NORTHEAST VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14899, 30 July 1910, Page 9

NORTHEAST VALLEY PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The annual meeting of the North-East Valley Presbyterian Church was held on Wednesday evening;, Professor Watt presiding, The annual report, whioli was adopted, said,"inter alia;-" Tho attendance -T-eepecially during the last four monthshas buen,exceedingly good. On many Sundays the diurch has been practically full at both services. Should the attendance • continue to increaso, the enlargement of too church will becom-s a . necessity« Twenty-seven names; have been removed from tho roll in. the course of the year. The total increase has been IOtMO by certificate from other churches, and 60 by profession of faith; so that the total membership is now 468. Tho open-air services have been notable gatherings. Every Sunday for nearly five months the congregation in large numbers has gathered at tho Gardens gate at 4 o'clock in the afternoon. A platform and organ have been secured, and many visitors liave gathered round. Tile Sabbith fcehool work has so prospered that, although a class /has been removed to the church and another to the <hty school, the problem of increase*' acconit lmxlat-ion is pressing. There are 220 scholars on tho roll, and eavi.ral of the son'or boys and girls havo bocomo members, of tho church. Reference is made to the work of the church organisations, these boing tho C.E. Scoioty, tho Bible class, the Men's class, the Intefmediafo Bible class, the.P.W.M.U., the Scripture-roading bands', and the choir. Regular services have been conducted morning and evening in Opoho. Tho attendance leaves much to be desired. Tho most encouraging feature in the work thero is that among tho young, especially 'iv fehu Sunday school and children's band— tho former, with 91 scholars and 1 12 teachers, the latter with 80 members. At Upper Junction and Mount Cargill services havo been hold each Sunday evening, and considerable interest has boon manifested. As a oongregation wo are greatly indebted to those who have conducted tho services at theso various places. Special thanks are duo to the students of Knox College, who, while in -residence, havo made themselves responsible for the evening scrvioa in Opoho." The Deacons' Court report states that, although during tho earlier portion of the year tho receipts fell considerably short of the estimate, the recovery experienced during the past four months has more than made up any deficiency that might, have bseu expected. Ordinary collections again show an increase (for the third year in succession), being .£329 15s 6d, as against i! 319 16a Id tast year. This amount is a record. Scat rents aro slightly down, but amounts owing by members more than acoount for any shortage. The slistentat'on fund has risen firom £106 6s 6d to £118 6s 3d, chiefly on account of a, movement bringing our younger members into- touch with the fund. Although this is an improvement, it is by no means commensurate with our largely increased mombeiship. The hall fund has remained practically stationary during the year. The court has repaid £30 of the £68 borrowed from tho fund some four years ago. The court would remind' members of the congregation that this matter of debt is still in existence, and that, in view of probable further undertakings, it would bo as well to have it out of the way. Through tho kindnecß of a friend of the congregation, ..who has becomo responsible for the salary" -if a deaconess for two years, the fund has been a matter of no anxiety to tho court. Acting on tho udvicc and at the request, of tho Presbytery, that this congregation should take up work in Opoho, your court, in conjunction with the Church Extension Committee, purchased from tho Baptist Church the building i.n which the latter had been carrying on services for fioinu years. Building and site cost_ altogether tlie sum of £220, toward which a grant o? £73 has been voted by Synod, This gsranfc, however, is not payable until the balance of the money has fcfeen raised by tho Congregation. Th'e court had pleasure in welcoming as new deacons Messrs Brown, Msuison. M'CulloUgh, Eawlinson. and Ross, who were elected at the annual meeting. These gentlemen have greatly strengthened' the court, and have each taken a full share of tire work.

Tho following now deaeens were elected: Mesas Slylield, M'Clymont, G. White, and D. Harvey,

On the, initiative of the Deacons' Court, tho minister's salary was increased by £25 psr annum.