ST. PAUL'S, NAPIER

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 130, 4 June 1931, Page 9

ST. PAUL'S, NAPIER

SEQUEL TO-EARTHQUAKE The : clerk of the Hawkes Bay Presbytery, the Rev.'F. V. Robertson, drew the attention of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church yesterday afternoon to the unfortunate1' position of . the congregation of St. Paul's Church, Napier, as :a result of the earthquake. A considerable amount of damage had also been done to lona College. The splendid, church of St. Paul's was almost completed when the disaster occurred. The property destroyed was valued at about ;£25,000, and there were other liabilities amounting to nearly £5000. The financial resources of the church had been seriously impaired owing to the losses of members of the congregation. The process of recovery would be fairly long. The congregation would have to bo helped on to its feet as quickly as possible. There-had been a splendid response to the Moderator's appeal, but further assistance was needed. Mr. V. Or. Chapman snid that up to the Ist of June £ytsßlhad been received from the congregations. He gave particulars of the way the- fund had been distributed, Further details as to the position were given by Mr. A. D., Thomson, who said that the Fire - Insurance Committee recommended that £2000 should be paid to the Church Fund for the relief' of sufferers ia; Hawkes Bay. The recommendation of the committee." was adopted. ) The minister of St. Paul's Church,; Napier (the Rev. J. A. Ashcr), who was^ accorded a warm reception, returned * thanks for the sympathy and practical:; help which had been given to the ■ Napier congregation. St. Paul's Church,'-;! if it had been completed, and had not-: been destroyed, would have been tho .:■ most beautiful church in New Zealand.J So. far as buildings were concerned, tho i congregation now owned only the manse.: The Rev. Walter M'Lean (Oamaru>« thought that many congregations desired;; a fuller statement to be made as to the:,; damage done. ;;':