EAST WAIKATO PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Waikato Times, Volume XIV, Issue 1187, 5 February 1880, Page 2

EAST WAIKATO PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The annual meetingof the members of the above church was held iv Trinity Church, Cambridge, on. Wednesday evening last, i here was a fair attendance of members, the ttev. William Evans, presiding. After devotional exercises, the sessional report was read by the session clerk, Elder John Fisher, which showed the number of members on the roll at Cambridge, 61, find at Hamilton, 20. Of these 12 we<e admitted at last communion service. The ninbe" ot Elder* is 5, an I meetings of the session have been held monthly. Services have been held reerularly every Sabbath at Cambridge and Hamilton, and fortnightly at Pukeiimu and Hautapu. Occasional services have also been conducted at Valley, and Eureka station, Piako. Ihe service fortnightly at Hamilton is conducted by Mr. P G. Evans, student, in connection with the [ spiritual work under his oversight in lower Waikato, and the minister of this charge having supervision of the district extending to rtangiriri has made occasional visits in that direction, to dispen&e the ordinances of the church. The treasurer, Mr Brooks, presented financial report and balance sheet, setting forth the pleasing fact that the income from collections and subscriptions to stidend fund for the past year had been sufficient to meet all ordinary expenditure, and leave a small balance in hand. During the year the debt upon the church building, which amounted to £149 4d., has been cleared off, from proceeds of the bazaar, and from the same source £97 143 od had been received towards improvement of the Manse property. During the year the old Manse and ground had beon sold and a, new property of three aores in extent, with house, &c, had been purchased. The expenditure on Manse account had been £842 9d, which kad been met by sale of the old property, cash from bazaar, and loan of £150 on mortgage. Considerable improvements have been effected on the Hamilton church building at a cost of Jt'3o7, of which £107 had been raised by subscription, and the remainder was at present a liability on the property The following is a condensed copy of the b ilance sheet : — Ruccipti :— Subscriptions to stipend fund 1,12? 14s; •miount front Hamilton c omniitti'u towards stipend, L 69 id ; plate <'ollc< tions, Lll7 19s 7d ; interest. Li Gd ; from bn/.iar, loss balance of, church building «u count, Inj 14s =jd ; ijle of propirt), 1 000; spi-ii.il Mibsutptions. 1,2 ; lorm cm niortjr<i!ji\ l.i^o.- total mt onie. LllOl 14s j,), l'^penditure : --balance trim) last war: 1 \ ms id; stipend and other items of ordm.in (.\pe.nditure; L 297 19s y\\ tost ot 1 unuuunian <enico '

turoon new Manse property, 1,842 od; balance in band, Li 19b 6d. total expenditure Lri6i 14s id Examined and found correct — J. Palmer "Campbell, Jaraci P. Thomson, Auditors. After the above reports had been adopted, the Rev. James Brace delivered a very excellent address, urging upon the members the need of earnestness and unity in the Christian cause. | 'I he following gentlemen were then elected as managing committee for current year — Messrs. J. Sharp, R. Wright, H. Pearson, J. P. Thomson, H. Crickett, T. Brown, W. Russell, H. Ferguson, T. Bruce, G. C. Ellis, R. Watson and Wm. Scott. Mr F. J. Brooks was re-elected to fill the offices of secretary and treasurer. A proposition was introduced with the view of improving the church psalmody, but as it was ruled that the proposal s ould previously have been submitted to the church session, the matter was allowed to drop. Votes of thanks were unanimously accorded to the outgoiug Committee, the Secretary, and to Vlr. Mackintosh and members of the choir for their services in the past ; also to che office bearers of the Webleyan Church, and to the Hautapu J chool Committee for their kindness in allowiag the use of their building at Pukerirau and Hautapu for religious services ! Mr Brooks gave an address, introducing a report of the sabbath school, which showed that there are 123 scholars on the books, with an average attendance of 60. The teachers number 10 Tho bible classes for young men and young women continue te shew evidence of prosperity and afford encouragement. The former, under care of Mr Mackintosh numbers 36, and the latter conducted by Mias 13; the average attendance being respectively 25, and 9. A sum of £15 15s 6d had bean expended during the year in library books for circulation, and £2 13s for religions magazines, for free distribution among the scholars. The speaker referred to the regular and zealous manner in which the teachers had discharged their duties, and to the encouragement which they had received by the attentive conduct of the scholars. He concluded by calling upon members to support the sunday school cause by their Christian example and earnest prayer for its success. Owing to the increased attendace at the younjr men's bible class, the. vestry used as a class room, was found to be too small, and provision was made for its enlargement by the congregation authorising the managing committee to take such steps as they may approve, to carry out the needful work. At intervals during the evening selections of sacred mu<uc were rendered by the choir, which contributed very largely to the pleasure of the evening. — [Communicated j.