CHURCH MEETING

Evening Post, Volume XCI, Issue 107, 6 May 1916, Page 6

CHURCH MEETING

ALL SAINTS', OTAKI

The annual meeting of parishioners of All Saints'. Otaki, was held on Thursday evening, the Rev. G. T. Petrie, M.A., presiding. The various organisations connected with the church were all reported to be flourishing. The year had been noteworthy for two outstanding events—the dedication of the church and the erection of a vicarage. The vicar, in his report, congratulated the parishioners on what they had accomplished, and said they were now in tho proud position of having one of the finest vicarages on the Coast. During the year there had been a very marked improvement in the number of Communions made in All Saints, the figures having gone up from 1056 to 1418. .The Sunday school had improved, and many valuable furnishings had been added. The churchwardens' report showed that the general offertories had increased from £111 to £134, an increase of £23, while special offertories had reached the total of £61, against last year's £28. The credit balance to 31st March was £54 14s 4d, and of this amount £35 had been transferred to the Vicarage Account, leaving a balance to the General Church Fund of £19 15s -4d. The total expenses in connection with the vicarage had been £1121 12s 6d. During the year, for reduction of'mortgage, payment of interest, etc., £180 had been received, made up as follows:— Ladies' Guild £109, G.C.T. £35, Manakau district £20, Te Horo £16. The total liability on the vicarage now stands at £516 12s 6d.

A letter from D. M. Yeats, organiser to the Maori Mission, was read, and'as a result a branch of the Selwyn Guild was formed, with Miss Blakiston as secretarv and treasurer.

The vicar intimated that he had been appealed to by Ah Wong, Chinese Missioner, to start Sunday school classes for the Chinese, of, whom there were seventy-one in the district, and he asked the parishioners to assist him in this important work. Votes of thanks were accorded to the various church workers, and the vicar thanked the people for their generous Easter offering. Mr. R. Booth was nominated vicar's warden, and Mr. L. St. George was elected people's warden. The following were elected vestrymen : Messrs W. Best, C. H. Williams, W. H. Simcox, W.- M. .Simcox, J. Bills, W. Cook, S. Norgrove, C. V. Swaberg, W. P. A. Kershaw, R. W. G. C. Blathwayt; auditor, C. L. Hartmann j. central parochial vestry, Messrs. Booth, St. George, and Best.