ST. SAVIOUR'S CHURCH, TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1505, 13 May 1886, Page 3

ST. SAVIOUR'S CHURCH, TEMUKA.

The annual meeting of the parishioners of the above Church was held last Monday night, at which there was a moderate attendance. The meeting was opened with prayer, and after reading the minutes of the last annual meeting aud two special meetings they were confirmedon the motion of Mr Wills, seconded by Mr Davey. After some disous*ion of an unimportant character, the rev. the Incumbent read his amualreport, which was to the following effect: — Since last Easter the Most Rev, the Primate has held a Confirmation service, and the Archdeacon the annual visitation in the parish. With the assistance of the lay -readers, Messrs Barker, Inwood, Smith, and Gaze, services were regularly held in St. Saviour's Church, Tomnka, and St. John the Evangelist’s, Win Chester ; monthly .services at llungitata Island, Rangitata South, and Waitohi School; and quarterly services at Washdyke and Milford. The Lenten daily services were better attended than in former years. Communicants numbered 135, baptisms.s6, marriages 7, and burials 20. He had visited the Sunday Schools monthly. The Winchester Sunday School was under the superintendence of Mr R. Smith ; theTemuka Sunday School was ably directed for nine months by Mr E. W. Qurr, and Mr Gaze now filled the position. . Both schools were in excellent working order. The Banner of Faith Society and Ladies’ Work Society were doing excellent work. The Magazine and Library Committee had obtained 50 subscribers tor the Parochial Magazine. A Sunday Lending Library had been established, and stx volumes of sermons, presented by Mr S, D. Barker, was the first gift. He had to thank the lay readers, the Sunday School teachers, the choir, and all who had assisted, especially Mr S. D. Barker, who had rendered valuable services and had now left the district. He wound up with an urgent appeal to all to work for Christ’s sake in the interests of the Church. In the absence of Mr Qaae the rev. the Incumbent read Mr Gaze’s report of the Sunday School : It was to the effect that when he took charge ef the school on the 3rd of January last he found it in a very satisfactory state, and the Incumbent bad since reorganised it in accordance with results. The teaching staff was now particularly efficient, and took great interest in the school. He expressed great regret at the resignation of Miss Pilbrew, who had left the district. The average attendance was 97.2 as against 87.5 for the corresponding period last year. There was urgent need for a Sunday School building, as the church was unsuitable. A system of Standards had been prepared by the Incumbent, and worked most satisfactorily, and the children were making great progress in knowledge of religion. He expressed his thanks to the teachers for their regular attendance and the kindness and courtsey shown to himself. The Rev. Mr Hamilton next read the Churchwardens and Vestrymens’ report:— The report set forth that immediately on entering upon office they endeavored to improve the financial condition of the Church by abandoning the envelope system and establishing separate accounts for stipend and general expenses, by issuing a circular appealing to the parishioners, and by reverting to the old system of letting the seats. The total revenue of the year was £440 12s 7d, During the year the shares in the Building Society, by which the parsonage loan was seenred, matured, and the annual payments of £45 in this regard have therefore ceased. The parsonage loan £lsl was contracted m 1879, and nothing was done to liquidate it till 1882, siuce which time no less than £331 has had to be raised above the ordinary expenses. The raising of this money made serious inroads into the ordinary funds, r.nd to consolidate their small debts and assist the stipend fund £2OO was borrowed, and the interest and sinking fund on this amount (£SO per annum for 5 years) is the only extraordinary call which has now to be met. The church is therefore in a better position than it has been for yeara. The estimated sum required for stipend and general expenses this year is £4OO. During the year application was made to the Synod for a grant of £250 to build a new church, but onl> £IOO was granted, and this being insufficient application was made that the sum might be diverted to the enlargement of the present church. £SO was gainted on condition that a similar amount be raised in the parish. The repairs recommended to the parsonage by Mr Langridge had not beea carried out owing to lack of funds. The report concluded by stating that hearty votes of thanks were due to Mr and Mrs Voyce and Mrs Morris, who had done the bell ringing and cleaning of the church gratuitously, and to the lay-readers, Sunday School teachers, choir, and stipend collectors, and hoping that the ordinary expenditure of the church, which now only has to be met, will be duly provided for in the future by the active and individual interest of members.

Some discussion arose with regard to the culmination of the shares in the Building Society, and ultimately it was resolved on the motion of Mr In wood—- “ That the outgoing Churchwardens making a clear statement of the case and submit it to the incoming Vestry." The motion was seconded by Mr Haines.

Mr Wills proposed—“ That the report of the Incumbent, Churchwardens, and Sunday School be passed as read.” Mr Pinckney seconded the motion and it was agreed to. In reply to a question, the Incumbent said that £SO a year for the next four years would wipe out the debt on the parish. ' Mr lowood moved a hearty vote of thanks to the outgoing Church officers. The balance-sheet was far better than he expected. The motion having been seconded by Mr Davey was carried unanimously. In reply to Mr Davey the Incumbent said that six offertories during the year had to be sent to Christchurch, but they received a grant of £SO. The'offertories on Good Friday and Christmas day were given to tb* Sunday School, The following officers were then elected ; Mr C, J. llayner; Parishioners' Churchwarden, Mr R. Pinckney; Vestry ; M-ssrs Gage, Pi I brow, Lungridge, Talbot, Ifckford, Benbow, Lee, Mils, Ruddenklau, and Davey, Several'rthera were proposed bat declined,

1" 'op.'y to Mr Wills, Mr Inwood said the annual receipts at Winchester were £75, on I of wh'ch they paid £49 to the stipend fund. They had done the work of the Church almost gratuitously, Mr Wills said it was wrong to charge pew rents in the Church of England, It was drifting into dissent, and he would propose—“ That the incoming Yestry should abolish it.” Mr Inwood seconded the motion. He i quite agreed with Mr Wills. The Incumbent said it was the wish of the Synod that pews should be free. Only £l2 15s had been realised from pew rents. They were driving, the people away from the church on account of the pew rents, and one lady offered £lO a year if the seats were free; ' - .Mr Wills said one lady told him sh* would'pay £5 if the sittings were free. It was against the principle's of the church to iel tic seat*. Mr flayhiirst w.s m favor of rent-in. the pews. He preferred having n certain sear than having to go gaping round for a place where to sit. Mr Wills said one of the Vestrymen should show persons into seats every Sunday, Mr Davey said very few strangers came, and others knew their seats. Mr Hay hurst said it had been frequently arranged that the Vestrymen should show people into the seats, but had never been done. Mr Lee condemned changing every year. These changes, occurred too often and gave offence. . He would like to see it settled permanently. Mr Hayhurst moved as an amendment —“ That the present system-be adhered to.” Mr Eckford would second the amendment, although he was opposed to seat lelting. He thought it might be as well to let it have another year’s trial. The Incumbent said he knew by contact with his parishioners tb»t mauy were staying away owing to pew rents. After some further conversation the amendment was withdrawn and the original motion put and carried. Mr Eckford moved a vot“ of thanks to Mr and Mrs Voyoe and Mrs Morris for their services during the year. Mr Leo seconded it, and said it was very kind of them to do the work gratuitously. Mr Haines moved a vote of thanks to the Sunday School teachers, to the choir, and to the stipend collectors for their services during the year. The motion was seconded by Mr Benbow and carried. Mr Pilbrow moved, Mr Pinckney seconded, and it was carried—“ That a hearty vote of (hanks he accorded to the Incumbent for his services during the past year,” The Rev. Mr Hamilton acknowledged the compliment, and the tneeiing then terminated with the Benediction. ST. JOHN’S CHURCH, WINCHESTER. The annual meeting of the congregation took place on Tuesday last, when there was a fair attendance, the Incumbent presiding. After the usual formal business, the Churchwardens’ report was read by Mr Ensor, to the effect that services had been regularly conducted during the past year by the Incumbent and lay-readers, but the attendance had somewhat fallen off. The thanks of tho congregation were due to the Snperintendentof theSundaySchool and the honorary organist and choir for tho services (hey had so cheerfully rendered. The ventilation of the church was a matter which would require attention during the coming year. The offertories during the year had not been what they should be, the principal support of the church being voluntary subscriptions. During the year the church-had been repainted, the funds being derived from the tea and concert kindly provided by tho ladies of the district and congregation. The Sunday Sch.vd had be- n conducted by Mr R. Smith, and was open to all denominations. Great praise was due to the conductor and teachers for the good work they have done. Tiie linen for the Communion table was provided by the ladies of the Sewing Society, who, as usual, during the winter months vflbre most in-, defatigable in this work.

The honorary Trensurer’a balance-ahee4l was as follows :—Receipts—From all ordinary sources, £77 3s Id. Expenditure—l)ebt, and interest, £l2 10s ; Stipend Fond, £4B ; insurance, £2 0< 6d; outstanding il.-hts paid off, £4 3i Id ; books and seals, £2 IBs ; actual working expenses (c eming, lighting, etc.) tor 98 services, £6 3s ; balance in hand, £1 8s 6d ; total, £77 3s Id, The Treasurer also reported that tire services for the, year had been 98, against 63 for the previous year ; average attendance, 42.5 against 47; average number of Communicants, 8 against 10; and average offertories, 4« against 4h 6d. These low averages had, however, in great part been caused through the extra number of services; the actual totals for the year being in excess of those of last year. Bnt’r the foregoing reports were adopted, satisfaction being expressed at tire results.

Officers were elected as follow : Churchwardens—Messrs R. Smith and Ensor. Vestrymen—Messrs Cook, and 11. Smith. Hon. Trevsurer—D. Inwood,

It was to refer to Mr Cane, architect of the church, as to the ventilation, the Vestry to consider his reply when received.

The pressing claim of the Sunday School for assistance and the good it was doing having been considered by the meeting, it was resolved —“ That two special services during the year be held, the off-rtories to be devoted to the school, and that the Vestry be authorised, if funds permit, to add as much as shall make a total of, say, £4 per year.” The earnest efforts of the Incumbent, the Rev, Mr Hamilton, during ilie year were recognised by a sincere vote of thunks, several members of the congregation speaking on the subject.—Mr Hamilton replied, explaining that sickness, deaths, and many combining causes hud prevented his doing the amount of visiting which he knew whs expected of him. lie hoped, however, to bo able to do more this year, and, after thanking the congregation, said he hoped ha would be always found doing his duty as a minn-ter of God. Votes of thunks were also passed to all who had assisted in the church and church work, and the meeting adjourned. A meeting of the uowly-ciected Yestiy was snb-'-qnei'tlv held for the transaction of formal business.

"Rough ON h.via.’'—-Clears out rats, mice, rosolies, flics, auu, cd-bugs, beetle*, insect*, skunks, a' pber». Druggists, Krtinplhorno, Pw-srr* r«*. Agent* Christeh n oh. At a meeting of the Committee to erect a statue in Dunedin to the poet Burns, it was stated that the various entoitainments he'd recently to augment the fund, had resulted in a loss of £206. Some £3lO iHrepiired to complete the undertaking. From a statement made it appeared that the sub-collectors had received subscriptions which do not seem to be accounted for. Dbomnb of MAH'.— Nervousness, Weakness Dyspepsia, Impotence, Sexual Debility .cored, by “Wells’ Health Renower.” Druggists, Kempthorne, Prosser & Go,, Agent*, Ghrist« chuch, 2 When the Tainui left Auckland for Wellington on Tuesday evening, a number of firemen, who had been drinking ashore, reached the end of the wharf -just as she had left. Two of the men leaped into the sea to swim to the steamer, but a waterman named Bradley picked them up in his boat, and p'aced them on board somewhat sobered. The two other firemen borrowed a boat and pulled a great race to catch the Tainui off the railway wharf, the steamer having to make a round turn before getting there, but they did not succeed and returned disconsolate. “ Buoatr-PAißA,"— Quick, eompfet* sure* all annoying Kidney, Bladder and Urinary Disease*. At Druggist*. Kemptboine, Frosser fc Go. Agents, Christchurch. 8 Holloway's Pills And Ointmhnx.— Vicissitudes of climate, exposure and hardship*, tell heavily on soldiers and sailors, sowing the seeds of diseases which may ultimately break up the constitution. Naturally careless of their health a word in season may avert many evils, and may cause them to resort to tira ly measures wi'hout any difficulty or publicity. Holloway’s effectual remedies are so suitable, and are so easily adapted for (be varied complaints to which our soldiers and sailors are liable, that a supply should always be obtained before proceeding abroad. It may with confidence be stated that many a valuable life might have been saved, or confirmed cripple prevented from begging in the streets, if idodoway’s remedies had been used in time.