NEW ANGLICAN CHURCH

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10650, 5 June 1912, Page 6

NEW ANGLICAN CHURCH

AN INTERESTING REPORT. The fallowing report in regard to the proposed new Anglican Oliurdh in Masterton was read at the special meeting of parishioners lield last •night:— •'A good maaiy years have, elapsed since' the. ersction of a new church for the parish was first contemplated. lit is unnecessary to review in. detail tk; preliminary negotiations winch took place. The ground work of the scheme was 'laid by previous incumbents, chumhwardeii'S and vestries, who, against such strenuous .opposition, obtained authority for .the Diocesan Trustees to lease the present church anre tor commercial purposes, and to acquire another 'sitfe. for the new church. The latter has now heen paid for, the'cost, ..including intcirest, I amounting to £978.

The gathering together of funds for . the erection cf the new church was., . however, only entered .upon with earnestness some years ago, when Mr J. F. Maaimsell generously premised a donation of £IOOO, contingent on the congregation raising £2500. Matters hacf sio'far progressed 18 months ago that competitive designs for the Ibuildong were called for, and sulhstantiiail prizes were offered for the first and .second beet designs. Unfortunately the Society df Ardbitects took exception to the condition's, and the | members' of the Society did not compete. Mr Chairlesworth, 'architect, was appointed judge, and acting on his 'recommendation, none tof the designs were- accepted, although prizes amounting to £75 had to ibe paid. The Yestry itiherea-ftef decided: to appoint an Architect, and after careful enquiry and .serious con.sidlera.tion, Mr Cyril J. {MouiitfoM, of Qnlistc'luuroh, was selected for the position. In due time hie produced acceptable plans, and ten- ' ders were received .as follows: — King and Son,, for church with pointed' windows, £9650; with Gothic windows, £9750; 43ft tower only, Gothic •windows, £9150; pointed windows, £9050. Coradine and Whittaker, £11,370, '£11,600, £10,270. Taylor and Hodges;, £11,'500. These figures .were much in excess iof the resource's of the Vestry, and J they were, all declined, and the architect was at that time unable to obtain tenders elsewhere. ! The plaus were' siibaeqtietitly amended as follows: Extern'al face of all 'walls to be stock instead of pressed clergy vestry, south porch, ; tower' (esoepit part of east and part of .north iwals), morning chapel, to be omitted; various specified amounts to be reduced by £73. Iron, casements to be reduced from 40 to 30; wooden walls to be erected fotween south transept 'and chapel, and between chapel and chancel. On. this basis the following tenders were deceived, each /firm quoting also the additional cost of erecting complete tower:—

King and Son, reduced plan £7975 ; towea", £1516. : . /., Oonadine and Wliittaker, £7243, £2017.

Taylor and Hodges, £BIB9, £2716. iiM'of tili€ge being in, excess I 'of the Vestry's raieans, <a conference with the Architect : wais held, a.nd various other reductions in, the specifications and plans were suggested;, with tlie object of getting further offer's from the local firm®. , The architect mentioned that lie might he ahle ito .obtain '» further tender in Christchuirch, and -suggested receiving permission tb do this before seeking rto obtain tfiua-.tlier quotations locally on .the fairtheiV reduced plan. On the understanding that the above

■tenders were to ibe treated confidenitiadly, he was authorised to proceed.

This resulted in his obtaining from Ctraham and Son, of Christcburch, the 'following prices:— Pirst, based on the original plans and specifications complete, with pointed windows, £9239; Gothic windows, £9324; <l 3ft To weir only, £B-113. Second, iba.sed on the ■amended' plans and specifications ais above, £6469. This latter price has boon accepted,, ■and the contract signed by Graham .and Son.

Although the parishioners have on various occasions been, called together in connection with the expenditure involved in the erection; of the new church, and hu've given the neceesary authority for the Vestry to conduct the business, the ,pr:ce now accepted •willl, before the work is completed, entail additional expenditure to t'luvc hitherto contemplated and authorised. 'it has therefore ;been thought necessary t'o convene the present meeting ; to authorise the larger expenditure. To the above amount of £6469 has to be added" architect's fees and clerk of works' salary, say £6OO, totalling £7169 i. In addition to this there is » cost of completion and removal of tlva organ and furnishings generally, ■wWik-h will ■run into at lef.vsf £BOO,-, a.nd a motion will be submitted to you torn ight, authorising tflie Vestry to expend a. .sum not exceeding £SOOO. At the .same time the Vestry have decided not to entail this large expenditure until they can .see their way tb liquidate the debt, and, 'for a time at least, the fittings for the old church .may 'have to be used.

The present position of the fund is as follows:: Amount* in Pest Office ■Savings Bank, £2065; delations pro-. ■mised°(inchiding Mr Maunsell's £IOOO, which is bearing interest at post office 'rates (£1408); Total, £3473. Amount to be borrowed on s*per cent debent- . lures, £3500; Total, £6973. With irega.rd •to the debentures, nvhidi have been underwritten by various parishioners, it fJhould .be mentioned that these are to be secured by assignment to the Public Trustee of the rents (received from Messrs Hunter and Bamill'.s leases, aimraatr •ing together t'o £2.16 per annum, together with a mortgage cf the new idiurch site. But the tetter is to foe re-leased on the Synod authorising the \l>iooeEa.n Trustees to further assign tfhe rents received from. Mr Beard's /flease amounting to £BO per annum. •These rents will be isufficient to. pay Interest and .sinking fund, a'iid entirely wipe out the debenture© in about 20 yeairs. , '.. "' •■'.■■:•. •If the pairishioncrs will unite in a strenuous effort;, there /seems no reason why the dhurch .should not be completed, furnished, and opened free of debt in about twelve months' time. "Whenever the mew ohurdi is brought into use, the old building must for a time fee fitted up and used as a Sunday School. The needs cf that all important department of church work .must receive the most earnest consideration.