PROGRESS OF WESTOWN.

Taranaki Daily News, 1 December 1921, Page 4

PROGRESS OF WESTOWN.

PROPOSED ANGLICAN CHURCH. GENEROUS OFFER OF LAND. There was a large and representative attendance of residents of Westown at the local hall last night, when a meeting was held to consider the steps to be taken in connection with the erection of a local Anglican Church. The Rev. F. G. Harvie presided, and there were also present the Ven. Archdeacon Evans and several members of St. Mary’s veotry. Mr. E. W. Lysons, people’s warden at St. Mary’s Church, said that the vestry recognised the read necessity that existed for a church in the Westown district, which was a rapidly growing district. Mr. E. Marfell had made the vestry a very generous offer, giving them an area of 1 acre 35 perches with frontages to both the main road an! Omata Road. St. Mary’s vestry had taken up the matter so as to initiate the movement, but it was hoped that it would now be placed in the hands of an energetic committee to carry on the work. He did not think the vestry was in a position to assist as a vestry, but he could assure them that they would receive assistance from a considerable number of individuals in the town. The vestry had accepted Mr. Mar fell’s generous offer.

Mr. S. W. Shaw said Mr. Marfell had also offered to- take the purchase money in debentures, and a good deal depended on the efforts of the Westown people as to whether the offer was not made even more generous. He considered that they should look to the future, and the land acquired would be sufficient for a church,. Sunday school and vicarage. Archdeacon Evans paid a tribute to the splendid work done by the Marfell family. He understood that there was a fund in Auckland towards the purchase of church sites, and he had spoken on the subject to the bishop, who considered that a grant would be available towards the purchase. It was decided to approve of the ac tion of the vestry in accepting the offei of Mr. Marfell. It was resolved “that the church people of Westown would welcome the resumption of church services in the iWestown hall, and that the vicar be asked to arrange for services to be held as frequently as possible.” A committee consisting of Messrs. W. H. Haddrell (chairman), V. C. Davies. J. Garcia, Dickinson, Mason, H. Marfell Mrs. Wright and Miss Norman was set up to further the matter.

Mr. Marfell was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks for his generous offer of the land.