ST. SAVIOUR’S CHURCH, TEMUKA.

Temuka Leader, Issue 2001, 30 January 1890, Page 2

ST. SAVIOUR’S CHURCH, TEMUKA.

An ad journed meeting of the parishioners ot St. Saviour’s Church was held list Monday eyening. The meeting was not large, only about 22 being present. The Rev, Mr Hamilton, who occupied the chair, said he had written a brief statement as follows : As chairman of this meeting it is my duty to explain the object of our assembling here to-night, and. in making this explanation I rmy slate briefly that it is to consider the financial difficulty in connection with the building of the new church. It will be in your recollection that at successive meetings of the parishioners it was decided :—l. To accept Mr Hayhurst’s offir of £250 and a site, and to canvass the district for support. 2. it was decided to build in stone upon the new site, Mr Cane’s plans being selected, and a Building Committee ” was formed

to carry out the plans. Various meetings were subsequently held by the “ Building Committee.” Tenders were called both in Christchurch and in South Canterbury, with the result that nine lenders were submitted. Two of these (who were within £4 of each other) were selected subject to the approval of the architect. The lowest tenderer threw up his contract; the other claimed to have made a mistake in his tender and demanded £6O extra. In the meanwhile it was found that the tenders together with architect’s foes and incidentals would amount to £I2OO, and that of this amount, £BOO only was availfor paying the contractors. It was resolved ?v.r to accept this tender finally, or

C’i l for fresh tenders until the remaining £4OO hurl b'-j a provided for in some way ur other. It was suggested to borrow £4OO and pay it off in yearly instalments of £IOO, (i.e., with the proceeds of the annual gift, auction), and thus free the parish of debt in four years, A difficulty, however, arose in obtaining a sufficient number of guarantors, who would give personal security for the amount. The

vestry having considered the difficulty and being unabie to devise means for securing the £4OO, it was resolved to lay the matter before the whole of the parishioners in order that with a greater number some solution of the problem might be arrived at. A parishioner’s meeting was accordingly summoned for Monday last. Only 13 were present. You have heard by the minutes that it was resolved to adjourn until this evening, and I now declare the meeting duly constituted and open for the conduct of business. He also read a letter from Mr T. Palmer enclosing a cheque for £l4, the amount ho had so far collected iu money, Mr Palmer

also offered to guarantee £lo® of the £4OO required. In reply to Mr Ptlbrow the rev. chairman said the amount required to be provided for was only £2OO uow, since Mr Palmer had guaranteed the £IOO. £4o© was required altogether, and bes’ides Mr Palmer two others had offered to guarantee £SO each, so only £2OO required to be provided tor. This would provide seating and everything. They had incurred ex-

peuses to the amount of probably £SO already, and they would have to pay that if they abandoned the proposal. Mr Mason moved That owing to the apathy shown by the parishioners The idea of a new church be abandoned.” Thera really was only £4OO in hand. The balance depended on collections, and bazaar, which may net prove as good as anticipated. Mr Oavey rose to second it. TIO would like to know what guarantee there was that the money could be collected. It looked as if all the money was in hand, whereas it was not. If it could be guaranteed the money could be collected, there would be no difficulty of guaranteeing the £2OO. Mr Larcorabe said the amount of £77 collected by Mr Palmer was not included in the £BOO to be collected. Mr Palmer's

collection would make the £BOO good. The Rev. Mi? Hamilton said that besides the £BOO originally promised Mr Palmer and Mr Lawson had since got promises of £9B, that would bring the total sum pro-

mised up to £9OO. was, guaranteed, so that all that was required now to be guaranteed was £IOO. Mr Pincknay said : I should like to make juct a few remarks on the subject before the resolution is put to the meeting.' ion will of course know how the

id a of building first started. The incumbent warned a parish room, and rather than build one and sink £2OO or so it was decided that it would be better to build a new church, (as a new one would he requited in a few years) and tun: the old one into a parish room! generoua offer from his mother and himself of £250 and two sections, the money to be given conditionally on the church being put on i hat site, the position of winch you all of course know. Well to make the matter short, great discontent has been expressed about leaving the pieseut site. We have held various meetings of parishioners at which very few nave attended. L rnigut say that there are, roughly speaking, about 100 male members of the congregation say within easy walking distance, and at our biggest meeting 1 think we haven’t had more Rian a couple of dozm. Last Monday there were only about a dozen present. To-

night yon can see for yourselves what proportion of the parishioners have turned up. I am sorry to say that there is no enthusiasm whatever. It has been said at one of the meetings that all the objectors to moving from the present site ought to turn up .like men and give their votes They should, of course, but the fact remains—i hey don t. 1 have asked them to come but they wont. Some even say that if the church is moved over there they will dis• continue giving to the stipend, and'others that they will go to some other church Ihey seem to overlook the fact that if they would only come to the meetings and object tne church would not be moved. But, as it i s , they never turn un to tne meetings, and therefore those who do turn up carry everything unanimously A building committee was appointed’ tenders called, etc., eic., and matters gone so far that it had been ascertained ibat the church would cost £I2OO, and, counting in what was in hand, what was promised” and what was likely to coma in from a further and the annual b.zsar at fOUDd lhat we 8ho “ld be ■ •ibout £4OO short. It was endeavoured to ' obtain guarantors to a bond for that 1 amount but sufficient could not be found. ] l!io meeting last Monday was then called | to let the parishioners know the state of athira. 1 must say that I think the 1 panotuoners very blind to the interests 1 or the parish in opposing the removal * ot the now site, but, aa the matter - now stands, J. shall certainly record my I

voto against proceeding with the work, as I think it would be very unwise to go contrary to the wishes of iho majority It baa b j en also said at a former meeting that it would be disgrace to let the matter fall through after going so far. I, however, see no help for it. If we, at these small meetings (which hardly any one attends but those io favour of the new ai : o) do the work that the whole cf the parish should do, then, in a year or two’s time, should the stipend, or prying of interest, or any other accounts get in arre rs, and a meeting of parishioners be called to see what can be done in the mafer, I fully believe that none of the present objectors would put io an appearance at the meeting. They would say, “You put the church there and you must do the best you can to extricate it from its difficulties.” I any be looking on the dark sid=«, but I most say what I really think. One man told me that, as be didn’t attend the meetings, ha thought we would take it for granted that he would be satisfied with anything W 3 might do. Were this the case with every member who stayed away, all would be well, but I know it to be otherwise. T think that 1 have now laid before you pretty p'ainly my views on the matter. I shall, as I said before, vote against proceeding with the work, as I am afraid th.t if we go on we shall eventually land the pariah in difficulties. As before mentioned £4OO must be forthcoming before anything can possibly be done, but I am really of opinion that the matter of the opposition to the change of site should be considered even before the matter of money. I shall be very sorry to have to write to Mr Huyhorst saying that we cannot accept the offer, but I cannot see bow this meeting can instruct me to do anything bat that. The .Rev. Mr Hamilton said if the scheme were abandoned they ought to proceed at once to build on the old site, if not be v.ould take the earliest opportunity of seeking another parish. After having labored in their parish for such a length of lime be felt that if this were not done he could not stay, because : he knew that if a strange clergyman came the work would be done io no lime. Mr Pinckney did not think it was fair of Mr Hamilton to say so. The Kev. Mr Hamilton said he believed a change would do good. They ought to appeal to the people to bui'd on the old site, and he was sure if Mr Hayhurst were appealed to he would assist. What he originally asked for was a parish room. Mr llayner promised him £2O, and Mr Hayhurst evd be would give nothing to a parish room, but would give £IOO towards a new church. He sent out circulars and got £340 promised. Mr Hayhurst subsequently offered £250 and a site, on condition the church should be built there. It was a pity those who objected to the new site had not turned up to the meeting in time, instead of keeping away and making fools of those who attended. He should suggest that if the new aito was abandoned they should proceed at occe to build on the old site.

Mr Davey did not object to the new site, bat many of the parishioners did.

Mr Franks said the matter was very important, and ought not to be decided without giving the whole of the parishioners an opportunity to speak upon the subject. If the church were once commenced the monetary difficulty would be very small. Ha would move-“ That ctrcu'ars be sent to all the parishioners, requesting them to vote for or against the new site.”

Mr R. Pinckney said they had had seven or eight meetings and it was always Ilia same. The parishioners would not turn up, and it was no use to go any further. Mr Mason said if they wanted a new church they would have coma to the meetings.

Mr Larcombe would give them another chance.

The question then was discussed as to now could they get the £2OO guaranteed in the event of the church going on. Mr Williams suggested Uuc debentures should be issued. He knew of an Oddfellows’ Hall being built with debentures and it cost the members not one penny.

The chairman and M.r Franks thought the suggestion an excellent one.

lb.r Pinckney auid it was merely prolonging the iigony. After some further discussion Mr Larcombd seconded Mr Franks’s amendment and it was carried by a large majority, Xt v/as then decided that the voting papers with regard to the new site- should be' made returnable for th&t day fortnight, that the vestry be authorised to deal with the voting papers, and if the majority is favorable to the new site proceed to issue debentures to the amount of £4OO.

The chairman and Messrs Pinckney and Franks were appointed to draw up the form of the voting papers, and the meeting adjourned with the usual prayers.