PARISH MEETINGS.

Press, Volume XLVII, Issue 7527, 17 April 1890, Page 6

PARISH MEETINGS.

ST. MARY'S, MEBIVALE. The annual meeting of the parishioners was held-last evening. in the schoolroom. The Incumbent (Key. T. Flavell) occupied the chair. The meeting was opened with prayer.. I■■ . ■ ... ■" ■. ■• >. ! , The report and balance-sheet, of which the following is an abstract, was taken as read: —

" The Vestry, in presenting their annual \ report, are pleased to be able to state that the finances of the parish show aa improvement compared with the preceding year. The Bank overdraft shows a satisfactory redaction. In regard to ordinary receipts the balance-sheet exhibits a falling off in offertories of £80 11s 4d, while on the other hand seat rents, which have been paid in full to date, show an increase of £55 17s 6d, and parochial fund, of £33 0s 6d. On the side of expenditure the Vestry would point with satisfaction to a redaction in the item interest on overdraft of £12 7s lOd, owing to the large amount paid oft last year by means of the Merivale fete. The Vestry have to report the resignation of the organist, Mr E. E. Searell, in December last, and the appointment of Mr Clarence F. Turner to the vacant post without salary, Mr Turner having generously offered his services on those terms. Satisfactory arrangements have been made with Mr Normington to act as choir master. Owing to the exertions of a Committee appointed for the purpose, the musical portion of the church services has been placed on a better footing, and shows a marked improvement. The incumbent regards with great satisfaction the attendance at the men's Bible class, and the continued efficiency of the church; day school, Sunday school, and the Young People's Guild. The thanks of the parishioners are due to the lay readers, the choir, Sunday school teachers, lady visitors, ladies' working, party, and others who have rendered valuable aid to the parish. The V estry have again to record their; thanks to Mr Waymouth for his continued gratuitous services as auditor. The statement of receipts and expenditure showed great improvement on that of last year, exhibiting as it did a further reduction of the Bank overdraft to the extent of nearly £29. . The Incumbent, in speaking first to finance portion of the report, said the rishioners should be very grateful for They owed it to the persevering energy , of the Churchwardens, who had done their duty right nobly, seeing that the overdraft was reduced by nearly £29. It should not be overlooked, that though certain families were away in Eugland, they paid their subscriptions to the church just as usual. Looking on the spiritual work of the parish, the Sundayschool gave him great satisfaction—the teachers were attentive, and the scholars both regular and diligent. The young people's guild was a great gratification to him. The entertainments given were as a rule of a superior order, and gave as much delight to the children themselves. The parish was greatly indebted to the ladies' working party for providing by means of the annual sale of work for the yearly treat, prizes for scholars and choristers, and a capital addition of new books to the Sunday School library. Many pleasant evenings had been spent with the men in the adult Bible class, which he hoped would be even better attended in the future. Altogether, he felt that God was blessing their work, which, the incumbent hoped, would still go on. Mr Isaac Gibbsi, the parishioners' warden, made a few remarks relative to the report, and referred to the paid choristers, stating that whatever had been given for that purpose had beea contriuted by three or four individuals, and the church officers would like an expression of opinion from the meeting as to whether payment should be continued in the future. He also stated that through the generosity of Mr C. F. Turner some £20 was saved on the salary previously given to the organist. -Mr Wμ. Black moved the adoption of the report, which was seconded by Mr John Studholme, and carried unanimously. At a subsequent period a resolution wae proposed by Mr H.O.D. Mjsares, seconded by Mr Tybee—"That the vestry be empowered to procure paid assistance for the choir, provided they could, not get sufficient voluntary assistance." The election of Church officers was next proceeded with. The Bey. T. Flavell again nominated Mr Wm. Black as Minister's Warden, and Mr Isaac Gibbs was reelected as Parishioners' Warden ; and the following'were elected as Vestrymen: —MrC. Jβ. Turner, Mr J. Studholme, Mr R. Heaton Bho es, Mr A. H.,Allen,Mr W. JRblnd, Mr A. Tyree, Mr G. J. Meadows, Mr W. Acton-Adams, Mr H. C. Satchell, Mr H. U. D. Meares. ; A"hearty vote of thanks was passed to the lay readers, the choir, school teachers, lady; visitors, ladies' working party, verger, and to Mr C. F. Turner for his' gratuitous services as organist, also to the Church officers and Vestry for their services during the past year. The usual hearty vote of thanks was accorded to the Chairman, and the proceedings closed. ■

NEW BRIGHTON.

The annual meeting of the parishioners of New Brighton was held on Tuesday evening. The Rev. R. Inwood occupied the chair. There was only a moderate attendance of parishioners. The Chairman referred in a praiseworthy manner to the zealous and able way In which Mir Allpress, one of the Churchwardens, had done his work, especially when it had to be remembered that the greater part of the labors thrown upon his shoulders through Mr Palairet leaving the district. He (the rev. gentleman) suggested that, in the future, the incoming Committee should .acquaint him if possible with the names of the visitors to the district, in ' order that he might occasionally call on them; and, also, that the Vestry should try their best to persuade those, who were "in. the district, andnot attending any church, to attend his place of worship. ; After thanking the Vestry for their efficient services, he asked Mr Allpress toread the statement of accounts, which'he said were considered satisfactory, though a small; amount was owing on the account for the additions to the church. This small debit, it was hoped, would be met by the offertories during the month, and thus relieve the church of debt. Additional accommodation had been made for worshippers, and even now there werp occasions when that accommodation was considerably taxed. During the year there had been four marriages, nine baptisms and no burials. Mr Allpress submitted the accounts, which were adopted. The election of church officers was then taken, and resulted as under:—lncumbent's Churchwarden, Mr C. W. Purchas; Parishioners', Mr C. Allpreas; Vesfcry, Messrs W. Wilson, Curtis, Dunlop. Fryer, Bishop, Wyatt, Dearsley, Burns, Glanville and Moore."

Votes o£ thanks were passed to Messrs Cox and Burns, lay readers; Mrs Wilson, organist; the Sunday school teachers, and the ladies^vwhdtduring the!year had worked so assiduously in the interests of the church.. ■

The proceedings closed with the usual compliment to the Chairman.

ST. PETERS, AKIAROA.

The annual meeting of parishioners of Sfc. Peter's Church, Akaroa, was held on Tuesday evening at 7.30. when the Incumbent, «cv. McKenzie Gibson, presided. The balance-sheet showed the receipts to the Slat March to be £3U 12s 3d, aad the expenditure 43327 0s 6d, together with liabilities to the amount of a>l23 3a 9d, which had since been reduced to date to £76 8s 3d, contributions still being due. After the adoption of the balance-sheet, votes of thanks were passed to the retirine Churchwardens, Mr Westenra, and Mr Penlington, for the excellent way they had carried out their duties. Votes of thanks were also passed to !fhe lay readers, organist, choir, Sunday school teachers, the decorators of the church for festivals, and to Mr Geo. Armstrong. The nomination ..for Churchwardens was then proceeded with, when the Incumbent announced that he had appointed Mr G. H. Saxtoii as his. Churchwarden. Mr Westenra was re-elected Parishioners' Warden. The election of seven vestrymen resulted as follows :—Messrs W. Penlingfcon H. O. Clark, P. Potts, Bicknell, B. Barker, Berwick, and T. E. Taylor.