St. John's Church.

Southland Times, Issue 19103, 21 July 1903, Page 2

St. John's Church.

The annual meeting of parishioners was h»td laat evening, the Yen. Arch' aeacon stocner presiuiog over an attenuauc.e of UU. •

The report of the Vestry for the year ending,. 30th - Juno stated, inter ulia, that tho income for the year' was £()H7, to \vhich is to be added Jtß in hand, al the commencement. The expenditure was £725, showing a shortage of JDOO. This expenditure had beeD Oi a normal nature, with the exception of £H'2 spent in alterations " to vestry and gas lit tings ihe former of these was necessitaied oy tne . in-trbductibh of 'a surpiicod cboii 4 , and the latter* while being a great improvement in the lighting of the church, will achieve this improvement by «. say ing. in the gas account, so that the cost of tho alterations will be nearly paid for in the course of ; twelve mouths. The amount of shortage' in rQV&iixiQ. '-.would by almost coveVed by pew-rents unpaid, bui the Yes-try w?sre : disupp'oiuted <:hat tho result for the year Had, not fcoen nnore encouraging. The. sinfciing fund docruing trom the rent of section ttnd nouses in iUye street is now tiHto.-VJis, Id. which -reduced' the aßiount of fttortgage to i^-14.0. Jiiftorts had beehV made- to secure iho I services of : a curate, as - decided upon i last year, without success, but .there, is vow some prospect of the position being filled. The proposal to otilarge the church organ had been warmly supported, and it was proposed to spend XIOOO on additions to the present' instrument. The canvassers had : already promises of over iißsß, of wWctf £!Joo as cash, the balance being due in instalments spread over four years. ,: -It vyas: suggested tl.av the Veatry borrow thifr balance required in excess of the . £3Cff: in. hand by debentures, bearing interesti at 5 per cent. to be repaid .by subscriptions niuturing, and contributions vby the choir, cproceedß of recitals, etc. The building lund shows £180 4s 8d in credit, tin-i the Ladies' Guild have ; £200 in iiund for the same fund. Tho thanks of the congregation were due* to Air W. li^, Scandrett (for services ' in -connection \yith the sinking fund) ancl Jtlr F. liegge (for presentation of an organ fund .contribution bo^.)-— The report «nd balance sheet were adopted. ■ • ■ ' The Archdeacon reported that the -ser-. vices of d curate had been ol'tuined, and that he would probo,bly commence his duties' about November. The church had lost .dyer 150 people in 18 months, owing to deaths, removals, etc. There had been.' a,: great "amount of sickness, but, on ; the brighter ."side, tiier.e Jiad been a largo numberof weddings. ■ The St. Johh^s Guild balance sheet showed a credit of £111 2s ad ot the beginning of the year, which had now been increased to £201 ?.0s Cil. . ..'■ The annual entertainment . and sale of work, held in November, realised nearly £lOQ, Mr St. jPaul,^ one Of : the. trpasureiw, rfepqrted that- tha "cash iin hand andi; pro- | mises towards the organ fund '■ " now amounted _ to £915, and Specifications had been*' . sent .-'•Hom'cfi for >the desired parts of "the ; instrument. • : "" ; ;'<. The election of pilieei'B and Vestry resulted as follows :— Parishioners' churt'hwardeti f. Mr "'F.tßick^ellf,'? clerßymttn's churchwarden, Mr J3 &;,;■ Jvlrk ; Vetilry : Messrs G. Peatherstone, C. H. JVoberts, W. B. Scondrett, J. J. Wildernoth, H. S. St. Paul, CPpOlo.-O, Urass, c .C. lJern,e, E: Phillips,- artct-WiiF.^Scuudrett; auditors : Messrs A. Christophers and j W. R. Churton ; parochial; ireusurer : Mr G-. Feathersto'ne ;-' assistant do, Mr G. Brass. . v

Votes of -thanks TJeVe passed to the Sunday school 'teachers, and school organist ; (jo the Ladies' Guild, to the lady who deeomtes the vases, to Mr Bush, who is retiring --from the Vestry, to the Jady collectors, 'and a special vote to the organist . (Mr 0. Cray), andchoir. '

A vote of thanks wae passed to the Von. Archdeacon Stockijr for preaidlng. . :