ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 27, 26 October 1907, Page 5

ST. ANDREW'S CHURCH.

. . ANNUAL .MEETING. ' The annual' meeting of tlio congregation of St. Androw's Presbyterian Church was hold last, night.' Tho Rev. J. Gibson Smith pre r sided, and tho attendance Was satisfactory. Tho report of tho Session, which was road by the Session Clerk, Mr. John Scott, stated, inter alia, that one'special reason for grati- ■ tudo lay in -the', final settlement of,. the '.Church Propbry question. The congregation's property was now invested in tho New Zoaland Presbyterian Church : Property, Trustees,. and legal sanction had been .given to tlio declaration-of .tho Church Courts that St-' Androw's "Wellington, was as truo and absolutely a portion of- the Presbyterian Church-of New Zealand as any other of its congregations. 'Tho Session desired to : express . its. indebtedness to tho Clerk of Session, Mr. J. Scott, on whom fell by far tlio greater-portion of tho labour involved in preparing docuinents and drawing, up minutes; also,.to;Mr. J. P. Campbell, solicitor to the trustees, for the able manner in which ho had attended to. the interests, of the "St. Andrew's Cliurch Trustees Empowering Bill" to Mr. J. Gl'.W. Aitlcon, iM.H.R., tor his during its passngo, tli rough. Parliament; and very, officient h'elp. ,'i'he ordinary work 'of the congregation' had been carried on with a considerable" "mpasuro of success.

Tho ■ adoption of.' tho report was moved by. Mr.. R. Brop-n, land was seconded by Mr. J. Burns. After tlio Ilev. V(. J. C'omrio had sp'okon. in support, tho resolution was carried unanimously: " .

: Tho Rev. R. i'fait, jun. (Hon. secretary), read , the roport/of; tho Board of Managers and tho balance, .sheet. The report stated, inter alia, that during the year tho interior of tho Church building had been' cleaned and distempered, and tho:'front of tho. galleries rc-bronzod, whilo; tho.jextorior, as also that of the Sunday School,; had been re-painted. As thesn irpprovome'nts had boon'done mainly out of moneys raised by'tho Women's' Guild, tho managers desiredf.' on behalf of the.congregation, to thank- .the/ladies and also those ,who had specially contributed to. enable the work to be curried to completion. Tho time had arrived when the Sabbath School should be enlarged, aml ; in order to meet the want, tho Women's Guild intended, to dovoto the proceeds from a sale of/work.', shortly to be bold to the scbomo: Nil definite plan 'had yet boon adopted, but the proposal was toadd another story to tho'oiisting schoolroom, such addition to" lie carried, to the boundary of tho Church property. ,'lJv tliat means it was hoped not only to enable all tho Sabbath School classes, which-at. present were scattered throughout ' ■ the. Church, buildings (church, vost-ry, and, sohcolrqopi) to ,bo held under one roof, but also, to ,i:iako provision, for tho Young Women's Bible • Class. The managors hadat one time boned to'bo able to secui'o'a picce of land at tiio'lrear of :the Church property for school-extension purposes, but tho price required by' tho ovyner was considered prohibitive, and consequently they had not prcwwlod further in tlio matter. Mr.'James Blackwood, who for tjwo .years had ,;ictcd as church auditor, had, owing ,to removal from the district, resigned the'position, and the Board desired on behalf .of-thfc congregation, to thank him for his past services. ..Mr. W. ,R. iVlcnzies had ,kindly consented to fill the. vacant-post. Tho managers had applied to tho Property Board for a delegation of their powers with 'regard to tlio administration of tho Church property; and had boon successful.- Tho gentlemen ,who wpnld become tlio administrator:! were Liput.Col. Nov,-all, C.8., and Messrs. .Tarcc.s Burns, J. .['. Campbell, and John Scott. The' following had been elected as managers:— Mossrs. Jamos Burns,'-- James Russell, ll.Tait, sen., 11. Jl'ait, jun., J. C. ll'Kerrow, Jas. Harper, and N. M'ltobio. Tho balance showed that tho finances of the Church were in a flourishing condition. ■_ >i ; . It was resolved, on tho motion of Mr. R. Tait, jun., seconded by Mr. W. J, Gaudin. that tho report and balance sheet Im'adopted. Tho only other business was the appointment of ATr. W.' R. Meur.ies to the position' ■>( auditor.