OTAKI ANGLICAN CHURCH.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 11110, 6 May 1911, Page 9

OTAKI ANGLICAN CHURCH.

At the adjourned annual meeting of parishioners in connection with tho. Anglican Church at Otaki the churchwardens' report stated: —Tho Church, and vicarage site adjoining the post office is freo of debt, and tliat the viearago building fund lias increased from £6H 6s. Gd. to about £180. This is chiefly duo to tho Ladies' Guild, and the Gymkhana Committee who worked most enthusiastically to niako tho gymkhana a success. The total receipts from all sources at tho gymkhana are £124 Ss. 3d., expenditure £11.125. 7d., balance £112 15s. Sd. This balanco is to bo handed, over to the vicarage fund. The parish accounts aro most satisfactory. Wo began the year with a debt of £18 Ms. lid., and wo have liow a credit balance of about £24. The Otaki general offertories increased .from £70 (is. 4d. to £97 18s. lid., an increase of £27 12s. 7d., whilo tho subscriptions ia creased from £47 lGs. Gd. to £93 14s. Gd., an increase of £45 18s., making a total increase for Otaki of £73 12s. 7d. Tho To Horo ■ general offertories increased from £15 18s. 4d. to £18 os. Gd., an increase of £2 2s. 2d., whilo the subscriptions increased from £2 Is. to £4 18s., an increase of £2 175., making a total increase for To Horo of £4 19s. 2d. The Manakau general offertories arid subscriptions show in both a slight decrease, amounting in both to £8 7s. This decrease is duo to tho departure of church people from Manakau. Tho net increase in tho whole district to parish account on tho previous year's receipts is £G8 2s. 7d. The special offertories have also slightly increased. In Manakau the committeo is to bo congratulated on their accomplishment of tho removal of tho Parish Hall to the church site, also on their determination to raise funds for necessary church expenses without coming on the ordinary roccipts by soliciting free offerings for tho purpose. As will appear from tho balance-sheets wo have removed all our liabilities, and have balances to our credit. I:i this coming year tho incoming churchwardens and vestry will have to face great problems for such a small district. Our present site for the church and vicarage is unsuitable, not being central enough, and it will be to the interest of tho church to sell this site and acquire a more central one. Other problems to bo faced this year, if we hope to make adequate provision for tho congregation and for a resident will bo tho acquiring of a suitable site for a church and vicarage and tho erection of a vicarage, and a church. Tho vicar, in his report, states: Tho condition of church life throughout tho whole district, 1 believe, was never sounded than now, all agencies for tho developing of the church life are in fair working order. Tho most import- | ant event of the year was (he Mission of Help. Tiio niissioner of this district was the Rov. A. E. D. Evans, and the spiritual life of the whole district has been much awakened and uplifted. Tho next matter for thankfulness is the vast increase of communions made during the year. These have risen from 444 to 792. It is this which gives us such hopo for tho future of the church here. This increase is partly duo to the mission, and partly due to the increased facilities given for communion. With the assistance of earnest and devoted lay-readers the services throughout the district have boon maintained. Since the beginning of the year a branch of the C.K.M.S. has liee'n started, and now has a membership of '15. I am informed that the Sund-iy Schools are in a very healthy condition. Tho attendance of the children is more regular, .and the discipline excellent. Vot there is need of more teachers in all tho Sunday Schools. At Manakau wo have suffered very considerably on nocount of departures from the district. Then this year tho Parish Hall, which had been acquired previously, has been moved to the church site at the cost of £39 17s. Money for this purpose lias been raised by various means and lout free of interest. And our liability is £10 13s. Bd. This is now tho only liability in the whole district. I am thankful to record the increased attendances in the To Horo part of tho parish at divine services. In conclusion I wish most cordially to express my indebtedness and heartfelt thanks to all who have so enthusiastically assisted me in tho work of the church during tho past year.