ST. PETER’S CHURCH.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXX, Issue 4520, 15 September 1875, Page 3

ST. PETER’S CHURCH.

A meeting of the congregation of St. Peter's Church was held last evening at eight o’clock. The attendance was fair, but many were prevented from attending by tbe inclement nature of the weather.

Proceedings were commenced with a hymn and prayers, after which, The Yen. Archdeacon Stock made a few preliminary remarks prior to reading the report of the committee appointed at the last annual meeting to consider the erection of a new St. Peter’s Church. He referred to the past history of the church to show that great progress had been made and that the present position of the church was matter for great thankfulness. But it had been found necessary to enlarge the church, which was in many respects inconvenient and far too small. He then read the following report :

The special' committee were appointed July 12, 1875, by a public meeting of the parisioners, and were to consist of tbe vestry and others to be added by the vestry. They were empowered to collect all necessary information, to enable the parishioners to decide whether the Church of St. Peter’s should be reerected. The names added by the vestry, August 10, were Messrs. J. Dransfleld, S. Brown, It. C. Hammerton, G. Roxburgh, and C. Binns. It appeared from the parsonage conveyance deed that the trustees were appointed to hold the land, in order that a mortgage might be effected by them of the land and parsonage, and thus to secure the erection of a parsonage for the incumbent of St. Peter’s; that they were not empowered by the deed to affect any second mortgage, or had power to sell the property. It appeared further that when the parsonage should be handed over to the trustees of the General Synod, they would not give to the parishioners any power to mortgage the property—that they would only hold it as a parsonage for ever. It appeared that the present church, holding COO persons, has a pew rental of £4OO, with an offertory of £4OO. It was presumed that the new church, at the end of the first year, would have 200 more seatholdere, or 600 sittings, with a pew rental and offertory at the same rate; that the income of the present church was £2OO after paying all expenses, and that the income of the now church would be, at the end of the first year, not less than £SOO, after paying all ordinary expenses. The special committee would recommend to the parishioners, that a church bo erected to hold 1000 persons, and that before the church he erected, a sum of not less than one-third of the cost of the church he obtained by subscriptions, donations, or otherwise. Arthur Stock. Mr Sheath moved the following resolution, —“That the report be adopted, that a church be erected to hold 1000 persona ; that before the church be erected a sum of not less than one-third the cost of the church be obtained by subscriptions, donations, or otherwise.” Mr. Didsbury seconded the resolution, and in doing so spoke at considerable lengtii on the necessity for the erection of a much larger and better building than the present. Many persons, ho thought, who would willingly attend that church, were deterred from coming because of the insufficiency of free seats. He would suggest that in the new building at least one-fourth of the church should be occupied by free seats. He solicited the aid of the ladies, and hoped to receive their hearty cooperation in obtaining funds for the erection of the church. Mr. Roxburgh moved, —“ That tbe clergyman of the parish, the vestry, and Messrs. S. J. Dransfied, E. C. Hammerton, S. Brown, G. Eoxburgh, and 0. Binns be a building committee, witli power to add to their number, to devise and organise methods for raining monies for the erection of the new church, and that each member of the congregation be invited to assist in collecting funds in cash or by deferred payments, so that at least one-third of the amount likely to be required may be subscribed before commencing operations.” In speaking to the resolution, Mr. Eoxburgh delivered an able address, in which he quoted largely from Scripture, and urged each and every one to do bis utmost to forward tbe object in view. ■ Seconded by Mr. Eous Marten.

A subscription list was at once opened, and after a hymn had been sung at the conclusion, subscriptions were received, and books distributed amongst such of those present as desired to collect subscriptions.