ST. PETER’S MISSION

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 192, 9 May 1924, Page 9

ST. PETER’S MISSION

ANNUAL MEETING. St. Peter’s Hall was filled lost evening on the occasion of the annual meeting of St. Peter’s Mission. The Rev. H. Watson presided. In his armual report the missionor, the Rov. Flclileai Taylor, stated that the programme of activities of tho mission covered a. toys’ club with a present membership of 150; a girls’ eJub with a present membership .of 50; a free night school with a roll of 132; a Sea Scout troop, consisting of 24 boys; a boys’ hostel, which accommodates 2(1 toys; a store for second-hand clothing, fruit, jam. vegetables, for use or free distribution; n, daily meal for old pensioners, anil a meal for inon who are temporarily stranded. “We have made real progress in. every direction during the past 12 mouths, nnd this year aro on the eve of a real move forward, such move dksp.ending entirely on those .who add interested in us, said the .missioner. During the year the mission had acquired a property for building purposes, and this had been paid for. 'We are now in sight of building," continued the report. "Those who work at the mission realise the Total inadequacy of our present buildings." . The boys hostel was becoming an increasing problem. because admission had to be .rofused so many boys. Since the opening in 1921 C 3 boys ha_d passed through and al. the prcfsont there were 25 in residence. The night school was flourishing, there being 120 boys and 14 girls on tho roll. The disparity in numbers between the sexes was due to the fact that it was their object to try to lure toys back to study. The mission was greatly indebted 'to the Union Steam Ship Company for the presontatiori of a splendid boat for the Sea Scouts. The discipline of the tiroop had been good, and good results were hoped for in tho moulding of tho character of the toys. During tho year the mission had done much in finding employment for toys. Over 200 boys had been placed in jobs in tho city and in the country. A great percentage of them had done well. The trustees’ report stated that the acquisition oi the section of land m Taranaki Street, with three dwellings thereon, which was purchased last year, had. enabled them to consolidate the mission property. By arrangement with tho bank, t'ho mortgage of £l5OO on tho Sogrief’s estate had oeou paid off, and the only liability now on tho property wius the bank oveixlnait, wlilch was £2009 19s. 7d. Tho ordinary income of tho mission for tho year was £3406 11s. 10d., and the expenditure £2262 Ils. 4d. The difference of £1144 Os. Gd. had been utilised to reduce the mission's indebtedness. In commenting upon the report, the Rev. Fieldon Taylor said that the first necessity for the now year was to catch 'more and more the spirit of Christ; to do wliat they could to make the erection of building aoi established fact, and to do everything they qouldl to Tuoet tihq spiritual needs of those around them.

The proceedings of the evening were interspersed with musical items, and supper brought a successful mooting to a close.