ST. MARY'S PARISH MEETING.

Auckland Star, Volume VII, Issue 1850, 21 January 1876, Page 2

ST. MARY'S PARISH MEETING.

The annual pariah meeting of St. Mary's, Parnell, was held last evening in the parish Sunday School-room. The venerable Archdeacon Maunsell, the Incumbent, took the chair. There were'about twenty parishioners present. Mr E. C. Dyei having read the minutes of last meeting, asked that the repot t, which had already been circulated among the members of the congregation, should be taken as read. The suggestion was agreed to. The report was of a mo3t satisfactory nature, and showed that the receipts for tbe past year from offerto.ies and pew rents exceeded those of the previous year' by by £81 2s 9d. £50 of the debt on the school-house had been paid off, and the only debt which now remained was £300 on the church. This was also being gradually decreased by subscriptions being paid up on 15 shares in the Auckland Building and Investment Society, and by private subscriptions paid by members of the congregation. It is calculated that the whole debt will in this mariner be paid off in less than four years. The demand for seat accommodation was so great that it could hardly be complied with, and the necessity of either enlarging the church or building a new one was beginning to make itself felt. Theschool-house would require re-shingling this year. The sum of £30 allowed by the School Board had been applied to make certain alterations and to pay off the debt already alluded to. The number of echolars attending the Sundayschool averaged 150, and the number of teachers was 20. The District Visiting Society oontinued its useful labours among the poor. The Vestry begged to return thanks to the choir for the very valuable aid they had given in the conduct of Divine Service during the year. On the motion of Mr Diethlem,the report was agreed to nem con. The balance-sheet showed total receipts £G56 ss. 4-J-d. ; expenditure, £029 183. Id.,' leaving n. balance of £22 oa. Bd. in the Bank, and £4 Is. 7d. in the treasurer's hands. Against the organ-fund of £14 2s. there was a draft of £13 2s. on account of choir-fund, leaving a balance of £1. Mr. R. 0. Dyer was nominated the inenmbent'B churchwarden for the year and Mr. G. S. Kisaling was elected parish warden. On the suggestion of Mr R. Lusk, Mr. Kissling said he was willing to act as treasurer, and he was unanimously voted to that officeThe following gentlemen were elected vestry, men for the en^uine; year : —Messrs. Kensington B. Ireland, G. M. Mitford, B. Tonks, SmalHield, Hay, Ellis, Walker, Bookei, and Gay. A vote of thanks to the choir was proposed by Mr. Lusk and carried by acclamation. Mr. Diethclm made a suggestion that the seats of the choir should be elevated for giving better effect to the singing. The proposition, it was agreed, was one which should more properly be laid before the trustees. Mr. Diethelm returned thanks on behalf of the choir and proposed a vote of thanks to the organist andj choir-master, Mr. George Brown fir the successful endeavours he had made to improve the music of the church during* the past year. A vote of thanks to the rev. chairman concluded the meeting. In connection with this meeting we may add that the retiring vestry paid Mr. G. Brown, the organist, a high compliment for his assiduity with the choir during the past year, and voted him a gratuity in addition to his salary.