ST. MARK'S, REMUERA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14048, 30 April 1909, Page 7

ST. MARK'S, REMUERA.

PARISHIONERS' MEETING.

NEW BUILDING SCHEME.

Thk annual meeting of the parishioners of St. Mark's, Remuera, was held in the Parish Hall, last evening. The vicar, the Rev. W. Realty, presided, and the curate (the Rev. W. E. Connelly), and Rev. A. Fowler (in charge of SI. Aidan's), and about 40 parishioners were present.

The vestry's report, besides making reference to the good work of the choir, Sunday-school, Parish Guild, etc., intimated that the total receipts for general purposes had been £1800 10s 3d, including a credit balance of £22 5s 4d at the Bank of New South Wales, March 31, 1908: and the expenditure £1779 16s 4d, leaving a credit balance of £20 13s lid at the bank. The congregations at St. Mark's and St. Aidan's had steadily increased. Lower Remuera had remained stationary, but with closer settlement a larger attendance was to be looked for in the near future.

The Chairman staled thai the Government some time ago gave notice that it intended to close the churchyard, except for the. intern cut of near blood relatives of those interred there. it was considered there was some injustice in this, as 11 or 14 persons had plots of ground in which no interments had taken place. Representations were made that these at hast should be made available, and Mr. R. Hall had been instructed to report to the Minister for Internal Affairs. That gentleman had furnished a report recommending that those who had taken plots should be allowed to use them, and no answer had been received, but in this case it was to be presumed that no news was good news. Mr. W. S. Cochrane moved, "That, the vestry be authorised to spend £2000 in the- erection of a portion of the new church as soon as it feels itself in a position to do so, either by the receipt, of donations or by borrowing, and that the vestry take steps to find what support will be forthcoming.'' Mr. S. Hosketh seconded.

Mr. C. Hanson moved as an amendment, " That a treasurer and committee bo set up to canvass the. parish for £2000 towards the erection of a new church, and, if successful, ask the vestry to proceed with the erection." Mr. Ranson intimated that if this course were not taken, he would not allow himself to bo re-elected as a churchwarden. He urged that the church building fund be made a separate account. Ho pointed out that the general account for the year showed a, debit of £1 12s sd, and there were no funds for the payment of the competitive designs. He refused to undertake Hie extra work that would devolve on him if his'amendment were not adopted. Mr. W. J. Speight considered the workin connection with the new church should be undertaken by the vestry. . Mr. Ranson said he would be content if the meeting passed a resolution asking the vestry to appoint a committee to undertake the work. He would only be too glad if someone would take over the treasurership of the parish, and he simply wished the meeting to understand that, if the two accounts were not kept separate ho would resign. • • Mr. Cochrane said he would meet .Mr. Ranson by adding to his "■ motion a clause that the meeting recommend that a subcommittee be set up to undertake the work. Mr. Ranson agreed to this, and finally it was resolved to. authorise the vestry to make an appeal- for funds and expend £2000 towards the erection of a new church. The chairman then moved that it be a recommendation that a sub-committee be set, up to undertake the work. Mr. Ranson: And that the accounts be kept separate. The Chairman: This is really insulting the intelligence of the vestry. It is perfectly plain Mr. Ranson: I do not want the treab'urcrship of this fund. The Chairman: "There is no necessity that you should." Continuing, the chairman said there was no canon that the parishioners' churchwarden should be treasurer any more than the vicar's churchwarden.

Mr. Hanson : Then, perhaps, the vicar's churchwarden will take it.

The Chairman : I do not suggest that. I am merely putting a matter of Church law. It is no more necessary that the parishioners' churchwarden take charge of the accounts than that the vicar's churchwarden keep the minutes.

After further discussion the motion was carried.

The Rev. A. Fowler asked the permission of the meeting for St. Aidan's committee to borrow a sum not exceeding £1000, for the erection of a nave of a new church. He, stated that with the rapid progress the district was making, the building was inadequate. A new church was estimated to cost £3500, and the nave £1600.

Permission was granted on the terms adopted at the annual meeting of 1905, viz., that the local committee undertake the moral responsibility for the repayment of the debt. The following officers were appointed : Vicar's churchwarden, Mr. G. O'Halloran, jun. ; parishioners' churchwarden, Mr. C. Ranson; vestrymen, Messrs. J. H. M. Carpenter, Si L. Abbott, P. Spencer, W. S. Cochrance, S. Hesketh, W. J. Speight, B. J. M. Kemp, A. B. Roberton, J. F. Hartland, R. A. Bodle; auditor, Mr. W. Wallace Bruce.