PARISH OF TUAPEKA AND WAITAHUNA.

Otago Witness, Issue 2370, 3 August 1899, Page 28

PARISH OF TUAPEKA AND WAITAHUNA.

j The annual meeting of parishioners was , held in the schoolroom on Wednesday evening, the "Yen. Archdeacon Beaumont in the chair. The following report was read and adopted : — The "Vestry have pleasure in submitting their report and balance sheet for the year ending 30th June, 1899. The receipts amount to £395 lls 3d, and the amount expanded has been £391 10s 3d. To the" latter must be added debtor balance at the beginning of year, £92 9s 6d, leaving a present debt due tbo bank of £88 8s Gd. This shows an apparent reduction in the debt of £4 Is. Tho Vestry regret, however, that tho actual position is not improved, a sum of £46 13s 6d collected for the See House fund, and £6 7s 6d offertory for the Melanesian Mission not having been paid over. It is satisfactory to note that the contributions to the offertory and stipend fund have been well maintained. Tho Church Guild held a sale of work in May in 1 aid of the wind for a new organ — realising about £40. As an organ "will cost tiot less than £150, it will be some time before it is un fait accompli. We are glad to report an increased zeal in the cause of missions. The St. Barnabas Guild held a sale of work, the proceeds being £12 10s 7d, the Sunday school having contributed £4 14s. In April we had a very interesting visit from the Rev. Walter Ivens, of the Melanesian Mission staff, when the parish, through offertories and lecture, contributed £9 16s. On September 4, St. Matthew's Church, Waltahuna, was opened and consecrated by the Bishop of the Diocese. The cost was £370, towards which £310 was collected. The balance — JE60 — will be reduced by the receipt of a grant of £20 from the S.P.C.K., London. We congratulate the church members at Waitahuna in having a building set apart for the worship of God. During the year a call was made on the parish to contribute its proportion towards the purchase of a See House, and subscriptions were obtained amounting to £47 14s 6d. The best thanks of the parishioners are due to the Ladies' Guild, to the superintendent and teachers of the Siinday school, to the hon. organists (Mis Eos Wiikias and E. Yv'ebb) and the choir, to the lay readers, to the collectors for the stipend fund (Mrs Crooke and Misses Tanton and Bushell), and to Messrs Crooke and J. Thompson (collectors of the seat rents). Through the kindness of Mr Edward Herbert, the church grounds havo been maintained in their accustomed neatness without cost to the vestry. Mr E. Herbert was appointed clergyman's churchwarden, and Mr E. M. Wakefield was elected parish churchwarden. The following gentlemen were elected vestrymen: — Messrs : 0. and J. Brooks, A. Crooke, G. Jeffery, J. ; H. Jackson, F. A. Miller, G. O. Taylor, J. i Thompson, P. Uren, and Dr Newell. After business the meeting took the form of a social gathering. Some 60 persons were present, and a A"cry pleasant evening was spent.