THE CHURCHES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1115, 1 May 1911, Page 6

THE CHURCHES.

WADKSTOWN AND NORTHLAND. Tho nuuunl meeting of tho parochial district of Wadestown and Northland was held on Thursday evening in St. Luke'.* Schoolroom,' Wiutestown, the Rev. J. G. K. Bartlelt presiding. The report: of tho vestry- 1!lid balance-sheet ivere read by Mr. F. J. liaise, churchwarden, and adopted. 'J'lio report staled that the financial position _ was fairly satisfactory, there being ii slight increase in the ordinary oltci-Ic-ries. and also in tho special olterlories owing to tho .recent mission. It was pointed .out that a vicarage should be provided as sodii as possible. The old church section, being unsuiUible for this purpose, had been sold, and tho net pioerals invested as a nucleus for (ho vicarage fund. The vestry expressed appreciation of tho help .given hy visiting clergymen, jind Jav-readcrs, and regretted the departiii-o from tho district of Mr. I. D. iiellett, who had laboured .unselfishly for many years in the parish. The following officers were elected for the currentyear:—Vicar's churchwarden,.Mr. A. 11. Stuart; parishioners' churchwarden, Mr. I'. J. Halsc; vestrymen, Messrs. E. M; Grant, J. Goydor, W. Lees, J. W. Mitchell, .1. M. Richardson, and J. S. Rutter; auditor, Mr. W. R. Morris. A special vote of thanks was accorded to Iho clergy and lay-readers of Wellington city and. suburbs for their ministrations while tho parish was without a vicar, and especially to Messrs. Bellett and Richardson, tho.local lay-readers. Votes of thanks were also accorded to Mr. George, the retiring syuedsman, tho vestry, Sunday School teachers, and others connected with the two churches. At tho close of tho meeting Mr. H. Stuart spoke a few words of welcome to the new vicar, and expressed a hope that the parishioners would heartily co-operate with him i;i the work of the parochial district.

ALL SAINTS , , KILBIRNIE. . The annual meeting of All Saints' Anglican Church, Kilbiruic, was held last week. A preliminary meeting (during which the vicar was. absent) was held to coiv 6ider tho proposal of adding, to the vicar's stipend, and also the provision of a curate to assist in the work of (his unwieldy.parish. .Both propositions were enthusiastically adopted and on' tho arrival of tho vicar were reported to him. Mr. Blackburno thanked the parishioner* very heartily, 'shying ho would be grateful indeed tor tho assistance of a curate, but. asked to bo allowed to decline the proffered addition to his stipend on the ground that tho parish would probably find that the provision of a curate would .bi quite enough pecuniary obligation for tho ensuing year. Speakers urged tho acceptance of the addition to the stipend, but it was declined with kindly firmness. The report and balance-sheet, which disclosed credit balances in every branch of the church's activity, except in the case of the building fund, were unanimously adopted. Tho vicar optimistically reviewed tliu various agenciw at woik in Uio parish—Uie church building fund, tho C.E.M.S., tho choir, etc., eulogising the. spirited action of tho organist and members of the choir in making themselves responsible for tho new organ which was used for tho first time on Easter Sunday, Tho vicar also feelingly referred to the departure of tho Bishop, whom he characterised as a real "father in God," and ended by thanking ono and all for tho splendid feeling which had been shown during the past year. Tho election of church . officers resulted as follows:— ' Vicar's churchwarden. Mr. Taplin; parishioners' churchwarden, Mr. ChappelL; , vestrymen,- Messrs. ToM.i, Seville, Jones, Whitcombe, Flux, Eagar, Castle, Scoones, Mcnker, and Bass; auditor, Mr. F. W. BarneLt; synodsman for the next triennial period, Mr. G. Flux. A motion favouring tho granting of voles to women at p.irish meetings was enthusiastically carried. A. number of musical items concluded a very, successful parish meeting. PARAPARAUMU PAROCHIAL DISTRICT. Tho annual meeting of tho Parapornuum, parochial district was held on April 27. The Eev. .X. Edwin Jones (vicar) presided. The vicar, in his report, stated: This parochial district of Paraparauniu, which includes the districts of Parapara.umu, Waikanae, Packakarik'i, and Rei< koraugi, has now entered, on the third yeai of its existence. During the year ouo who worked most assiduously for the formation cf the parish, the late Jlr. 11..5. Hndfield, has passed from our midst. Beloved by all, we deeply lament our loss, The vestry, through Mr. J. A. Austin, expressed■ our heartfelt sympathy, with Jl'if'i. Hadfield. In his memory a brass tablet is to be placed in St. Paul's Church. The four districts have settled down, during the past year, to quiet and steady work of tlieir various organisations. The experiment of a Church Council in each district, on which the congregations and all their organisations are represented, has proved very successful and interesting. Tho vicarage is now. very nearly finished. I am anxious to get tho debt on it of .£BS 13s. l)d. paid oil', eo that each centre can work for its particular need. A chancel is badly needed for St. Peter's Church, Paeltaknriki, and parish rooms arc badly wanted at Paraparaumu and Waikanae. A flower show is to be held on September 20 to try and.lessen the vicarage debt. I am. very, thankful to all our lay readers, Messrs. J. A. Austin, W. D. Bennett, H. R v Elder, S. W. Hunt, and T. Larchin, h< their splendid work; also to Messrs. W. B Fisher and S. P. Curtis, of Wellington, who at their own expense, came to take services for us. I am very grateful to the vestry, church councils, Sundays School teachers, organists, Ladies' Guilds, and all others who have assisted die.parish during the past year. The report, of the treasurer (Mr. J. A, Austin) states: The offertories for tho your totalled .£9B 2s. 7d.. (previous year, ,£Bl 18s. Stl.); subscriptions to stipend, J:SS 15s. (id. (previous .year, .£73 125.): donations, .£5 4s.- Gil.; proceeds concert*, .£3;-total, .£lO2 2s. 7d. The vicarage account at the commencement of the year ■ showed « debit balance of .£l4l, but now, notwithstanding further, payments to tho amount of nearly J24U, we have succeeded in reducing tho indebtedness to the sum of ,£BS 13s. fld. I should like to express ' iny sincere thanks to our vicar for his unfailing patience and courtesy. The following officers, were elected for the ensuing year:—Vicar's churchwarden, Mr. J. A. Austin; people's churchwarden, Mr. G. S. Smith; vestry (for Paraparamnii), Messrs. Si. Maclean and L. I, Howell; for Waikanae, Messrs. H. R, Elder and T. W. Brown; for Paokakariki, Mr. 11. T. Cooper; for Roikorangi, Messrs. W. D. Bennett and S. Cornor; svnodsiuan, Mr. J. A. Austin; auditor, Mr. A. G. Williams. Votes of thanks were passed to the officials for tho past year. ALL SAINTS', PALMERSTON NORTH. The annual meeting of parishioners of All Saints' Church, Palmerston North, was held on Friday night. Thcro was'a large attendance, and tho K«v. 11. G, Hoscher occupied tl.o rhnir. The aunuiu report of the churchwardens showed that a sum of .£2205 was in hand towards the erection of tho new church, and a further sum of .£570 was promised, making a total of JtiSHfi. This did not include £100 which' Iml already been expended in removing the present church. St. Peter's Sundaj Schoolroom had been completed at a cost of .£307, and already .£llO towards till I had been raised by tho Ladies' Guild. The vicar in his report spoke of the vigorous church lifo in (he parish. Hβ referred to tho fact of Palmerston liying a military centre, and said tho Anglican. Church must riso to the occasion and make '.he necessary sacrifices, llio following officers were elected:—Vicars warden, ilr. Kenneth Wilson; peoples warden, Mr. A. Sherman; vestry, Messrs. C. Smith, If. L. Uarnieoal, E. 11. Morrah, fi. W. Harden, W. F. Dnnvard, .1. D. R. Hewitt, and L. A. Abraham; synodsmen, Mi-ssrs. Hewitt and Wil<on; auditor, Mr. J. Mitchell. It was decided to si'iitl a rocommondalion to the synod favouring women voting at parochial meetings. Mr. Harden pointed out Hint All Sniiits' Church was in debt to the amount of ,£SO, St. Peter's .1180, nml the Holrowhitu Sunday School .Mi". He suggested that monthly subscriptions should bo sought, and in a short: time these debts would be wined nut. The proposal was adopted, and n number of those in tho room put their names down for monthly donations.