PARISHIONERS' MEETING.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1736, 15 July 1884, Page 2

PARISHIONERS' MEETING.

The annual general meeting of the parishioners of St. Matthew's Church was held laat evening in ike Bohuolrooui,.the Kev. W. E. Paiije in the ohair. • There was a moderate attendance ot church members, ..*■ , ,

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

The chairman congratulated the Parish on a more favorable finiinoial report than on the previooß year. There was an increase of fifty children on the Sunday School roll, though the average .aliendance had beeiuffectod by bad weather, He thanked the Sunday School teachers for their valuable services. There had been seventeen funerals and three mar riases during the past year, He was afraid people preferred being, united by the Registrar, possibly because he refused to marry them in private houses. The number of oommunicants : lud been 283 and baptisms 48. He called upon the Churchwarden to read the report.- ' Mr G, Fannin then read the annual report.

REPORT. The vestry has to congratulate the parishioner upon the improved financial position of the polish resulting from the Operations of the paßt year. It is true there has beeu a email falling off in the amount of the offer-tori-.s both general and Bpec al, but this may fairly be utir.butml to the exceptionally- oad weatinr experienced during the year. Ou the other hand, the 'seat rents and Subscriptions, received, exoeed the amount collected in ai.y previous'years, and itlie outstanding subscriptions'.'amount to but £37 10s, as again- 1 about £7O last year. The overdraft of £ls ) obtained from the Bank of Australasia iu 1582 to pay off tho loan on the Church due to the late Diocesan Fund, has bsen paid off by the proceeds of the bazaar held in December last, and the vestry desires to express its obligation to those ladies and gentlemen who worked for and assisted in the management and conduct of the bazaar, The vestry has taken three shares in the Masterton Building and Investment bocietv in order to' form a siuking fund towards paying off the de'tfc on the parsonage, The vestry desires to place on record its sense of the efficient ami careful manner in which the secretary, Mr W. Sellar, has performed his duties, The thanks of the parishioners are due to Mrs Paige for her able management of the choir and conduot of the musical portion of the Church; to the Ladies Working Society for the payment of interests on loans; to the membsrs of the choir; to the teasers in the Sunday School; and to the auditors of the parish accounts.

W. JE, Paige, Chairnun, St, Matthew's Vestry, The Treasurer, Mr Sellar, then read the balance sheet for-the past year The ordinary receipts for the year were £ll9 7s 7d; iho soeoial receipts £4l 10s 6<l, ihe special offertories 114 12s; the receipts for the (general church fund, i'l9s 3s lOd; and proceeds of bazaar i! 143145; making a total'oi £514 7s lid, Tho Ohiii man pointed out that the interest on the Church debt Bince last year baa been reduced from ±'24 (o £12.. He moved the adoption of the report and iialance sheet, aud thought ilie parishioners might be cun^ratulutedon the marked reduction of liabili'ies.

The report was adopted unanimously. Mr Moore reported re the. choir fund, that the net receipts were £B6. and the principal item of. expenditure had been a sum of paid to the choir boys. After one or two liabilities had been defrayed there would be a cash balance of £45 (applanse).

The Chairman nominated Mr G, Fannin as his Churchwarden for the ensuing year, and tlwnked both the Churchwardens and ihe Vestry for their services during the past year. No parish in the VVairarapa had got on during (lie past four years so harmoniously as tlieir own (hear I hear 1) Mr Grundy proposed Mr F. G. Mooie as parishioners' Churohwarden. Mr F. G. Mooro said he accepted las' year the position of Churchwarden, but had not been able to attend all (he meetings of the vestry, and would be glad (o be relieved of the position. A generul expression of opinion in Mr Moore's favor was made by the meeung. and he, withdrawing his objection, was elected unanimously, A ballot was then taken for the election of live vestrymen which resulted in the appointment of Messrs Payton, Beetham, Grundy, Nicol aud Beard. Mr C. J Freeth and Mr Coleman were then appointed auditors for the ensuing year,

The Chairman stated that the ladies working society had raised funds to the extent of £207 (luring the three years that it had been at work.

Mr Moore moved. a cordial vote of thanks to Mrs Paige for her services to the oliqir, and to the Ladies' Wurking Society, Their services.had been a great assistance 10 the parish, Mr W. H, Beeihani seconded the motion, endorsing fully the aeutiments expressed by (he mover.

Mr Grundy in supporting the motion referred to ihe very great assistance the society hatl. rendered lo the parish, 'l'he motion was carried unanimously. Mr G. Fannin moved a vote of ihanks to the Sunday school teachers for their arduous work during the past year. The Chairman seconded the motion, thj work of the teachers had been by no means easy, Motion carried, A vote of thanks was then accorded to Mr 0, J, Freeth for his services as auditor. The Chairman referred to the able manner in which Mr Sellar, Ihe secretary, had performed his duties and on the motion of Mr Fannin a cordjal vote of thanks was accorded loliirn.

Mr Grundy proposed a hearty vote of thanks to Mr F, G. Moore for his efficient services as choir leader.

The motion was seconded by the Chairman and c-irried.unanimoualy. • Mrfuyton, though he did not desire lo make the list of votes of thanks, too monotonous thought one ought to be added to the Rev. W, E. Paige. It was owing to his tact and judgment that the business of the'vestry had proceeded so harmoniously during the past four years, Mr F. G. Moore seconded the resolution. The pleasant and unobtrusive manner in which, ftlr Patee had presided on all occasions deserved a special acknowledgement,

■ The motion was carried amid applause, and the Bev W. E. Paige responded to it in suitable terms.

Mr 6. Fannin suggested that the annual meeting should he held at Easter instead of mid-winter, and that action be iaken. to bring this question before the Synod.

lhe Chairman said it was the custom in other dioceses to hold annual meetings at Easter, It was decided that the question should be referred to the vestrv for consideration The meeting then adjourned,