S. PETER'S CHURCH, HAMILTON.

Waikato Argus, Volume VII, Issue 464, 22 July 1899, Page 2

S. PETER'S CHURCH, HAMILTON.

ANNUAL MEETING OF PARISHIONERS. Tiik annual meeting of parishioners of S. Peter's Church, Hamilton, was held in the schoolroom last evening. There were abont 20 present, and the Vicar (the Rev. R O'C. Biggs) presided. Report and Balance-sheet.-These were read as follows :—The vestry have little of special interest to report during the past year. It is with regret they have to record, since presenting their last anual report, the removal from the work of the Church either through sickness or departure from Hamilton of some of the oldest and most efficient supporters of St. Peter's. They can only hope that others like-minded may arise to carry on the work so well sustained by those who from one cause or another have left us. Mr Jame-* Soppett : The people's Warden, Mr Soppett, has been unable to discharge the duties of his office during a considerable portion of the year, owing to severe and continued illness. Mr Soppett was always a most regular attendant at Divine Service, and took a warm interest in the welfare of the Church, and the Vestry feel that in expressing their sincere regret at Mr Soppett's removel from active «ork and their sympathy with him in his illness they are but recording the universal feeling of the parishioners. The Sunday School: There are 70 scholars attending the Sunday School, 30 boys and 40 girls, and the teaching staff consists of 6 fema'e teaches. An entertainment was given on the 24th May, in aid of the Sunday school funds, and the sum of £lO 15s was realised. Church Furniture : The vicar has obtainsd through the S.P.C. K. a set of service books for the Church, and through a sisterhood an altar front and linen. He has at the request of the vestry written thanking the donors for the valuable gifts. Returns of the year : During the year there have been 23 baptisms, 6 marrhges, 7 burials, 8 churchings, 114 communicants, 42 celebrations, 570 receptions. There have been 4 meetings of the vestry. The thanks of the parishioners are due to the various workers in connection with the church, and especially to Miss Newell for her valuable and long continued services as honorary organist. Statement of receipts and expenditure for the year ended 30th March, 1899 : To bahnce cash in hand, £4 8s ; special offertories, £26 17s 8d ; general offertories, £l5B 4s 7d ; subscriptions, £5 ; rent, etc., £6 ; overdraft Bank of New Zealand, £3O 9s lOd, cheques unpreeented£26 17s Bd-£57 7s 6d. Total, £257 17s 9d. By overdraft Bank of New Zealand, Ist July, 1898, £2B 2s lOd ; stipend,£lso ; verger, £18; rates,£2 ; lighting, £5 16s ; insurance, £7 9s 6d ; interest on o\erdraft, £1 18s 3d ; license Sundayschool, £1 ; special offertories, £26 17s 8d ; sundry repairs, £l3 Is 9d ; cash in hand, £3 lis 9d. Total, £257 17s 9d. We have examined the books and accounts, and compared with the vouchers produced in connection with the Hamilton Church account, find the same to be correct,—J, S. Edgecombe and Geo. Edgecumbe, Auditors.—Statement of assets and liabilities as at 30th June, 1899 : —Assets : Sunday-school, £175 ; Lots 449, 450, £l2O ; Sunday-school piano, £35 ; do. furniture, £l2 ; rent due, £3 ; cash in hand, £3 Us 9d. Total. £348 lis 9d. Liabilities : Stipend, £l2; verger, £3 ; Hamilton bond, £6O ; Sandes and Co., £1 18s 3d ; The Waikato Argus, £8 lis ; Sunday-school harmonium, 17s 8d ; church matting, £2 Is 3d ; debit balance, £57 7s 6d ; balance, £202 6s Id. Total, £348 lis 9d.—The Viear, in speaking of the report, referred to the long continued illness of Mr Jas. Soppett and to the good work done by him during the many years he occupied the position of patishioners' warden. Last year he said it was decided not to resort to concerts and sales of work to supplement the ordinary income of the church, but instead to try and collect subscriptions. He was sorry to say, however, that only one subscription had been received a handsome one which came to hand unsolicited, so that the attempt had been a failure. Last year a sale of work was held, which realised £3O, and this year they had just gone back to that extent. He made an earnest appeal to the parishioners to give regularly in proportion to their incomes, and said he felt sure that if this were done there would be no troublo in defraying current expenditure.—Mr Dyer sa : d the expenditure amounted to £2OO a year, while the revenue for the year totalled only £l5O or £l6O, so that they required another £6O a year to keep things going. The offertories for the past year had not decreased, in fact they came to within 3s 6d of the previous year, but with the exception of one subscription of £5 no outside assistance had been received. He advised that a subscription list should be taken round to each parishioner in order that they might ascertain what each was prepared to contribute yearly in addition to their offeitories. This would necessitate a good deal of work, but he thought it was the only way of relieving the present position. This elicited a considerable omount of discussion. —Mr Graham supported Mr Dyer's pioposal, hut objected to the words "in addition.''—Mr Farrer did not think it necessary to make a personal canvass of all the heads of families. He thought if a statement was printed showing exactly how the church finances stood, many would be inclined to assist. —Messrs Purdie and Stevens both spoke in favour of the proposal, the former recommending that subscriptions should be taken at once to wipe off existing liabilities.—On the motion of Mr Stevens, seconded by Mr Farrer, it was decided to have circulars sent to each family in the parish, showing the actual position of the nuances and the extra amount required yearly to carry on the work of the church.—On the motiou of Mr Dyer, seconded by Mr Sandes, it was also decided to give effect to the suggestion of the former re the yearly guarantee. Officers.—The following officers were chosen for the ensuing year :—Minister's warden, Mr I. Coates (re-elected) ; people's warden, Mr P. E. Stevens; vestrymen, Messrs R. W. Dyer, R. J. Gwynne, M, G. Farrer, J no. Atkinson (re-elected) and E. C. Purdie ; auditors, Messrs Geo. and J. S. Edgecumbe. Thanks. Votes of thanks weve paßsed to Miss Newell for her honorary services as organist to the choir, the layreaders and the Sunday-school teachers. This was all the business.