ST. SAVIOUR’S CHURCH, TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1940, 7 September 1889, Page 2

ST. SAVIOUR’S CHURCH, TEMUKA.

A meeting of the members of the above Church was held at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Temuka, on Thursday evening, to receive the report of the vestry as to the amount likely to be forthcoming for thb building of a new church, and to reply definitely as to the acceptance or otherwise of the offer made by the Hayhurst family of the sum of £250 and a site for such building. The Rev. T. A. Hamilton occupied the chair. The minutes of the previous meet- w ing held oa the subject were read and > confirmed. ~ - Mr Robert Pinckney, parishioners’ churchwarden, stated that the amounts promised to date were as follow- £ s. d. For a building in stone ... 188 8 0 For a building in Generate ... 176 8 0 For a building in brick ... 156 8 0 For a building in wood ... .137 3 0 ing Society Shares, and the Hayhurst donation of £250, which made the total amounts available £578 8s (stone), £566 8s (concrete), £546 8s (brick), and £527 3s (wood). To these amounts were to be added the sum of £l4O accruing from BuildThe chairman then invited a resolution upon the subject. The offer had been left open for six months, and the period was now drawing to a close.

Mr Talbot thought the matter too small a one to settle anything definitely. He did not think it -would be well to bind the congregation. Mr Davey was averse to the incurring of debt. With the money promised but little could be done, and the parish would be saddled with a heavy debt for years. Mr Newbury urged the acceptance of Mr Hayhurst’s offer. I'he only opponents to it were those who did not believe m the site proposed. For his part, he considered it was in every way suitable. Mr GK Smith (Main road) moved—- “ That Mr Hayhurst’s offer be not accepted.” The parish had been heavily handicapped and required a breathing time. Mr Talbot hoped the motion would not be carried. There was quite enough money to start with, and doubtless more would be forthcoming. He suggested adjournment for the present, to enable it to be ascertained if the offer could remain open for a little time.

Mr Gaze spoke at some length in favor of the acceptance of the offer. Mr Lee followed on the same lines, urging that there was really no necessity for a church to be free of debt at its start. The site, he maintained, was as central as the present one. Mr Davey said for his part he w;as totally unprejudiced as to the site. All he was afraid of was debt. Mr Talbot thought it would be suiadal to reject the offer. If the church were not proceeded with they were asked to erect a parish room. This would sink a lot of money that would ultimately be required for the maintenance of the present building or its replacement. He moved that the meeting did not feel justified, in view of the financial position, to proceed with the erection of the church, but desired that the offer might be left open for a further period. It was pointed out that there was no necessity to proceed at once with the erection of the church. It was only one of acceptance or rejection of the offer. In any case it was hardly possible to start building until Mr Hay burst’s return; as it would be only courteous to confer with him in reference to designs, etc, Mr Newbury moved Hayhurst’s offer be accepted,” Mr Talbot intimated that he should withdraw his suggested metien in favor of the last one. Mr Gaze seconded the motion, which was put and carried. The vestry were recommended to obtain estimates of the cost of a building capable of seating about 300 persons, and submit same at a general meeting of the parishioners to be held in a month. Further details were left to be dealt with by the vestry at their next meeting, on September 10th.