ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 5913, 21 January 1881, Page 3

ST. MATTHEW'S CHURCH.

The annual meeting of the parishionera of St. Matthew's Church was held last evening. There were about 30 persons present, the Key. Mr Byng occupying the chair.

The Chairman said that in addition to speaking of the financial position of the parish he would also make a few remarks on other important matters. He referred to the seating capacity of the church, which was 800. Their Sunday morning congregations at present were 400, and the evening ones 600. There were occasionally 500 and 700 respectively. It was necessary to keep 270 free seats. Three hundred and eighty eeats were now let, so that it remained for them to let 150 seats There were 250 scholars attending the Sunday-Bchool, as against 50 when he took charge of the parish. There were 22 teachers, male and female. He held a teachers' meeting every Wednesday evening, and from the figures he had given it would be seen that he was in need of teachers. He hoped that' some of them would help him to supply the deficiency. He needed a good Sunday-school, and considered that, next, to the house of God, the Sunday-school was essential to the wellbeing of the commuDity. 'He considered that many advantages would accrue from tho establishment of -: a school. He referred to a Bible class held by him for young men, but remarked that owing to lodge (meetings and other engagements he found *it difficult to get them to attend. He contemplated also establishing a young women's Bible-class. He said that the cost of the organ had been L 1263, of which L 250 still remained to be paid. The cost of the choir was L 52 a year. Twenty',poueds a year was contributed by the communicants for the sick and poor of the parish. He held a Saturday morning chus, and with the exception of Saturdays made a daily visitation from 10 in the morning until 1. From 150 to 200 persons attended the week-night services, which he was glad to gee, as attendance at these services meant a sacrifice for tha service of God. He considered that they should establish a guild in connection with the Sunday-echool. He placed these mattei-3 before them to show that they did not come there merely. to know what pounds, shillings, and pence had been expended in the parish. The Tbeasureb then submitted the annual report, which showed the revenue for the year to be the same as the expenditure, viz., L 1276 6i ; but a deficiency of L 505 IS* 21 was shown under current liabilities, L 241 8s 8d of which was overdraft at bank, and L 157 lls intereßt on mortgage. A long discussion then ensued as to.the best means of making up the deficieccy, either by 'reducing the expenditure or by increasing the revenue. _It was ultimately decided to attempt to overcome the difficulty by raising the pew rents, and the following resolution was carried with that intention:—'-That the Churchwardens be instructed to raise tho seat rents from 21s to 30s for the ensuing year." It was explained that it was not intended to make this compulsory, but to bring it before the congregation as an urgent necessity. Mr Hszlett consented to be re-elected clerygman'a. churchwarden, and -Mr Bury was elected parish churchwarden.

The following gentlemen were elected for the ensuing year :—Churchwardens, Messrs Houghton, Young, Haworth, Austin, WatsoD, E. Prosser, Chamberlain, V&le, Kingston, ? nt*_§our^ey > k°n- secretary and treasurer. Mr Wallace.

It was unanimously resolved that the best thanks of the congregation be conveyed to those ladies and gentlemen who had assisted at the two bazaars.; A vote of thanks was also carried to Mr Win. Prrsser (late secretary and treasurer), to thellate Vestry, and to the ladies and gentlemen of the choir.

_ The Chairman reported having collected LiloO towards the new school, which he had placed to their credit at the Bank.

The London correspondent of tho Manchester Guardian says :—"Mr Carlyle having on account of his recent relapse into poor health finally abandoned his intention of writirjg an autobiography, Mr Froude has been emrusttd with the immediate preparation of a biography. For some time he has been in Dumfriesshire collecting historical materials about Mr Oarlyle's family.

The Chinese Museum at Fontainebleau will, it is announced, once more be accessible to the public. After the fall of the empire the heirs of Napoleon sought to recover possession of this collection as private property, but the tribunals having decided that "it belongs to the nation the Btate of sequestration has ceased. The mn3eum consists ohiefly of the objeots of Oriental art and industry brought to Europe after the sacking of the Winter Palace.