ST. SAVIOUR'S CHURCH, MAKOTUKU.

Bush Advocate, Volume VII, Issue 648, 12 July 1892, Page 2

ST. SAVIOUR'S CHURCH, MAKOTUKU.

-r A splendid attendance at the annual meeting of the congregation of St. Saviour's Church, Makotuku, was the reward of the promoters of Friday evening's social. For some time not only the ladies' committee, biit all the ladies of Makotuku, have been preparing for what turned out to be a most signal success. Tea was on the tables shortly after 6, and ths quality of the repast was such as to reflect great credit on those who had undertaken its preparation. After tea was done the Eev. T. J, Wills announced that a short programme would be submitted, and during an interval the opportunity presented by so representative a gathering of the congregation would be mide use of to elect the new vestry. Miss Eobinson commenced with a pianoforte overture, which was well and carefully played, and listened to with pleasure. Mr Wykes recited appropriately, and was followed by Mr Fergusson with a violin solo. Sir Fergus&on always plays well, but be was in rare form on Friday. Mrs Fergusson played the pianoforte accompaniment. Mr Friberg than read the following report : — The Vestry of 1891-92 have the honour to present the following report to the parishioners : — Tha year during which we have held office has been most eventful from a parish point of view. Canon Webb, who for eight years had been our curate, was called by the Bishop and the Vestry of Holy Trinity Church to labour in a larger parish _in Gisborne, Canon Webb relinquished the care of tbis district on April 30th. There is no clergyman yet appointed to permanently take tbe position made vacant by the above change. Tho Rev. T. J. Wills bas been appointed to the temporary charge of this district, as from May Ist. The Vestry have no information to lay before you as to when a permanent appointment will ba made, but the wishes of the parishioners, if expressed, would douhtless receive due consideration in tbis matter. During the first three-quarters ot our year of office the gross income j was £5 2s Od from pew rents and £6 14s from offertories. This makes a total of ;£ll lOs 6d for the threequarters, and an average of £3 18s per quarter. The last quarter was opened by a reform which abolished both offertories and pew rents, and substituted quarterly subscriptions in tlieir place. The subscription, ptomised amount to over £10 per quarter, and are capable of being increased. The congregations have greatly improved since the abolition of the pe.v rents \ and the result of the reform may be briefly stated to be a congregation doubled, and an in income trebled. Two improvements have been effected in the Church during the past year. The sanctuary was carpeted by means of a special offertory, and a few private subscriptions. The central and side isles have heen covered with cocoa-nut matting, which was a gift from the vestry of St. Matthew's, Hastings. By these two improvements, the beauty and the comfort of the church have been greatly added to. During the year the sum of £9 19s lld was paid to Canon Webb as stipend. Of this £3 15s came from Matamau, and was merely passed through the books of the Vestry. The Sunday School is now on an independent financial basis, and has not gone outside the children's offerings for nearly a year. The school has suffered a severe loss in Miss

Webb being no longer able to assist There are at present 87 pupils on the book, and the staff consists of .2 male teachers and five ladies. ThetsachorS report that they receive ovary possible assistance from the children and from the parents.' In moving the adoption of the report Mr Friberg .said that the outlook was bright, tbat a forward movement was perceptible, and that the wishes of the mist sanguine would become realised if only the advance, were led with peace, Jove, and harmony. Mr Wills nominated Mr Brabazon to be minister's warden, and on the motion of Messrs Brabazon and Robinson Mr Friberg was re-elected people's warden. Mr Westall was elected auditor, and the following vestry was chosen : — Massrs Bobinson, Jarman, James Plank, Fergusson, and Wykes. Mr Friberg proposed a vote of thanks to the -ladies' committee for the work they had done with so much effect. He pointed out that the subscriptions being canvassed for would go directly to the stipend fund, and that in future it was intended to meet the ordinary expenses of the church in the manner begun that night. Mr Westall seconded, and said the ladieswere a most important aid to any minister or to any organisation. If the sympathy of them and of the children were gained, the meu would soon follow. Mr Plank proposed, and Mr Eobinson seconded, that the authorities be asked to permanently station the Rev. T. J. Wills in this district. The motion was put by Mr Friberg, and carried unanimously. Mr Wills thanked the congregation for this kind expression of opinion, and said that he placed himself in the hands of the Bishop. If he were told to remain here, he wtuld be very pleased to do so ; but if he were sent elsewhere he would ever remember the kind resolution of this evening, and the many friends he bad come amongst, and by whom he had been so kindly received. In the second part of the programme, Mrs Fergusson played a pianoforte solo, Mrs Wills and Mr Wykes sang a duet, Mr Fergusson favored the audience with another very pretty violin solo, Mr Wykes sang, and also Mr Westall. ' Nancy Lee ' asserted her charming influence, aud Mr Westall was accorded a pronounced encore, but did not respond. The last item was the " Village Blacksmith, ' sung by Mr Fergusson. The doxology and tne benediction brought to a close one of the most successful meetings ever held in connection witb the Makotuku Church.