PARISH MEETINGS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXX, Issue 14982, 30 April 1909, Page 9

PARISH MEETINGS.

ST MARY’S, MERIVALE. .The annual meeting of parishioners of St Mary’s Church, Merivalo, was held in the schoolroom on Monday evening. There was a fair attendance, and the vicar, Archdeacon Gossett, presided. The balance sheet, which was received and adopted, showed receipts £BO3 4s 3d (including £25 Is 4d brought forward) and expenditure £727 6s 6d, leaving a credit balance of £76 19s 9d. During the year £SO had'Leen paid off the school building fund, leaving a balance of £SO, still due to the Church 'Property Trustees. The vicar, in addressing the meeting on the past year’s work, stated that owing to the growth of the parish, more assistance was needed. The vestry, reoognising this, had voted a sum sufficient to supply the stipend of a curate in priest’s orders and the full services of a deaooness. Sister Margaret had done excellent work in Merivale ,during the past two years, and the parishioners were fortunate in now being able to secure her full services. A curate was being advertised for. The permanent church building fund account amounted to £95 86 lid, and it was expected that this would be considerably increased during the coming year.

The vicar - expressed 'very great regret at the termination of Mr Field’s term of office, after having been vicar’s warden for the past five years and having done much valuable work for the parish. . The vicar appointed Mr H. P. Hill as his warden. Mr Walcot Wood was elected parishioners’’ churchwarden, and Messrs A. H. Allen, J. Blyth, A. E. Baker, A. D. Dobson, T. C. Field, Isaac Gibbs, J. Harrison, A. L. F. Ledger, D. G. Maindonald and S. F. P. Webb were elected vestrymen. A vote of thanks was passed to the vicar ; accompanied by hearty congratulations on nis promotion to the office of archdeacon of Akaroa. Votes of : thanks were also passed to the churchwardens,' tile vestry, the deaconess, the Ladies’ Sewing Guildj 1 the Sunday School teachers, the choir, the organist, the choirmaster, the . auditor and all church workers, 1 - ST PAUL’S, PAPANUI. . The annual meeting of parishioners of St Paul’s Church, Papanui, was held in the schoolroom on Thursday evening, the. vicar, the Rev. . J. Awdry Julius, in the chair. • There was a good attendance. The statement of accounts for the year showed that the income had been sufficient to .meet the current expenses of the church, but necessary repairs to the school premises and organ had caused a' deficit of £l4 17s sd. The bell-towey fund wag in credit £77 Os 3d. The vicar re-nominated Mr Conway G. Matson as his warden, and Mr Reginald Foster' was re-elected parishioners’ warden.. Messrs F. BiggWither W. S. Cobham, G. L. Greenwood, W. H. Lowe, T. W. North, S. F. Whitoombe and *' L. Wilkins were elected vestrymen for St Paul’s Church, and Messrs W. R. Hockey, F. Jesson and H. Nun week for St Jamea’3 Church, Harewood Road. The vicar, addressed the meeting, touching upon various matters of interest to the parish, and congratulated tho parishioners upon the position of the parish, which, he said, was largely due to their co-operation. Hearty votes of thanks were passed to the church workers. Messrs J. C. Adams, J. J. Adams, Baker, Foote, Holloway, J. Mawson and F. C. M’Clurg were asked to form a parish council to assist the vestry. Musical items were given by Mrs Bloxam, Misses Searell and Greenwood, and Messrs Ingall and Wilkins, and refreshments wore provided by the ladies. GOVERNOR’S BAY. The annual meeting of parishioners of Governor’s Bay,’ Teddington and Gebbie’s Valley was' held at the vicarage, Governor’s Bay, on Monday afternoon. There was a large gathering ofparishioners, and the atting-vioar, the Rev F. G. Brittan,. presided. Reports from the districts, which stated that the work of the church has been highly satisfactory, were adopted. The acting-vicar stated that owing to the work that needed to be done to the vicarage before the now vicar came, lie would donate his stipend, about £4O, to the work. A hearty vote of .thanks was passed to Mr Brittan for his generosity. A vote of thanks was passed to tho retiring vestry. It was decided to. hold a social gathering to welcome the new vicar, the Rev 0. .Fitzgerald, on his arrival at tho end of May. The following officers were appointed :—Vicar’s • warden, Mr W. Cowlin; people’s warden, Mr W. H. Radcliffe: vestry, Messrs O. Tapley, F. Tapley, H. S. Hall, R. Allen and C. E. Radcliffo. • ST STEPHEN’S, ASHBURTON. The annual meeting of parishioners of St Stephen’s Church, Ashburton, was held on Tuesday evening, .the vicar, the Rev E. Whitehouse, presiding over a fairly large attendance. The vicar’s renort stated that during the year the church had been completed, and it was now one of the finest church buildings in the diocese. Sincere thanks were tendered to Mr T. A. Gates, lay reader, Mr H. A. Gates, choirmaster, Miss Claridgo, organist, Miss B. Claridge and bliss Fooks, assistant organists, and Messrs Hosken and Claridge, orchestral helpers, and to the j officers of tho various church, organisations and the ladies who had decorated the church for the festivals. During tho year there had been 52 baptisms, 12 marriages and 35 burials, and 27 candidates had been confirmed. The churchwardens’ report showed that the sum of £1094 14s 2d was still owing on the new church building, and hopos wore entertained, tba-t tbis would

be paid oft before the next annual meeting. The balance sheet showed a deficiency of £B7 13s Id.

The reports and balance sheet were adopted. ffhe election of officers resulted as follows:—Vicar’s warden Mr F. Curtis; people’s warden, Mr P. H. Cox; vestry, Messrs T. A. Gates, E. D. Osborn, T. F. Gibson, H. C. Orbell, D. Wood, C. W. Nicoll, W. H. RundJe, W. H. Woods, F. Watt and A. Cowan; auditors, Messrs ,W- H. Rundle and F. Watt; sidesmen, Messrs F. Watt and F. 'Halliburton. Votes of thanks to church workers were passed, special reference, being made to Mr D. Wood, the retiring churchwarden.