Makotuku Anglican Church.

Bush Advocate, Issue 353, 14 August 1890, Page 2

Makotuku Anglican Church.

The annual meeting of the parishoners of the ajoove Church: took place in the Foresters' Hall on Tuesday evening last. A.Commifctee of' the ladies of the congregation provided tea for ' the visitors, arid at about 7i 46 p,m: close on forty people sat down and jdid justice . to the great variety of good things provided. Aftsc tea was over the business of the evening; commenced. Fully 60 ladies and gentlemen were present. The Rey. A. j3. Webb opened 'tho proceedings' with a prayer. Mr Webb theft tstiid 'that it : was part pf the constitution of the Church to hold 'the annual meeting in July if possible, fihe j purposes £or. which were,'twof6ld, first, the passing of accounts, and the election of the vestry for the ensuing year. He would, now ask Mr Robinson to read the balance-sheet for the year past.' ' ' : . Mr Robinson read as follows; — Receipts— Pew rents, = £7; general offertory, £16 7s 8d ; diocesan fund, £1 ; building fund, £7 12 : total, £31 19s Bd. 'Expenditure — Stipend paid, 15s 3d; verger and cleaning,' 4 8 > lighting and sundries, £5 9s lOd ; repair", £1 Is ; insurance,; £3 2s 6d ; rent of Town Hall, £1 ; diocesan treasurer, £1 ; final payments to organ and building fund, i'll 11s Id ; total, £31 19s Bd. Mr Webb said that he was vejry sorry to say that only 159 3d had been paid over to him as stipend from his congregation. There had ' been ! a general falling off of M0 this year as compared with last year. There were, of course, various causes for this. The weather had been very bad, and then again having to go to Woodville, all tending to bring about laxity in the attendances at Church. ! Mr Brabazon moved, and Mr Lauritz Neilsen seconded, that the balance-sheet as read bo adopted. — Carried. The Chairman said that the next business was the election of Churchwardens and vestry for the ensuing year. It would be his business to nominate a Minister's warden, and theirs to elect the people's warden and the Vestry. With reference to the Vestry he would like to see the full number appointed, that is ten, so as to make sure of getting a quorum Mr John Brabazon was nominated Minister's warden. Mr A. Schaar'e •was appointed people's warden. Tbe following gentlemen were elected to the Vestry, viz., Messrs J. Newling, R. Web.b,,F. F.onyard, L. Neilsen, J. Jarman/ Wv Robinson,' E. Plank, T. Bozanky, W. Scbaare, W. Hujl. Mr Wdbb said; that he : was glad that such a strong vestry had been appointed, and he was sure that they would do better this year than in the pdst one. The 'stipend from Makotuku, 15s 3d, was not very largeyaod could' be 'Very much increased. All present Had. read • the report of the proceedings. of the Ormondyille meeting, and his report for this place is pretty much the same. He had to thank ( them for , the . .new lamp that h'id ' hfeen ' presented ; to. the Church; ;' it 'was; ,,'yer.y "suitable. Last Sunday, afternoon service was held at Kopua in the little railway ' shed. Some seats were provided, ancj about 30 of a congregation wtre gathered together, the majority of whom were grown up. Mr Webb, continuing, said that he could not hold any more s-ervices on Sunday than were held at present. A weekday service could be instituted, but as a rule they were not very well,attended, except on one occasion, when services were held at Mr Parson's mill. He had some thought of holding an afternoon service at Smith's siding, but should think that they would bo able to attend the church here, as the distance was not too far, and he did not want the Norsewood service to fall away, as it was getting on very well now. There had been many people leaving the district, and just as a choir was formed it was broken up from that cau>e. The last idea had been to form a choir composed chiefly, of boys, who were assisted by some of the ladies. A word of praise is due to the boys for their regular attendance, also ■ for tho very mce manner in which the services were sung last Sunday., The weather will improve, and the average attendance (40) will increase, and perhaps reach 80, the average before the last year. He was very much obliged to the ladies for their great kindness in getting the tea that evening. He thought that the ladies ought to, b,e there to see how business was' carried on, and though it had not veached the stage of appointing ladies to the Vestry yet, tho ladies in Ormondville had formed a committee and raised by subscription And other weans £? or £8. The Bishop was speaking about some scheme of forming a separate society in each place, each one paying 6d per month, and he would try and get the Bishop to come up and explain the idea himself. He would conclude by again thanking the ladies for their kindness, and would ask if any gentlemen had anything to say w^iUt reference to church mattes, Mr J. Brabazon, would move a vote of thanks, to Miss Webb for so kindly presiding at the organ. He would tyke someone to take Tier place jit wa^

v^ry hard that the young! lady should b'e compelled to walk 3uch~ long distances in all weathers when there was local talent that was available. The motion was seconded by Mr Robinson and carried. ,^ , ... Mr Webb returned thanks~ on behalf of Miss Webb,' and said that it had struck him that in the event of his having to leave the district they WoW fe& without ah organist. J- The meeting concluded by singing the Doxology.