PARISH MEETING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1426, 10 July 1883, Page 2

PARISH MEETING.

The annual meeting of St, Matthews Parish took place last evening the attendance being a little better than usual at such gatherings. The Rev. W. E, Paige having opened the meeting with prayer expressed his pleasure at meeting the parishioners at the end of his third year of office without any disagreement having occurred during that period, and trusted this state of things might long continue (hear, hear!) He acknowledged also his obligations to the Churchwardens and members of the Yestry. Their meetings had always been conducted pleasantly, Somo misconception existed with reference to Tenui, This settlement was not, or had it ever been, a part of the parish of Masterton, and it had no claim on the services of the clergyman stationed in this town. Last year Masterton was assessed at £275, and Tenui £25, but no blame could bo attached to the Tenui people for not carrying out an agreement of : which they were not cognizant. The Bishop went up to Tenui to see what could be done, and it might be gathered from his {'silence on the subject that his mission had not been successful. Subsequently the Whaveama settlers agreed to pay the £25 assessment and would receive in return certain specified services. He desired to disabuse the Tenui people of the idea that they ha«l been neglected, They had no more claim on his services than they had on those of Mr White at Greytuwn. He was glad to report that their Sunday school had a fair share of tho children in the town, and was making favorable progress. They had the advantage of the services of trained tochers from the public school, The number on its roll was 126, the average attendance 90, and the number of teaching staff 10. They had found it necessary to make a different arrangement with the choir during the past year, ten boys having been engaged, who might be expented in a short time' to prove very efficient. Their thanks were due to the volunteer members of the choir who had attended services and practices with great regularity. During the. past year; Messrs Fannin: ; and J. V. Smith, tho churchwardens, had found it necessary to resign, and had been replaced by Messrs J. J. Freeth and Beetham. It had also been found convenient to elect a paid secretary,—Applause.) On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Mr Beard, the report and balance sheet for the past year were adopted.

REPORT, The Vestry regrets that it is unable to present a more favorable balance-sheet to the parishioners, but cannot refrain from pointing out that the debit balance shown is due to the aonsiderabla drain upon the offertories made to supplement the stipend or General Church Fund account, £73 Os Cd having been drawn for that purpose, the seat rents and subscriptions not being suffioiont to meet the payments required for stipend. However the outstanding subscriptions and seat rents which together amount to about .£7O will meet the payment on that acoount now duo, and it is hoped that they will be promptly paid.

It will be seen from an examination of the balance sheet that the gross offertories amount to £l4Blos9d, an increase of £l' 13s Id over those of last year, while the special offertories amount to more than double those of the previous year.

The ordinary and special expenditure in connection with the Ch'uroh has. been; kept down as much as possible, Tho Parsonago fence in Ohuroh-street baa now been completed, and Dr Hosking has kindly given a pair of dose gates in lieu of the present open one, on condition i that the Vestry paint the whole fence, for .which liberality the thanks of .the parish loners ate due. '.'''' The following resolutions 1 for the consideration of the parishioners were passed by the Voatvy. "That it be a reooimnendation to the parish meeting that a Vestry of. five be appoihted'for the ensuing year."/ ■' J i " That'inthe opinion of the Yeßtry'the General Chnrch Fund is a drawback to

the efficient conduct of the parish accounts, and that the finance of the parish would be more prosperous if it was Bevered from the Baid fuad."

The thanks of the parishioners are due to Mrs Paige for her valuable sorvioos as organist, to tho Ladies Working Society for the payment of interest mi loans, to those who have assisted at the entertainments in the aohoolroom, and to the members of the choir and the teachers in the Sunday school. v 7. B.Paioe, • • ; ] : Chairman. CHOIR FUND REPORT. -<- I beg to submit,the aooounts in connection wilhjhe Ohoir Fund Entertainment in this parish for the year ending. 80th June, 1883, as followi.:-:. ji' ; \ i , 1. A detailed statement of account, with ! vouohers. 2. A balance sheet. 3. A statement of assets and liabilities as existing on the above date.

There are no vouchers in support of the items for attendance at ments, and' hire of Towu. Hall, as ithese' suraa are paid to the claimants at the close of each entertainment out of cash taken at the door, , The accounts are, •however, included' in the gross receipts on the debit side of the account,.

Tae Ohoir Fund on the Ut;of- July, 1882, was overdrawn to the extent ;of £l6 0s Id, owing to the heavy outlay for instruments connected with the Church and Schoolroom; but lam glad to report that the deficit has been entirely wiped out, and at this date the fund has a credit of J2olos.

Since my last report was presented, seven entertainments have been Riven in aid of the Ohoir Fund. The grass receipts from these (iucluding the.entertainment and parish gathering in tho latter part of Septomber last year) amounted to £65 9a Bd. The main items of expenditure are as follows: £ 8 D Bank Overdraft ... .... 16 ' 0 1 Printing and Advertising ... 6, 0 0 Alterations to Choir Seats ... 10 0 0 Mnsio ... ;,;■ 5 a o The Incidental Expenses reach a total of ... ... ,„ 61? 8 Bank Interest... ... ; . : ;,'..;YO 11 4 Making a Total of' ; ... 44 Leaving Balanco in hand of 20 10 0 £65 9 8 Againtt this balance ther'o ut a liahihiy of £'s It 3d, being ihd amount duo as payment for the, services of the boys engaged to assist in the Choir on Sundays. The remuneration paid to the boyß ia at tho rate of £2. per yeareaoh, subject to deductions for non-attendance at bow ice and practice. The success .which attended the last entertainment held on the, 21st iost., leads me to tho hope that further efforts will be made in this direction during tho winter, and in conclusion I would add that the thanks of all interested in this movomont are due to the kind assistance rendered on the last occasion by.Messrs E. W. Payton and Ha«scll, and the Rev. Mr laitfc, whose valuable aid timdod greatly to the success of the entertainment, and I am glad again to have the opportunity of recording my siucere appreciation of the invaluable and unwearying help so willingly rendered on every occasion by Mrs Paige, upon whom by far the larger proportion of the work devolves, and ivh- se exertionß have mainly contributed to the success which has attended out united efforts. I feel Bure that, the expression of this feeling is most heartily supported on all sides,

I have&c., F. G. Moohe, .Treasurer. GENERAL CHURCH FUND. Mr W. H. Beetham asked if the General Church Fund still existed. The Chairman replied that virtually it was abolished, but it still existed in name. , Mr Beard Bpoke in favor of W. more business like system of collecting and canvassing. Unless their canvassor were paid well for, his work, it would be impossible to make adequate provision for church matters. Mr Fannin stated that many of tho settlers made use of the Church, hut did not contribute towards it,. Efforts had been made to canvass, but with somewhat unsatisfactory results. Mr Bapp inquired if they stood as well this year as last. The Chairman replied that last yew they were £ll to tho good, and tkis year £9 to the bad, , * Mr Fannin said the only; falling off this year had been in the. General Church Fund account, : OFFICERS. ; .'■•'; The chairman nominated Mr Fannin as his warden for the ensuing year. (Applause). ; .; : ■' After a good deal of persuasion Mr F. G. Moore consented to act as parishioner warden ( f and was elected amid applause. Eight names were proposed for the vestry and a ballot resulted in the appointment of Messra Grundy, BeVtham, Rapp, Beard, and Pay ton;

. THANKS, ; : -; On the motion of Mr Beethara, seconded by Mr F. G, Moore, tho meeting placed on •-record'its. appreciation of the valuable • services; rendered to the parish by Mr J, V. Smith during his connection therewith, and expressed its sincere regret at hia departure from Masterton. Mr Payton moved.—"That the members of the .vestry • for; the coming year be requested to'take'into consideration at an early.date the best permanent method of ■ conducting fl& finances of the parish, and if practicable? to bring into operation' any Bystem of controlling the same which may be agreed to by them." ~ j Mr W. H. Beetham in' seconding this resolution said the General Church -Ftfnd had been a great failure, but did not think they would shew a christian spirit unless thoy helped it out of the difficulties it was in. He understood that the Church .threw;all its money into this bag, and then doled it out as far as it would go. In old times it answered to have one baf>, but now-a-days there was no Peter to knock fellows over who did not contribute their Bhare, He gave the promoters of the Church Fund credit foY good intentions, and hoped that an effort would be made to help them out of the mess they were in, and to give them a fresh-start, ;. The Chairman in answer to Mr Beard, expressed an opinion" that the parish had no power to withdraw from the General Church 'Fundi ■') G ; j

• ! Mr Grundy pointed out that very few people understood:;% end and object of,the Church .Fund, and that it would be an advantage to be relieved from the complications involved bv it. i_ vThe motion wjrat and owned. Messrs 0. J. Freethand DeCajtro

were then elected auditors for the ensuing year. •'■■■"■ ■,,UU., ■■ ;-'.;-, : THANKS. r ; "i.-' •Avoto of thanks was thou passed to Mrs, Paige for her aorvicesas organist, : Messrs Beard- and Boddington speak- <■• ing in, high terras of the value of them, /, ;iiiul tho self-sacrificing manner in which they were rendered. Thanks were also accorded to the Sunday, School teachers on the motion of Mr Grundy, to the Entertainment Committee, to tin Ladies Work Society, and in conclusion to the Chairman,