organise an entertainment, begin in four or .'lvo week, to raise the amount required. The matter of removing porch to western end of Church was next discussed, when it was proposed by Mr Finnerty, seconded by Mr Tennent, and carried, “ That the Churchwardens be authorised , to make such alterations to Church entrance as will do away with present objectionable draught.” Proposed by Mr Taplin, seconded by Mr Finnerty, and carried, “ That a vote of thanks be recorded to the Churchwardens and Vestry for their services during past vear.” Mr II orner was appointed Curate’s Churchwarden, and Mr Bagget was elected Parishioner's Church warden. Captain Wray and Major Baddeley were also re-elected as members of the Vestry.

Messrs J. R. Lysaght and G. W. Williams being nominated ns Synodsmcn to represent the district in the Diocesan Synod'of Wellington, were, in the absence of our nominees,, declared- duly elected.. REPORT, The Churchwardens, in presenting their report for the year ending 30th June, 1878, are able to state that the funds-of the Church are not in any worse position- than they were last year ; that though there has not been any decided j: nprovement in any particular item of the account,, there has been no falling off on the whole—some oub-stations having given more, some less.. During the year the Curate has been paid very nearly the same sum that he received the previous year, but there still remains the debt of ,£IOO due on the 30th June, 1877, and about £SO on the 30th June, 1878, if the present balance in hand is otherwise absorbed’; if not, he will have received about the £2OO guaranteed. The Bishop of the Diocese paid his annual visit in December last. During

liis Lordship’s stay, he endeavoured to hold meetings in Hawera and Waverley, with a view of ascertaining the local feeling as to the building of Churches in those districts ; but through insufficiency of notice, and a general disinclination to incur pecuniariy responsibilities, no results ensued. His Lordship also made a suggestion to the vestry, which it would be well for the interests of the Church to endeavour to carry out. The suggestion was that if the Vestry would pay the £36 of interest duo in September last, he would advise the Standing Committee ot the Diocese to remit £250 o F the Parsonage debt, thus leaving only £2OO as duo from the members of the Church in this district, and relieving the Church accounts from £2O of interest annually. Before closing their report, the Churchwardens call the attention of the members of the congregation to the fact that though there are sittings in the Church to the value of £92, the present statement of accounts only shows £39 received, and that of last year £3l 10s. Last year, they would remind the congregation was a broken year, the additions to the Church having been completed about the middle of the year; but they had hoped that this year the sittings would have been taken up more readily, inasmuch as the numbers attending Church, especially in the evenings, would lead a casual observer fo imagine that the Church was better supported than it is, and they cannot but feel bound to call upon all the members of the congregation to lend a helping hand to alter this anomalous state of tilings. In conclusion, the Churchwardens gratefully acknowledge the donation of a carpet and kneeling mat, also of a couple of handsome chairs for the Chancel; and would be glad to see other members of tiie congregation following the same example, as the Church is much in want of a Font and Communion Plate for the proper administration of the sacrament’s. A vole of thanks to Chairman terminated the proceedings.