THE CENTENNIAL

Lake County Mail, Issue 15, 3 September 1947, Page 5

THE CENTENNIAL

Institution of Services

Tnmbles of Small Centre

By the Rev, P. Anderson

It will be interesting to learn how the pioneers set about the task of building their churches, and as an example of lioav a small community Avent to Avork avc Avill reconstruct the building of the Miller’s Flat Church from the minutes of their Church Committee. Tire first meeting of residents took place on March 5, 1870. Mr LcaaTs Miller Avas voted to the chair. The meeting Avas called to take steps to obtain a site on Avhich to build a church, AA'hich could also be used tor a school. Mr Charles Skelton offered half an acre of his property for a site, and this Avas duly accepted, Avith thanks. The following committee Avas elected a? a Church Committee:— LeAvis Miller, Peter Hanson, William Scott, Chas. Skelton, James Hamilton, Murdoch Matheson, and Roderick Matheson. The Church Committee’s first meeting was on the 10th October, 18/0, AA’hen the folloAving Avere appointed as trustees for the church site property gifted by Mr Chas. Skelton:—Rev. D. Ross, Messrs Hanson, CraAvford and R. Matheson. The folloAving is an extract of minutes shoAving the kind of building they planned to build; “that the size of the building to be erected be tAventy by fourteen feet—height of Avails ten feet, gable ends, shingle roof —six Avindows and one door.” The same meeting also decided to have plans prepared and tenders called for erection, for the cartage of timber per 100 feet, and other building materials at per ton. Mr. P. Hanson Avas to enquire of Robertson and Co. the probable cost of timber. A subscription list Avas to be opened. Air Hanson Avas to canvas Upper Shotover, and Messrs Scott and Hamilton the Flat and neighbourhood. Contract Price £3B A Aveek later the committee aAvarded the contract to Air George Smythe, of QueenstoAvn, to erect the building for £3B. Mr Chas. Johnston offered to cart timber at 6/- per 100 ft and other building material at £2 per ton, and to take one Avaggon load of timber from QueenstoAvn gratis, and this offer Avas accepted. . The building Avas to be commenced forthwith. (We may well take notice of the speediness with AA'hich this matter Avas taken in hand.) The folloAving business was transacted at a meeting held on January 31, 1871: It Avas reported that subscriptions amounted to £4l 9s 6d. Mr Alurdoch Matheson Avas appointed treasurer. Mr Smythe put in a tender for fencing: “ Front, two rails and pailings (pointed), make and hang tAvo gates each 3ft 6in Avide, for the sum of £4, also side and back fencing consisting of posts and top rail and three wires at 8/- per chain, all to be done in a good and Avorkmanlike manner to the satisfaction of the committee.” The treasurer Avas instructed to pay Mr Smythe £l2 toAvards the contract. At a meeting held on 15th February,, 1871, the building Avas declared complete according to plans and specifications, and the church Avas to be opened Avith divine service on the first Sabbath in March. (Thus from the drawing up of plans in October to the completion of the building in February was less than four months—a most creditable achievement.) The state of the Church Building Fund was thus recorded at a meeting'

The fortnightly services were instituted towards the end of 1871. To help to clear off the debt a tea meeting was held in the church on Ist January, 1872, at 7 p.m. Admission 5/-. This effort realised £27. At a meeting held on the 30th May, 1872, the debt on the church was £SB, and a minute was recorded: “As there was none of them (the creditors) pressing for payment it was not considered advisable to take any action at present for obtaining the money.” A pulpit Bible costing £2 10s was paid for by subscription. At a meeting on the 17th September, 1873, it was decided to have a further collection of subscriptions to meet the church debt, and also to have a tea meeting on Tuesday, 30th December. To increase the seating accommodation, two seats with backs were to be made by the carpenter* In November it was reported that £23 had been collected. A meeting on the 13th August, 1874, refers to the subscriptions as being £32, with no indication whether this is the previous sum augmented or a new collection. A tea meeting also realised £2/ the December 30th? Whatever the figures, by the 28th October the debt Avas all cleared, including insurance premiums, except for £4 3s. In July, 1877, four more seats Avere to be made for the church, and in August a uoav subscription. to pay off the debt realised £ll. Money given to the church by the Golden Grain Lodge of Good Templars (for the use of the building?) Avas used to buy lamps for the church. The members of committee arranged to spend a day repairing the fence. The last entry in the minute -book is dated 1896, Avhen, due to diminishing numbers, the services Avere to be held monthly.

Miller’s Flat Avas never a large community, it rose to its little peak in the days of the gold rush, and has siaacc then sloAvly diminished. All credit is due to them for their sturdy independence in their efforts to build and pay for their oavh church.. But these small communities, and eA’en larger ones, could not continue to build and finance their churches in the succeeding generations, especially Avith the sharply rising costs caused largely by tAA r o Avorld AA'ars, and the Avisdom of our pioneer forefathers is iioav to be seen in the aid the Avhole church is able to give to these communities from funds draAvn from the pioneers’ land investments. This is borne Avitness to by the folloAving record of grants paid on behalf of the churches in the QueenstoAvn Parish from Synod funds from the year 1881: £ s. d. QueenstoAvn — Church 536 0 0 Alanse, 1885, sites . . 494 8 0 Frankton — Church 51 4 11 Aliller’s Flat — Church .. ■■ •< 45 17 3 Site 7 14 6 ' I The QueenstoAvn Parish has received help to a total of £3020 5s 4d over a period of some 60 years. So once again from this one angle of our history avc have cause for pride in our achievements, and yet may recognise lioav avc are an integral part of the Avhole Church of the land. P. ANDERSON.

on 10th March, 1871: — £ s. d. To subscriptions per collectors 41 9 6 Paid Mr Smythc .. .. 12 0 0 Balance 29 9 6 By subscriptions from Queenstown, Frank ton, and Lake Hayes 18 18 0 Miller’s Flat 11 15 0 Total .. 60 2 6

Mr Smythe’s contract . ■ 38 0 0 Fencing contract . . • • d 16 0 Extra labour 5 10 0 50 6 0 Cash paid 0 0 Balance .. ( 38 6 0 Okas. Johnston, carting ; . -1 o 6 Hallenstein, building materials 25 6 0 Robertson and Co., timber 45 6 0 The treasurer was authorised to pay Smythe’s and Johnston’s accounts.