EAST ANGLICANS.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17974, 20 March 1930, Page 4

EAST ANGLICANS.

PARISH HALL PROJECT. BUILDSWe TO PROCEED. LOAN TO BE RAISED. Two sections of land about half an acre in extent, situated in Nixon Street, have been bought and paid for by the Anglican community of Hamilton East. The cost was £l7O. The trustees have also about £2OO in hand for the purpose of erecting a parish hall, but a further £250 is required in order to proceed with the project. It had been thought to raise this sum by a joint and several guarantee, but the trustees now consider that the better plan would be to raise the money on mortgage. With a view to getting the sanction of the parishioners to such a proposal, a meeting was held at Pearson’s Hall last night.

Dean Barnett presided, and -said the meeting was a happy augury for future events. He hoped it meant the beginning of a wave of enthusiasm in that part of the parish. The Dean said the Standing Committee had twice held up the hallbuilding scheme, rather, be thought, from a lack of understanding of the project. They had thought that a church should toe the first proposal, but when it was explained that a church in permanent- material was impossible, at present at any rate, the Standing Committee finally gave its sanction to the hall scheme.

Canvass of District Proposed. The .speaker said he shortly intended to make a thorough canvass of the Hamilton East district with a view to stimulating enthusiasm in the project. The estimate of the cost of the building and furnishings was £450. The Dean believed that between now and the completion of the hall it should be possible to raise a good deal of the money. Oue suggestion put forward was for each family to place weekly donations in boxes, which would be supplied to householders until the date of the opening of the hall. By this means a substantial portion of the sum required should be raised. in answer to Mr E. M. ALasters, Air 11. 11. Short said the parishioners were already paying £0 in rates on the land and £ll for the hire of Pearson’s Hall. Interest on a loan of £250 would only cost the parishioners £.17 10s a year. Rents from the new hall would probably pay the interest. He -suggested that the loan should be raised at a flat rate for five years. Mr M. H. Kirby said he had yet to be convinced that a hall was needed in Hamilton East. He thought any spare cash could well‘be devoted to repairs to the Cathedral. Air F. D. Clark said the main need for the hall was as a Sunday school for the children of that portion of the parish. A dance hall, such as was at present used, was certainly not the proper environment for the teaching of the Scriptures. The children were the potential parishioners, and unless the Anglican community made provision for them, other denominations would.

Children First Consideration,

Dean Barnett, pointed to the great amount of building that was in progress in Hamilton East. He agreed with Mr Clark that the first consideration was the children. The hall w-ould also be a suitable meeting place where the Ladies’ Guild could develop their Church work, and he thought it would be found that a hall situated in the midst of the people, would fill a very useful purpose. The speaker felt there would be no difficulty in undertaking the responsibility for a new hall.

Air Claude Hope moved and Air Clark seconded, a motion that the building of the hall be proceeded with. Air Kirby considered the Dean over optimistic. He still doubted the wisdom of the project. Air Newton thought Air Kirby’s chief fear was that the building of the ball would weaken -the Cathedral. The Dean considered that by developing each section of the parish the whole would be strengthened. The motion was carried with only two dissentients.

The meeting authorised the trustees to raise a loan of £250 on mortgage for a -term not under five years on a motion moved by Mr Short, seconded by Mr E. M. Masters. The building committee, consisting of the following gentlemen, was set up: Messrs J. T. Reid, 11. 11. Short, F. T. Clark, T. Newton, R. \V. Forster, E. M. Masters, with power to add.