ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXVIX, Issue 8127, 28 April 1906, Page 5

ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH.

ANNUAL MEETING 6f PARISHIONERS. 1 ' Tbe annual meeting of tbe parishioners of St. Matthews Church was held last evening. Rev. A. M. Johnson presided, and there were about 40 parishioners present. Tbe Vicar, in his report, thanked tbe parishioners for their kindness to him since his induction in Mas terton; also, the vestry for expend ing a large sum of money on tbe vicarage to make it comfortable. Mention was made . of the choir wbiob, under the baton of Mr F. Hunn, had provided besides excellent Sunday services, two cantatas. The Nativity of Christ," and "The Crucifixion." The Vicarjmentioned that more attention should be paid to outside places in tbe parish, suob as Taueru, Bideford and Rangitumau; but this ooula not be done without extra clerical assistance. The St. Barnabas Asaociation, under Mrs Ohennells, uontinued to do good work, but tbe Gleaners 1 Union was at present not too luxurious in its development. Tbe Bible Class for boys, under Miss I Pearson, was in a flourishing state. I Be touched on other matters relating to the Church, and madePspeoial mention of the work of the Sunday School. The Churchwardens, in their annual report, stated that the year was commenced with a debit balance of £lB is 3d. The debit balance on March 31st, 1906, was £B2 3s Id. Of this amount renovation of vicarage and drainage absorbed £6O, and the deficiency in the Curate Stipend Fund amounted to another £6O. If the assets as shown were realised there would 1 remain a debit balance of only £2O. Negotiations in connection with the acquirement of the new ohuroh acre were uow satisfactorily concluded. In accordance with tbe arrangements made tbe vestry would receive the | net rent from tbe leasing of tbe present acre (excepting tbe portion occupied by Mr W. G. Beard, of which the rents were granted to tbe Curate Stipend Fund, until tbe accumulations amount to the purchase money for tbe new church acre), after wbiob tbe Diocesan Trustees would receive and invest rents until the sum amounts to £SOOO, the estimated cost of pew Church. Now that negotiations were completed for the purchase of tbe site for tbe new Church, It was desirable that no time should be lost in setting to work to raise additional funds and arrange for the. pneedy erection of the new edifice. Tbe balance-sheet was adopted, on the motion of Mr R. Brown. Officers''for the ensuing year were elected as follows:—Vicar's Warden, Mr W. H. Jackson; Parishioners' Wardens, Messrs R. Brown, W. G. Lamb, and J. D. Smith, Vestry, Messrs S. E. Wright, W. G. Lamb, W. A. Fendall, K Tomlin, W. P. James and J. D. Smith. Auditors, Messrs ill. H. Waddington and R. U. Rathbone. Mr Brown mentioned that be would bring the matter of providing separate Glass rooms for the differ-, ent classes at the {Sunday School before the * T estry. The question of obtaining a curate was discussed, and finally on the motion uf Mr W. A. Fendall, tbe Vestry was intitruoted to endeavour to obtain the services of a curate. At the conclusion of tbe meeting songs were sung by Misses Elkins, A. Fuller and Messrs W. Jago, A. Pacey, F. Hunn, W. Igguldon and J. D. Smith. Refreshments were provided by Misses Sutton, Ashton and Enfield and Mrs Hill.