ST. JAMES'S, CHURCH LOWER HUTT

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 97, 24 April 1912, Page 2

ST. JAMES'S, CHURCH LOWER HUTT

'ANNUAL MF.ETING OBPARISHIONERS. The annual meeting of tho parishioners of St. James's Church, Lower Hutt, was hold last evening. Owing, no doubt, to the boisterous nature of tho weather, the meeting was only poorly attended. 1 The vicar (Rev. J. Jones) reported that the various socioties connected with tho church »wero in good working order, but the choir was sadly in nepd of reinforcement. Though ,a fair level of efficiency had been maintained during tho year, it might be -well to consider whether they were making the most of the possibilities, and he would welcome suggestions fur advancement 'and improvement. "On tho whole," he concluded, "we have every reason to bo thankful, 'and to take courttge." The churchwardens in thoir annual report, which was adopted, stated 'that the past joar had been a comparatively uneventful one, for, with tho exception of tho cutting off of tho south-eastern part of tho parish to korm tho new parochial district of Eastbourne, Micro was littlo to report. Although tho overdraft had increased through nccps&ary works, such as sowerage connuctions, alterations to doors of church and schoolroom, and tho roroofing of tho Tuita. Church, the financial position was better than would appear from tho balance-sheet. The revonuo was considerably abovo tho ordinury expenditure. The total of the_ offertories was larger than in any previous ordinary year, and the St. James's Guild paid in about tho samo amount as last year. Tho Tuita Church had boon painted at a cost of £12, tho money being raised locally. At tho request of residents in and near Eastbourne, and with tho consent of the vestry, tho Synod at its last meeting "decided to form a scparato parochial district of that part of tho Hutt Parish south of tho Waiwotu River. This had freed tho curato from the monthly services which ho used to tako there. The lato Mr. E. J. Riddiford left a bequest of £500 to tho church, and when this money is received, much-noodod repairs_ to tho church and parsonage will be put in hand at once. Notice nad been received from Mrs. E. J. Riddiford of her desire to complete tho eastern window by a stained glaes window on each side of tho central one which was put up in memory of tho lato Mr. Riddiford's father and mother. The now windows are to be in memory of her lato son Lionel. The pipo organ fund Bhowod a credit, balance of over £ISO. It was hoped that before long a sufficient sum would bo in hand to justify tho purchase of tho organ. Tho vestry for tho current year was elected as follows.— Dr. Purdy and Messrs. Russell, Anson, Aldous, Staples, House, Evans, and Woodward. Messrs. F. do J. Clero and D. M. Yalos were reelected churchwardens,. Tho vestry is 1o meet ncx(. Tuesday evening to appoint threo pamh nominators as required. Ai tho bequept from tho lato Mr. Riddiforil will not bo paid over for some limo yet, consideration will also b» given to tho question of borrowing n sum of money in (ho meantime. |