ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH, HASTINGS.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume X, Issue 141, 29 May 1920, Page 5

ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH, HASTINGS.

ANNUAIL MEETING OF PARISHIONERS.

The parishioners of St. Matthew’s Church, Hastings, held their annual meeting last evening. In the absence of the Vicar, Archdeacon W. J. Simkin, of Napier, presided, and there was an attendance of about 60 parishioners. •

REPORT AND BALANCE-SHEET. The balance-sheet shewed that the receipts were £BB7 15/4, and the disbursements £849 1 5/6, the balance bee ing £39 0/1. The general offertories amounted to £331 16/9, subscriptions general fund £261 10/-, subscription envelopes £287 6/1, and donations £7 2/-. The church-wardens’ (Messrs A. W. Hamilton and Geo. Ebbett) report said they were pleased to be able to report to parishioners that the year’s accounts show a healthier financial state than they have shown for some time past. “The general offiertories are about the average, but there has been a decrease in annual and envelope subscriptions. They were still about £250 short of our required amount under the last two headings. Mr. E. H. Williams thought a fuller report should have been presented. He was of opinion that the vestry should get into closer touch with the members, and that more financial support should bo forthcoming from the parishioners. Mr. A. W. Hamilton .moved that the balance sheet and report be taken as read and adopted. lie said that the reason of the brevity of the report was owing to the illness of the vicar, who bail usually reported on the work of the parish for the year. The deficit last year amounted to about £136, but this "year there was a credit of £39. The sum of £156 had been collected towards the soldiers’ memorial, but the work had been delayed owing to several causes (there had been no estimate as to the cost) mainly to the -scarcity of cement.

Mr. G. Ebbett seconded the motion. He said he endorsed the remarks made by Mr. Williams, There was a great laxity among some of the parishioners. The motion was carried. THE LATE VICAR.

The chairman expressed his regret at the absence from the meeting of the Rev. J. B. Brocklehurst, owing to illness. In Mr. Brocklehurst’s stead the chairman nominated Mr. A. W. Hamilton as vicar’s warden. Tne chair man also said it was sad to think that such a young man as Mr. Brocklehurst had to lay down his church work.' He hoped that he would soon be restored to good health and be able to take up his church duties again. Mr. Ebbett moved, and Mr. Sinclair seconded, “that this meeting of parishioners place on record an expression of the parishioners’ high appreciation of the valuable services • rendered to the parish by the Rev. Mr. Brocklehurst and their deep regret that owing to illness it had become necessary for him to tender his resignation as vicar. xiw motion was carried unanimously. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The election of officers resulted as follows: —Vicar’s warden, Mr. A. W. Hamilton, parishioners’ warden Mr Geo Ebbett, vestrymen, Drs. Tosswill and Boxer; and Messrs Woodward, King, Morrison, Gill, Childs, Vyner, T. Jsf'oNeil, and Rackley; auditor, Mr. A. Fraser. Mr. A. W. Hamilton thanked those present for having re-elected him as vicar’s warden and Mr. Ebbett also returned thanks for his having been reelected for the tenth time as people’s warden THE NEW VICARArchdeacon Simkin made reference to the new vicai' who had been appointed to succeed the Rev. J. B. Brocklehurst He said he had known the Rev. Mr Hall for many years. They were smal l children together, and later on were associated together at College and worked with each other in church work for a number of jears. He had received his training in one of the best organised parishes in England. He possessed special musical ability, and would 6e a decided acquisition to’ their choral Service which was one of the best, in the Dominion, He (the chairman) then i asked that when he came to them the parishioners extend to him their sympathy, kindness and co-operation GENERAL. The auditor’s fee was fixed at £3 3/-. Ou the motion of Mr. H. Fowler seconded by Mr. G. K. Sinclair, a { honorarium, of £lO was voted to the i treasurer, Mr. A. W. Hamilton. I Mr. Sinclair moved, and Mr. Fowler | seconded, a hearty vote of thanks to the vestry, churchwardens, choir, Sun-day-school teachers, and other church workers, which was carried lyOn the motion of Mr. E. H. Williams, seconded by Mr. H. Fowler it was decided that the vestry ascertain the names of all church members in the j parish, that a special effort should be ■ made to clear off the present debt oi : £458 18/9 during the present year, and | that each subscriber should be asked to pay an extra £1 towards its liquidation. On the motion of Messrs King and T. O’Neil a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr. Percy Tombs for his services as conductor of the choir and as organist. Mr. Tombs returned thanks. At the close of the meeting refreshments were handed round to those present, under the supervision of the following ladies ;—Mesdames Ebbett, A. W. Hamilton ’Woodward and Morrison, and Misses Gill, and Gray.