BUCKLAND.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 2, Issue 103, 20 June 1913, Page 3

BUCKLAND.

ENTHUSIASTIC CHURCH WORK. Considerable irterest is at all tinr.ca evinced by the Anglican community locally in matters psrtisiting to St. Paul's ijhurch, Bucklsnd. Followirg on tbe commencement cf services in tha public school, fur the piomotion of which the late Mr Jacob H. Wright, cf Pukekohe. wa3 mainly responsible, tha parishioners some 13 years back decided to buil i a church, a section of ground being procured for tha purcos?. Settlement was then tparse, while farming prcducis ft that time were a cegliaible quantity, Bui despite this fict tho few parishioners cet ti work zealously, and ia Ihe short spaca of a few months a fins commodious church, built on lines calculated to meet the requirements cf a growing community for corns yea sto come, was erect?d, and the building, together with tha section of ground acquired, was handed over to the trustees free of debt. Sinca that period matters in connection with the Church have assumed a roseate aspect The congregation bss steadily increased; a Sunday School has been commenced ar.d i 3 now being wellattended; while the finances of the Church have been well maintained. Two y ars back it was rkcided to permanently ncreasa Bucklat.d'a contribution to tha Vioer s stipend by an additional £lO per anr.um. At about the time an additional parcfl of land, about half-an-acre in extent, wa3 procured, and added to the boundaries of the Church property. Although a gutrantor was forthcoming for the purchase money, in order that the ground should be unencumbered, the proffered Fssistance was not required, as the amount (some £7O) was promptly raised by subscription. T bis was core through the good offices of the Ladies' Guild in connection with the Church, end the acquirtd ground was handed over to the trustees free of debt. For the purpose of obtaining a set of solid silvsr Commurion vessels, 'he parishioners further subscribed some £lO amongst themselves, and an order was placed with an English firm of silversmiths for the vessels, which came to hand last year. At the last annual meeting of parishioners, held recently, a resoution was carried recommending the Vestry to have installed an acetylene gas plant for lighting the Churcb. At the raeetirg field subsequently a consensus of opinion obtained smongst the Vestrymen that the Church should have both the lighting suggested and also a new organ, and with this object in view a further meeting of parishioners was convened last evening. The meeting was well attended and fully representative of the members, and the proceedings were of a most enthusiastic nature. It was unanimously decided to adopt the VeEtry's recommendation, it being aareed to instal an acetylene gas plant (bi-path system) and to procure a new organ, the total cost being estimated at about £7O. The old-time spirit of obtaining the necessary" money before procuring the new adjuncts, so characteristic of the parishioners, pervaded last night's meeting, ard it was agreed to make a united and concerted effort to raise the money within three months. A gocd portion of the required sum was promised by thcee present, several banding in thrir names and signifying their willingness to double their subscriptions should it be found that the full amount be net forthcoming. Mr H. W. Driver was appointed hon. secretary and treasurer for the movement, and Messrs W. V. Davy and I. Wilcox undertook to canvass for subscriptions. A further meeting is to Jbe held next Thursday evening, when progress is to be reported, and the matter'" will be further considered. A number of the ladies present at the meeting undertook to further the project through the medium of the Ladies' Guild, and a meeting of ladies, under the auspices of the Guild, is to be held during; the coming week. It is anticipated that no difficulty whatever will be experienced in obtaining the necessary amount within the specified time, and a r.umber of optimistic members at the meeting stated their cunviction that both the lighting plant and organ will be in commission before the expiration of the period allotted for the raising of funds,