CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

Patea Mail, 6 August 1881, Page 3

CHURCH OF ENGLAND.

Two meetings of members of the Church of England at Patea have been* held to consider the desirability of constituting this a separate parish, with a view to influence the election of a minister ; also as to building a larger church, and raising funds for the two objects. The first occasion was the annual meeting of members, held Wednesday fortnight, at which the annual report and balance sheet of the vestry were received. The year had commenced with a deficit of £147 13s 2d, and an improvement to the extent of £7O 15s 9d was now shown, leaving a present deficit of £76 17s 6d. The report recommended the building of a new church to cost £BOO, one half the cost to be defrayed by the Diocesan Committee, the other half to be raised by subscription. The report also suggested the formation of Patea district into a parish, the boundaries to be Whenuakura river and Manawapou river, including all the inland settlement. The parish minister’s stipend would have to be not less than £3OO a year. The report and balance sheet were adopted. Mr Hamerton was re-elected parishioners’ warden, and Mr R. Horner re-elected curate’s warden. Resolved, on the motion of Mr Hamer-. ton, seconded by Mr C. F; Barker, that a subscription list be opened for building a new church. The meeting then adjourned for a fortnight, to enable delegates from Waverley district to be present. The adjourned meeting was held last Wednesdaj*. Present: Mr R. Homer in the chair, Messrs Wray, Tennent, Baldwin, Barker, E. C. Horner, J. Richard, H. F. Christie, S. Taplin, R. Read, and Dr Keating. Mr Tennent moved, and Mr Hamerton seconded, “That steps be taken before the next meeting of Synod to found a parish, as suggested in the report of the Vestry, and that the district proposed to be incorporated be canvassed to ascertain what amount we could inform the Synod the parish would be prepared to pay for the incumbent’s stipend.” In the discussion nearly all present spoke, and it appeared that by forming a parish there would be a new appointment of minister, and that a nomination by the parish would probably be confirmed by the bishop. It would be necessary to show that the pariah could pay such sum as would ensure a minister’s stipend of £3OO a year. It was said that a large and corafortabe church would greatly increase the pew rents. The motion was carried unanimously. It was agreed, after some difficulty, to leave the Vestry to appoint canvassers for subscriptions towards a new church, and for defraying the larger expenses entailed by a separate parish. Several speakers regretted that Waverley was again not represented at the meeting, as it might afterwards be said, that its wishes had not been considered. It was stated, in reply, that the adjournment of 14 days was made specially with the object of obtaining the attendance of Waverley delegates, and none had come ; and that only three persons attended the last church meeting at Waverley, Their co-operation was not indispenable, though it certainly was desirable. Their concurrence might be regarded, however, as probable.

Dr Keating moved a vote of thanks to the organist, Mr Frank Ilorner, for his services during the year. Mr Tennent seconded, and desired that the choir also should be included ; and another gentleman added the names of the lay-readers, Mr R. Horner and Mr Wray. Carried. Mr Hamerton complimented the various Sunday-school teachers, and Mrs Dale especially, to whom they were under great obligations ; but he could not retract any of his previous animadversions regarding the need for improved management. Dr Keating explained that extraordinary difficulty existed in finding a superintendent, and Mr Dasent was engaged elsewhere. Many gentlemen had been asked to assist, but had declined to do so. It was inevitable that some awkwardness would arise from conducting the school in the pews instead of a proper school- - room. The meeting then adjourned.