ANNUAL CHURCH MEETINGS.

Waikato Times, Volume XL, Issue 3212, 26 January 1893, Page 2

ANNUAL CHURCH MEETINGS.

ST. rETEII'S HAMILTON.

The annual meeting nt the parishioners nf St. Peter's Church, Hamiltnn, was held in Miss Newell'a school-room on Tuesday evening. The incumbent (Rov, R, O'C. Biggs) occupied the chair, and then wan only a medium attendance,—The proceedings were opened with prayer. RKPOBT.-Thfl report of the vestry for the last year was then read an follows:—In presenting the annual report, the vestry have great pleasure in being able to report a satisfactory position with regard to the finances of the parish, ah shown by the treasurer's statement. The total receipt* are £230 3s 4d, not including tho 6100 from the hall and £3B subscribed towards the Sun-day-school—or about £25 less than last vear, which amount, howover, included £47 Gs 9d from a sale of work and £lB from socials in addition to the regular contributions. This yeir there were no special subscriptions received, if we except a (lunation of £l, and all received frnm socials, etc., was about £ls. The general offertories show an increase of £3 over the previous year, which in itself does not seem much, but taken in conjunction with an increase in 1891 over 1890 of £2O, must he considered very satisfactory, Special offertories have increased by £4, thus making a total increase in offertories of £7. The liabilities hro being gradually reduced, and it is hoped before long they will all be wiped out, The attendance at St. Peter's has been increased, while in the out-districts, where, thanks to the excellent help of the lay-readers, vices have been regularly held, the attendances have been maintained. There were during the year twenty-six baptisms, nine churchiniM, eight weddings, fifteen burials (five of which wero from the hospital), fortytwo young persons confirmed, forty celebrations of the holy communion, 113. communicants, and 4G5 communications. The superintendent of the Sunday-school reparts that matters are goining on satisfactorily therewith, the number of scholars being increased. Several new teachers havo volunteered during the year, but he j points out the urgent need of more teachers to render the work perfect.. On July 14th, the £IOO was received from the Government and lodged in the bank, Plans and specifications have been kindly prepared gratuitously by Mr 1. H, White for a Sunday-school on the site near the church, and for which tenders have now been called. Some of the timber is on the ground and the remainder has. been orderod.. It is hoped shortly to have the building completed and it rests with the meeting to-night to say what steps will be taken to celebrate the opening. Three parish evenings and one social were held during the year the gross financial result of which was about £lB, £lO has been paid off the amount due on the Sunday-school site and £0 off the interest, leaving now due £GO of the £IOO and £8 Is interest.. Several ladies kindly collected money to assist in building the school which is estimated to cost about £150; thsy obtained £26 4s, and £l2 was spetiaUy dnnatod to erect a chimney in the building, Several new members have joined the choir during the year, and it is again approaching its former excellence j male voices however are badly needed. About three months ago Mr A. Edwards, who had acted as choirmaster for some time, was removed to Auckland and his services were lost, but Mw Whitaker has taken over the duties, Miss Newell still presides at the organ and during her temporary absence on a holiday her place has been filled by Miss Biggs, Miss H. Graham, and Mr Wrigley. A working bee of ladies scrubbed the chircb, and if tins can be called repairs, it is all that has been done in that direction. The question of repairs however is one that will require attention during the year, as a portion of the building if not all, must be re-roofed and if possible with iron, which although more expensive at first is more lasting than shingles and will also lessen the rate of insurance. The vestry had had 12 meetings during the year. Mr T, B, Fleming being transferred to Pukekohe, resigned as secretary, and Mr R J. (Iwynne wbb appointod in his stead. A request has been made to the standing committee to make theboundaries nf the electoral and parochial districts coterminous, and it is hoped this will be done before the next election of Synodsmen. Wo will then be entitled to at least two, if not three, representatives on the Synod instead of only_ one as at present, The thanks cf the parishioners are due to the lay-readers, Messrs Seddon, Dypr, and Salmon, the organist, Miss Newell, and assistant organists' Misses Biggs and H. Graham, and Mr Wrigley, the choir and choirmasters, Mr Edwards and Mrs Whitaker, the superintendent of the Sundayschool, Mr P. E. Stevens and his assistants, tho churchwardens, Messrs Jolly and Coates, the auditors, Messrs G. Edgecumbe and P. Le Quesne, Mr T. H. White, tin ladies [who scrubbed the church, the ladios who collected for the Sunday-school, the ladies and gentlemen who assisted in the management of the parish evenings and social, and all those who have aided the church's work in any way,—R, O'C. Biocs, Chairman and Incumbent: K. J; Gwvnnk, secretary.-The report as read was received and adopted, • . Bawnok-shkw,—Tho balance-sheet and statemeut of assets and liabilities presented , by the treasurer was as follows [-Receipts; Balance December 31st, 1891, 3s lid; : general offertories, £lB7 10s (id j special offertories, £l4 8s 7d; subscription, £1; contributed by out-district?, £8 10s 9d; Government re-fund for Sunday-school, £100; special donation to Sunday-school building, £l2; subscriptions for Sundayschool building fund, £26 4s; parish evenings, &c, (three), £1) Ha; social nn December 7th, £9 2s 9d. Total, £3liß Us 3d.-Ex-panditura: Overdraft on December 31st, 1891, £2Blßs 7d: special offertories, £2210s 2,1; stipend,'£lso; verger, £ls; contributions from out-districts repaid to incumbent, £Bl6s 9d; lighting, £7 7s Cd; repairs to parsonage, £l 4s Cd; insurance, £5 8s 8d; rates, £2 13s 4d; interest, Bank of New Zealand, £2l4s;' synod expenses, £10) (id; printing and ad vertising,£2; Hamilton bond instalment (£10) and interest (£6 13* (id), £lol3i Od | Sunday-school building, £9los 2d; hire nf hall, &c, for parish evenings ami socials,.£3 IDs sd; wine, £ll3s; sundries, £1 3i Gd; balance, £B7 14s Bd. Total, £3OB lis 3d. Examined and compared with vouchers i and found correct, Geo. Edgkcumbr, P, lirQuessb, auditors. —Assets; Sunday-school site, £SO; credit balance in Bank of New Zealand, £Bl 3s 3d; balance in hand on December 31st, 1892, £6 Us sd; balanco, £8513s 4d. Total, £223 Bs.-Liabilities: Sandes and Co,, £2 10s 2d; Jas, Reid (hall hire), £1 4s; The Waikato Times, £5 19s; Hamilton bond, £00; Hamilton bond interest,£B Is; verger,t» December 31st, £4; stipend, £1210s; Sundnyschnol building, £l2B 7s 10o»; Thos. Maunder, 16a. Total, £223 Bs. Examined and found correct, Geo • Eimeobhbb, P. LeQuksnb, auditors,-The balance-sheet was also adopted,

OmcEits.—Tlib Incumbent again nominated Mr I. Coates ar minister's churchwarden, and Mr T. Jolly was re-elected as people's warden. The number of the vestry was again fixed at five, the following being appointed, viz.: Messrs J. S. Edgecombe, G. 0.-Mamiing, 'P. E. Stevens, J. Sopnett and 11. J, Gwynne—Messrs 6. Edgouimiba and P. LeQuosne were reappointed as auditors,. THANKS.-Vo(e3 of thanks were passed in accordance with the report of the vestry the Secretary being instructed to convey a .special vote of thanks to Mr T, H. Whitn. The meeting closed with the Gratias.