ANNUAL PARISH MEETINGS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXI, Issue 7228, 30 April 1884, Page 6

ANNUAL PARISH MEETINGS.

ST MARK’S, OPAWA. Tho annual meeting of parishioners was hold on Monday evening* -*n tho unavoidable absence of tho Incumbent (the Rev Canon Cholmondeloy) through indisposition, Mr J. E. March presided. The Chairman read a letter from tho Incumbent, expressing his regret at being prevented from attending, and referring to several matters affecting the parish. Tho Chairman then submitted tho churchwardens’ report and statement of accounts for tho past year. TJie following are extracts from the report:— “Wo regret to have to observe that a comparison of this statement with that presented at tho last annual meeting shows that, notwithstanding an increase in the amount raised in some items, there is a falling off in tho total amount of tho funds collected during tho year. Tho past parochial year commenced with a deficit of .£27 11s 9d, and the current liabilities of tho parish at the present time amount to .£69 16s 9d. This deficiency is in part accounted for by the fact .that during the year 1882-83 unusual assistance was rendered to the church expenses fund, by a donation of J!3O from the Ladies’ Committee of the fancy fair, and a further sum of ,£23 15s from the Ladies’ Working Society, to bo applied to paying off tho interest on the debt on the church. Moreover, the provaiUhg commercial depression, tho frequency of wot Sundays, and other fluctuating causes have, more or less, all affected the finances of the parish during the past year. Still, we venture to remark that our present position points to the need of a more general recognition, on the part of our church members, of the duty of contributing to tho various expenses connected with our public worship, and of a more careful and systematic method of collecting the frcewjll offerings of all. Wo feci assured that, as the deficiency in our finances is now known, a united and vigorous effort will be made to meet it, and to provide for such works as it may be deemed desirable to undertake during the present yeai’. The sum of £SO promised by the Church Property Trustees towards the extension of the church site will, we understand, soon be forthcoming. A further sum of .£32 10s will be required to complete the purchase. We desire to express our opinion that the interests of the parish require that one of our earliest efforts should he to pay the balance of the purchase money, and erect a building so much needed for Sunday school and other parochial purposes.”

The Chairman laid several returns before the meeting, and also stated, that, as arranged at the last meeting of the vestry, a deputation had waited on the ladies of the parish (at a meeting convened at the parsonage on Friday last), when the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:—l. That it is desirable that entertainments be held during the winter months, and that preparations be made for a sale of work to he held in spring, the date and details to be settled by a Committee to be appointed subsequently. 2. That the proceeds of the entertainments and of the sale of work be applied (a) to meet the deficiency in the parochial finances; (h) to the purchase of site and erection of a building for Sunday school purposes, &c. A Committee of ladies was also appointed to enlist the co-operation of others, and to give effect to the previous resolutions. Several ladies, who were unavoidably prevented from assisting in the sale of work, had kindly given subscriptions instead. The sum of .£2l had been handed over by the President of the Ladies’ Working Society to the Sunday School Building Fund.

On the motion of Mr Hurley, seconded by Mr Jenkins, the report and statement of accounts were received and adopted.

The Incumbent nominated Mr March as churchwarden, and Mr Sandford was elected by the parishioners. The following gentlemen were elected vestrymen:—Messrs Tipping, Eeeves, H. Peel, E. Jenkins, Thomson, OUivier, Jameson, Watters, Currie, and. Parsons.

Mr M’Kellar was re-elected Auditor,

On the motion of Mr Harley, it was unanimously resolved —“That the parishioners hear with deep' regret of the continued indisposition of the Incumbent, and sincerely trust that he will soon be restored to health and vigour. The parishioners also desire to express their deep sympathy with the Incumbent and Mrs Cholmondeley 1 in the serious sickness they have had in their family, and at the same time join with them in thanking the Giver of all good that the health of their Oldest son is improving. 5

Votes of thanks were passed to the churchwardens and the retiring vestry, also to Mr M’Eellar j to Mr Harley and the members of the choir; to the Sunday school teachers and the ladies assisting the Incumbent in giving religious instruction in the school; also to the District School Committee for their kindness in continuing to grant the use of the schoolrom, and to Mr E. J. T. Ford, for the many services he had rendered to the parish. The following resolutions were unanimously passed“ That a cordial vote of thanks be presented to! Miss M. Eeeves for her valuable services as organist, and that the Incumbent be requested to convey the same to her.” “That,the best thanks of the parishioners be given to the Opawa Ladies’ Working Society for the very valuable services it continues to render to the finances of the' parish, and that the Incumbent be requested to convey this resolution to the President of the Society.” The Chairman submitted a statement of the cemetery for the past year. The value of the investment shares belonging to this account exceeded ,£250. A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the proceedings.! H KAIAPOI. The adjourned annual meeting of this church was held on Monday evening. The Eev H. Yere-White presided. There were about twenty parishioners present. The rev Chairman explained that the purpose of the meeting was to further consider the financial position of the church, and to receive a report from the auditors as to the condition of the cemetery accounts. Mr E. Eevell, people’s churchwarden, stated that the vestry had recommended the adoption of the envelope system for obtaining subscriptions for the maintenance of the church. He presented a statement of estimated receipts and expenditure for the present year. The receipts were estimated at £247, and the disbursements £2BO, showing a deficiency of £33, which, together with last year’s debts, would amount to about £133.

A desultory conversation ensued on the subject of pew rents and the general work of the parish; and it was ultimately decided that the vestry should canvas the parishioners for subscriptions to meet liabilities and current expenses, and that in cases where annual subscriptions are promised, a request be made that a quarter of such subscription be paid in advance. It was further decided that a statement of Labilities be circulated for the information of the parishioners. The report upon the cemetery account was then read. The examination of the Auditors purported to have extended over a period of 25 years, but. owing to the mixed state of the accounts, no very reliable information could be ascertained. The receipts for the period mentioned amounted to £423 15 S M while the disbursements showed a total of JB33ofia 10d, thus leaving an amount of 8s Cd to be accounted for. The report further referred to some charges made for sexton’s duties, which, if averaged over the 25 years, would make about -£IOO ; but the Auditors did not think it advisable to amalgamate this sum with the other amounts, thinking that the meeting should decide in what manner

such charges should bo met. Concluding the report, reference was made as to the future method of keeping tho accounts generally. The report was received, and on tho motion of Mr Whitefoord, seconded by Mr Cox, a vote of thanks was accorded the Auditors for tho trouble they hud taken in tho matter.

Other minor business was disposed of, and tho meeting adjourned, after the Benediction had been pronounced by the reverend Chairman. ST MAEY’S, ADDINGTON. The Easter meeting of this parish was held in tho schoolroom on Friday last, the Eev H. E. East in tho chair. In presenting their statement of accounts for the year, the churchwardens reported that tho financial position of tho parish was very satisfactory. Several small debts standing over from last year were now paid, and a balance to credit remained of .£5 10s, with a similar amount now overdue for seat rents. The total receipts were 22287 2s lOd. N.o liabilities existed beyond tho fixed loan of £SOO, which the Sinking Fund had reduced by nearly .£2OO. The income for tho year had suffered considerably owing to a succession of wet Sundays. The meeting then proceeded to the election of a vestry for the current year. The Chairman nominated Mr A. Schwartz as clergyman’s churchwarden, and Mr J. Donaldson was elected parishioners’ warden. The following gentlemen were elected vestrymen Messrs C. P. Beadel, J. C. Sopp, G. Cooper, J. L. Hobdon, C. H. Winny, C, Eussell, J. Chalmers, J. W. Piper, G. Evans, and G. B. Denny. Thirteen nominations were made) from which tho foregoing names were selected by .ballot.

Votes of thanks were passed to the outgoing churchwardens, the organist, choirmaster, choir, church decorators, and the Sunday-school teachers. The Chairman stated that tho late organist had left for England, and that Mr W. Escott had kindly consented to take the office.

The question was raised as to whether the time fixed upon for the Sunday evening service—namely, 7 o’clock—was most suitable to the parishioners. A large majority of the meeting declared themselves in favour of that hour. _ It was resolved that it he a recommendation to the incoming Vestry that the members should meet once a month for the conduct of the business of the parish. A vote of thanks was then passed to the Chairman, and the meeting adjourned.