Hawera Church Affairs

Patea Mail, 12 July 1882, Page 3

Hawera Church Affairs

A STRANGE SILENCE. (fBOM OUR 0 0 R R E S P O N U E N T.) Thu - annual meeting of parishioners of the Church of England was held on Saturday,-the Rev. Mr Keating in the chair. Mr Kempthorne read the report of the Vestry, and Mr W, G. White read the balance-sheet. The latter shews a debt of about £95 on the new church. Mr Keating congratulated the parishioners on the zeal and energy displayed in getting their church into working order so soon. He also considered that financially they were in a very good state. He would have pleasure in proposing the re-election of Mr Kempthorne as curate’s warden, which was seconded, and carried unanimously. Mr W, A. Parkinson was elected people’s churchwarden, and Messrs White, Perry, Laishley, Hobbs, and York vestrymen. Mr York said before the meeting adjourned he would like to ask Mr Keating if ho could explain the action of the Bishop with reference to appointing a curate to the parish. The parishioners had done all they could to forward the interests of the church in this parish; and had obtained the services of a curate with the sanction of the Bishop, but he had thrown cold water on the affair, and refused to appoint him. Mr Keating said the action of his Lordship was inexplicable, but he supposed he had good reasons for refusing to appoint Mr Taylor. However, he would write to tha Bishop and give him the expression of the parishioners. Mr Laishley said he had a resolution' to propose with reference to the appointment of Mr Taylor. He stated that the Bishop had been written to and asked to appoint Mr Taylor, but the Bishop replied that the application must come from Mr Taylor as well. Both applications had been sent in, and the Bishop had not the common courtesy to answer the letter from the vestry. He (Mr Laishley) considered we were entitled to a little more consideration from the Bishop, and he had serious ideas of moving that steps be taken to have the

parish brought within the Auckland district. He was sorry it ever was changed. Several parishioners spoke in indignant terms of the action taken by the Bishop ; and Mr Laishley’s resolution asking the Bishop to appoint Mr Taylor was put and carried. After a vote of thanks to the retiring vestry and officers, the meeting adjourned.