ST. MATTHEW'S PARISH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XVI, Issue 5351, 10 January 1879, Page 2

ST. MATTHEW'S PARISH.

The annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church was hel>i yesterday evening at the seliool-i oom, corner of Wellcsley and Hobson-streefcs. Thellight Rev. Dr. Cowif, Bishop of Auckland, presided, and there was a moderately-good attendance.—Bishop Cowie opened the meeting with prayer.—Mr. Doonin, church-war-deu, read the minutes of the last annual meeting; also, the minutes of the special meeting held recently re the guarantee of a minister's stipend. — After some diacu aion as to the minutes of the latter, the minutes of both were adop ed.—Captain Williams, church-warden, submitted the statement of accounts of the parish. The principal difficulty was made with regard to the advisability of adopting the accounts of Sc. Mattliew'e or St. Thomas's separately or as a whole. It appeared that suras special collection had been made toward buililing a school or clas-room in connection with St. Thomas's. Several church memb.rs spoke strongly reprehending the practice of sordini; children louml with collection-caids The amount raised in this way was, moreover, not accounted for, and the auditors had declined to audit St. Thomas's (which is a part of St. Matthew's) account. There was a good deal of discussion and promiscuous conversation, and the report, as prints-1, was adopted, on the motion of Colonel hlaultain. The accounts of St. Matthew's, as audited, were also adopted, and it was agreed that in future it would be desirable that the two accounts should be made into one. Those most iutimateiy connected with St. Thomas's also undertook that, as soon as the collection for the new room was completed, they would consult the vestry before taking action. Wardens.—His Lordship appoint (1 Mr. Doonin minister's church-warden. He had faithiu.ly and zealously discharged his dutie3, and ho had consented to act again. —Mr. Doonin said it was his desire to retire from offi:e this year, but be accepted it as hi 3 duty to take office agaiu on the recommendation of His Lord=liip —Capt. Williams was proposed by Mr. Yickers as people's church-warden.—< 01. Haultaiu and Mr. Steedman were also proposed, but declined to stand, owing to their other duties, aud Oapt. Williams was unanimously elected. Vestrymen.—Mr. Dawson proposed that the number of vestrymen should be reduced from 10 to s.—Mr. Doouin objected to such a radical change, except good re*S->n was shewn, and after some discussion the motion was withdrawn. The following, out of In candidates duly nominated, were then elected vestrymen Dr. Hooper, Mr. liuitt, (Jul. Haultain, Messrs. Howden, Webb, juu , iJorrin, Henderson, Steedman, Dr. Dawson, and Mr. Morton. Auditors.—Messrs. Binne}' and Brigham were elected auditors for the ensuing year. Minister's Stipend.—The next question brought up was the recommendation from the special ineetiug that a sum of £50 should be gu iranteed to the Rev. Mr. Phillips as stipend to the end of March. — The Chairman said that since writing the I letter in regard to which thi3 resolution had be.-n passed, circumstances had greatly altered. Since then, he had a telegram from Mr. Hassard which seomed to say that the Rev. Mr. Hassard wonld or had resigned. Mr. Phillip3 was selected by Mr. Hassard as a personal friend as assistant minister of St Matthew's parish, chiefly in connection with St. Thomas's. It was a hard circumstance for Mr. Phillips to lose his friend an I guide so soon, but he had done his beat, aud shewn most praiseworthy zeal. For the present they would require not only a minister living on the spot, but they would also require to have the paipifc of St. Matthew's occupied twice on Sunday. He hid asked Mr. Phillips to remain till the end of March, and he hoped they would try and make h s paction (a temporary appointment) as little difficult as possible. Air. Ha9sard had telegraphed to him that he must re»igu, but until he (the chairman) had his resignation in writing, no action could be taken. He therefore asked the congregation to vote £50 —a stipend for the Iter. Mr. Phillips—aud £2 per week for the two services in St. Matthew's.—On the motion of Mr. Vickers, seconded by Mr. Steedman, the suggestion was adopted. Several other matters in connection with the parish were discussed, and the meeting terminated.