PARISH MEETING.

Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 4285, 24 April 1879, Page 3

PARISH MEETING.

ELLESMEEE.

The Easter meeting of parishioners at St. James* Church, Southbridge, was held in the library on the 22nd ApriL The Ber. Walter Harper occupied the chair. Messrs E. J. Lee, H. P. Hill, T. Wauchop, H. if. Lee, J. Andrews, H. Paddy, F. de Bidder, S. Wiekliff, J. Slwin, and L. Betborough also attended.

The meeting was formally opened by the Chairman, and the minutes of the previous annnal meeting read and confirmed. Mr E. J. loee, as senior churchwarden, read the following annual statement of the affaire of this portion of the EDesmere district during the period from 20th April, 1878, to date. He regretted that the Southbridge portion of the district had not raised its share of the stipend guaranteed to Mr Harper. Leeston had furnished its proportion, and the balance due from Kfllinohy would soon be paid. The sum of £105 had been received for sittings and subscriptions, and £18 was still owing, making £123, whereas their proportion was £140. He trusted the incoming reitry would take some steps to secure a more liberal contribution to this abject Their current account at the bank had also been in a chronic state of overdraft. Thanks were due to the Bank of New Zealand for kindness and courtesy in giring them constant accommodation. He thought such a state of things most discreditable to the district. He recommended the meeting to pass a resolution in faror of having all sittings prepaid. He received the sum of £10 early in the year from Mr Westenra as contribution to stipend from DunsandeL In tbe offertory account the collections had not reached hut year's amount by £1 Iβ. He pointed out, as he had done on former occasions, that it was very poor policy to place in the bag as an offering to God the smallest coin in one's purse. A more liberal contribution each Sunday would place the account in a good position, and enable them to supplement short receipts from the sittings and from subscriptions. There was a debit balance on the year of £7 6s 2d, and outstanding liabilities amounting to £32. Hβ had opened an account with the Permanent Investment Association for the extinction of the £300 debt on the parsonage in six years, by paying £2 15s pel* month. The mortgage is still remaining, though he had hoped to hare made arrangements to have paid it off, and get the money elsewhere at 6 per cent. He still saw his way to accomplish this Liter on. Killinchy has given £5, and Leeston provides £1 a month towards the abore payments. The balance was paid out of the offertory. The general result of the account was as follows:—Receipts—Offertory account, £13118s 9d ; stipend account, £302 10s; total, £434 8s 9d. DisbursementsOffertory account, £189 14i lid; stipend, £333 11s 2d; balance due to the Bank this day, £38 17s 4d. Beceipts from Killinchy and from sittings here now unpaid will nearly make up the difference. At an election, held on the 16th, for a representative to the Diocesan Bynod, Mr 0. T. Dudley was the only nominee, and therefore returned. In conclusion, he expressed a sincere hope that next year the treasurer would be able to furnish a more satisfactory statement. The report and accounts as audited by Mr XL M. Lee were unanimously adopted.

The following gentlemen were elected officebearers for the ensuing year. Churchwardens —Messrs E. J. Lee and H. P. Hill. Vestrymen—Messrs Wauchop, Willi*, de Bidder, Paddy, Slwin, In wood, Bowen, and Williams. The question of finance gare rise to considerable discussion as to the best means of obtaining increased funds, and the following resolution paaaed :—" That in fature fees for sitting* be payable on the first Monday after Easter, and that all sittings not paid for by the Ist June in each rear be declared unoccupied." Mr Harper, in answer to a question, stated that the Ellesmere district collection* for church purpose* compared very farorably with other districts in the diocese, and exceeded most of the parishes outside Christchurch. The synod had the power of constituting their district a parish on the request of a certain number of churchmen.

Votes of thank* to the chairman and church officers terminated the proceeding*.